Midwives and Doulas -- the salt of the Earth and

Midwives and Doulas-

the salt of the Earth and guardians of our future.

by Colin Knauf

Next only to the power of the universe and motherhood, midwives, doulas and natural birth facilitators are our hope for a future. These dedicated souls offer wisdom of the ages, loving support and the natural order of things to enable healthy birth. They are our saving grace for a planet degenerating into chaos and catastrophe -our front lines fostering change for a better more peaceful tomorrow.

Every mechanical birth foisted upon us by our technology driven medical industry leads us closer to disaster. This industry and it's share holders put more value upon control and self perpetuating income than healthy birthing outcomes. Sadly they rule political policy and the planet.

Health, love and joy- being the natural byproduct of natural nurturing from conception through to birth and beyond - push us toward a life of health, tolerance, love, joy and compassion. Alternately every needless birthing intervention moves us away from nature's perfect path. Science has shown it predicates poor health, emotional dysfunction and violence which support the number one global industry: WAR MACHINES and number two profit centre: PHARMACEUTICALS!

As our second saviours, and I do not use that word lightly, Michel Odent and cohorts have shown through robust research and cross cultural study of birthing practices; a much better way is possible, easy, affordable and warranted. Science research has rediscovered what we have intuitively known all along. Science articulates what our innate genetic handbook of life is trying to tell us: pervasive modern methods of intervention and medication are unhealthy and impede the natural order of birth. Thinkers outside the box have shown scientifically and empirically: when all things natural are set in motion for birth to proceed - it does...most beautifully. Natural birth offers us health, well being and smiling babies not screaming, quivering, frightened souls predisposed to perils and problems that are totally unnecessary except for obscene profit and greed.

Baby and mother know best -by reading each others 'hormone chart', accurately timing and prompting each other to invoke the 'birthing ballet'. Later this dynamic duo interact to trigger mother's 'milk of human kindness'. The amazing elixir of life that fosters health, long term wellness and comfort. Perfectly sustaining babies who are so fortunate as to receive it.

'Labour' is a strange word to describe the natural course of events for this wonderfully sacred time. It is a word likely coined by modern medicine. Highly indicative of a limited perspective and descriptive of the horrendous effort involved in pushing a baby uphill uncomfortably confined in stirrups and balanced on a cold narrow operating table. Immobilized with wires and IVs dangling, tethered to beeping machines, in a too bright 'birthing theatre' permeated by foreign smells, anxiously distracted by too many poking and prodding people. Maybe 'labour' is an apt name for birthing in the disquieting and unfriendly environs of a conventional hospital. Compromising confusion, defensive hostility and feeling under siege is no recipe for a happy, healthy and imminent new life. Not the ideal setting for tranquil thoughts or attendant hopes and dreams for a long life of happiness with your emergent little one. What an unnatural way to begin a partnership that should sustain both, through all the ups and downs of life. Demeaning a woman by depriving her of her privacy, control and innate empowerment; and then setting her up for "failure to progress" is a sure path to post partum depression and all the attendant risk to mother and baby. It is a perfect catalyst to unhealthy dependency on the medical and pharmaceutical industry and other addictive behaviours which spawn our burgeoning western economy.

Leboyer, Odent, Prescott, Pearce, Bowlby, Montigu, Liedloff, the Harlows and a vast number of other leading and questioning thinkers have exhaustively researched and studied birthing and nurturing around the world. They have as much as proven: medical interventions predispose us to poor health, violent and addictive behaviours and many other malevolent life outcomes. They have illuminated our understanding of the important junctures in our primal period: preconception, conception, birth and postnatal development.

They have shown nature lays these milestones in perfect order and sacred balance. Resulting in healthy brain development invoking natural endocrinology and biochemical setup for a good life. Offering a life of joy, health, compassion, love, tolerance, production, fulfillment and best of all an innate understanding of the harmony available in the universe.

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Thank you for embracing nature,
Guiding us and pointing the way to harmony,
In a world so desperately in need of it.
You are making a difference – a huge one,
-- one happy birth and family at a time.
This bodes well for our future and world peace.