“The birth of a child is the ultimate perfection of human love” Grantly Dick-Read

When healthcare professionals come across situations that don’t fit into the academic learned platform, there is a tendency to dismiss their clinical observations in favor of supporting learned academic protocols. There are some exceptions to this rule of thumb.

Grantly Dick-Read was a twentieth century British obstetrician turned advocate for a natural and relaxed birthing experience. His first encounter in assisting a birthing woman that declined then standard inhaled chloroform for pain relief was as an intern in 1913. He witnessed the woman deliver her baby calmly in absence of pain. He curiously asked the woman why she had declined pain relief. Her response she declined because she was not in pain (it had not hurt) became a guiding force behind his research and advocacy. Observing other women from various villages birth in a similar manner, he concluded these women all shared the same belief; birthing was a natural pain free experience in absence of fear.

This morning, I noticed a post addressing spiritual beliefs relating to conception and birthing for the tribal women from the Himba tribe of Namibia. It addressed the beauty and sacredness of planning the time of conception. Inviting the child’s soul to enter into the sacred space created by her and her partner during the act of lovemaking. The welcoming of the child through an original song specific to the baby. The villagers learned the song and sing it in welcoming the baby into the world. (This is a very abbreviated version that does not convey the full narrative).

The story reminded me of the late Sobonto Somé from the Dagara tribe of West Africa. Her book Welcoming Spirit Home: Ancient African Teachings to Celebrate Children shares the sentiment of honoring tribal traditions and rituals. Having the baby feel welcomed, acknowledged and cherished by all is important in welcoming the infant from conception through birth; the power of tribal community in creating unconditional love and acceptance.

Michael Odent, a retired French obstetrician and natural childbirth specialist authored Birth Reborn: Second Edition. The book includes a compilation of images clearly depicting the intimate moments of birthing.

“Women have millions of years of genetically encoded intelligences, intuitions, capacities, knowledges, powers, and cellular knowings of exactly what to do with the infant” Joseph Chilton-Pierce

Photo Credit: Chris Mclennan