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Birthing From Within: Extraordinary Childbirth Preparation

© Maurenne Griese

During my fourth pregnancy, I heard from a lot of mothers, childbirth educators, midwives and doulas that there was a fantastic book available that every pregnant woman had to have. It was called "Birthing From Within". I read it four times during that pregnancy and it changed my life personally. It also changed the way I teach my classes, the way I provide labor support and the way I practice nursing. If you are pregnant or if you care for expectant women, run, don't walk to your local bookstore and get this book! It is simply fantastic!

In 1998, midwife Pam England and psychologist Rob Horowitz introduced the world to the Birthing from Within approach to childbirth through their book, Birthing From Within. The BIRTHING FROM WITHIN approach was created and has been refined during the past ten years. Childbirth educators can now be trained to instruct expectant parents about BFW and BFW doula training programs are also available.

Several fundamental differences make the BIRTHING FROM WITHIN (BFW)approach more than just another childbirth education method or doula training program. First, it acknowledges that mothers already "know" a lot (whether they know it or not). This method also helps parents discover and validate their own knowledge, rather than directing a stream of information at them. A typical BFW childbirth class is divided into three parts: (1) A multi-sensory activity such as learning from Birth Art or Singing Lullabies; (2) Building a pain-coping mindset through BFW pain-coping practices, such as Non-Focused Awareness or Coyote Circle; and (3) Practical information, such as "How to Push Your Baby Out" or "What to Do For Back Labor."

According to England,"coping with pain, exhaustion, and the unknown in labor, is the foremost concern of most parents. In these classes, instructors help parents explore philosophical and cultural beliefs about labor pain. Parents learn how these beliefs affect their experience of, and ability to cope with, the pain. BFW classes devote significant time practicing the mindful pain-coping techniques. At the same time, instructors present a compassionate view on the wise use of drugs and epidurals."

"A mother who is understanding or planning her labor in her head, from reading books or watching a video, can be lulled into thinking she's prepared emotionally or spiritually to give birth", says England. "She needs to get in touch with how she will birth from within, in her body, as a mother. This way of birthing cannot be learned from a book. It is accessed through courageous preparation, prayerful contemplation, introspection and a process of letting go."

Pam England, CNM

Birth Goddess Art by Pam England

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