Natire Enchantee: vocalization during birth

Thanks to Pamela for bringing this lovely birth video, Naitre Enchantée, to my attention. It's a recent birth of a French woman named Magali Dieux--a home birth most likely, since I see a cat wandering around at the bottom of the screen. I love the reverent atmosphere that never breaks even after the baby is born. (I could do without the multi-lingual voiceovers, though). I wish there were more background information about the birth. I have done a quick and somewhat rough translation of the two commentaries supplied with the movie. If anyone has a better translation, please send it my way!

A method of gentle birthing by using sound and vocalization

“To me, utilizing the power of sound and vocalization are indispensable for easing pain and for enhancing the progression of labor during a birth. Magali Dieux shows us how birth can unfold in the best possible conditions." Corinne Adler, midwife.

“At a time when, in France, 90% of births are anesthetized and totally controlled by medicine, Magali is one of the pioneers of the future of birth—one who reveals the formidable powers hidden within each of us as human beings. Powers that can be tapped, if you desire them and work to access them.” Patrice van Eersel, Mettre au monde éd Albin Michel Essai Clé.

You can watch the video here.

I also appreciated Pamela's commentary about not wanting to make women feel bad if they don't birth quite as "calmly" as this woman. She wrote:

Sometimes I hesitate to post birth videos that are so romantic and calm and quiet and what we all deem to be “perfect with the woman in control”; simply because few women actually birth this way and it creates a feeling sometimes of “why can’t I birth like that? there must be something wrong with me!”. However, I wanted to post this birth video for the simple fact that the midwife in attendance is so respectful of this couple’s privacy, their need for quiet and calm, and a gentle entrance for their baby.

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Singing in labor

Those of us familiar with unmedicated labors are used to hearing women vocalize during contractions. We often talk about women's "birth songs," although frankly that phrase is often a euphemism for sounds that are more like a bellowing cow or roaring lion or some scary monster from a b-grade science fiction movie. Eric described my pushing vocalizations as "coming from the belly of the best."

But...sometimes women actually do sing--and I mean SING--during labor. Bellies and Babies recently posted a video of her friend singing during her labor, accompanied by her husband on a guitar. It's beautiful. Supposedly she had a couple contractions during the video, but I had a hard time telling when!

Singing during labor makes a lot of sense. It makes us take nice, deep abdominal breaths, and then sloooooowly release the air as we sing. It also ensures that we keep the mouth, throat, and neck relaxed, which is great for keeping the pelvic area loose as well.

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