Dear Childbirth Educator,

May I just support and add to the wise words of the midwife and the 
psychologist, from the viewpoint of a childbearing woman. It is widely 
known that positive encouragement and models are effective, rather than 
negative/aversive techniques. In my personal (4 'normal' births, each 
quite different) and research experience (interviewing many women over 
years) what helps is good (not emoptionally loaded!)information, 
support from a midwife who is oriented to the woman's needs and from 
family/friends or partner, a calm, hopefully familiar environment, 
appropriate ways of coping with pain, personal confidence, openness and 
lack of fear. To frighten women as a form of encouragement to 'natural' 
birth seems appalling. In any case, the meaning of 'traumatic' deserves 
more careful consideration. Do you mean medically complicated? with 
obstetric interventions? psychologically traumatic? There is a body of 
research which suggests that the woman's sense of personal control is a 
key to not being psychologically traumatised, and that even though one 
might hope and wish for a natural birth, there are ways of handling 
interventions which are supportive for the woman. Some women will need 
interventions and this shouldn't be cast in the role of failure. Again, 
my experience suggests that women accept and deal with such experiences 
well if they feel the interventions were appropriate, they were 
properly informed, able to participate in decisions and given good 
moral support. I understand the use of the term 'natural childbirth educator' 
as expressing the aim of support normal physiological processes in 
childbirth but I would also suggest that you consider carefully the 
concept of naturalness itself - birth always takes place within a 
cultural and social framework and is a social as well as physiological 
act.  As previous correspondents suggest, why not just stick to 
positive support.

Chris McCourt



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