I have been fascinated by this quote lately, “Birth is powerful … let it empower you.” It resonates with me on so many levels. As a mother who gave birth two times, as a Midwife, a Birth Doula and childbirth educator.
As a mother it reminds me of how powerful my body is and was when I gave birth to my baby’s. How I could not have thought my way through birth even if I tried and how I had to give into the power of birth to birth.
As a Midwife I had the joy of witnessing the power of birth hundreds of times. Women would ask me “how will I know when I am in active labor?” My usual response to that question was it may not be you knowing your are in active labor but someone else, because you will have gone into a more inward state at that point. In essence you will have given into the power of birth, and allowed your analytical brain to slow down, allowing your brain to go into a more instinctual mode, more inward. I saw time and time again when women were in the moment in labor, allowing their bodies to produce endorphins a natural pain reducing hormone, their bodies knew what to do and they birthed empowered.
As a Birth Doula and Childbirth Educator I am always looking for phrases to help inspire women to believe in their bodies ability to give birth. “Birth is powerful … let it empower you” has such a simple beauty to it. In it I hear, that sometimes women just need to give into labor and birth. That they can breath and feel safely surrounded by their trusted birth support people, that that team is watching out for them, protecting them. Giving them the space to give into birth, to be empowered by it.
My hope is that we as a birth society will give women ‘quiet birth space’ to give into the power of their bodies ability to give birth and be empowered through birth.