Natural Methods of Childbirth

Do you want a peaceful, comfortable, drug free birth?

Would you...

like your baby to be born unmedicated, alert and looking right into your eyes?

Would you...

like to enjoy childbirth in peace, love and joy?

If so, our Peaceful Birth classes might be just right for you.

Peaceful Birth teaches a complete childbirth education course. It teaches you to trust your body, to eliminate fear and to utilize your natural childbirth hormones for a more comfortable relaxed birthing.

Learn how you can use these clinically proven methods to give birth with less pain or fear.

 The breath offers a unique way to focus on turning inwards and is key to coping with labor pains. Deeper breathing with lengthened breaths will provide mental focus and increase endorphin levels, the natural 'feel-good' pain inhibitors. And the more of those you can have during labor, the better!

During labor, especially if you are in hospital in an unfamiliar environment, surrounded by strangers, you will breathe more rapidly. If you are frightened or in pain, your breathing will be shallow. This quickened breathing can cause the stress hormone adrenaline to be produced and make contractions painful.

By slowing down your breathing you are calming your emotions and having a positive physiological effect on your body. Relaxation and centering will subdue levels of adrenaline and promote the production of oxytocin, which is needed for effective contractions. This will enable you to work with your contractions rather than being overtaken by them.
There is a link between relaxed mothers and relaxed babies, as the stress hormone corticol may be passed between you...

• Learn to deeply relax during labor and birth

• Eliminate fear and anxiety

• Learn advanced breathing techniques

• Develop a trust in your natural birthing instincts

• Your baby will benefit from a drug free, calm and natural birth

• Your partner will be intimately involved in the birth

Some reported benefits of these classes during pregnancy and for childbirth:

• Fewer drugs or no drugs mean less risk of side effects for mother and baby

• Improved sleep prior to birth and afterwards

• Removal of fear and anxiety

• Less need for induction of labor

• Shorter labor - resistance of the birthing muscles as a response to pain is minimized or eliminated

• An awake energized mother throughout the birthing process

• A calm peaceful birthing atmosphere

• Fewer interventions and complications during labor

• A plentiful supply of milk

• Babies who sleep and feed better due to fewer drugs in their systems

• Mothers who are less tired and more confident

• Fewer episiotomies and perineal tears

• Calmer more alert babies

• Greater satisfaction with the birth reported by new parents

The theory behind it is quite simple:

The uterine muscles are beautifully designed to deal quite effectively with danger, fear, and stress in labour. The uterus is the only muscle in the body that contains within itself two opposing muscle groups - one to induce and continue labour and another to stop labor if the birthing mother is in danger or afraid. Emotional or physical stress will automatically signal danger to a birthing mother. Her labour will slow down or stop completely so that she can run to safety. In modern times, this goes haywire. We can't run from our fears - which may include the "horror story" our best friend told us about her birth - or even from our hospital or physician. Instead, we may release adrenaline, which causes the short, circular muscle fibres in the lower third of the uterus to contract. These muscles are responsible for stopping labour by closing and tightening the cervix. The result is that we literally "stew" in our own adrenaline. At the same time that the long, straight muscle fibres of the lower uterus are contracting to efface and dilate the cervix, the short, circular muscle fibres of the lower uterus are also contracting to keep the cervix closed and "fight" the labour. The result? The very real pain of two powerful muscles pulling in opposite directions each time the birthing mother has a contraction.

By learning to deeply relax mentally, physically, and emotionally; actively dealing with fears about birth; and choosing a birthing environment that feels safe and protective, birthing women will not have to experience the traumatic pain caused by the "Fear-Tension-Pain-Syndrome".