"When you understand this, it's easier to see why so many of the common practices in our modern way of giving birth actually hinder the process and make birth harder than it needs to be."
Birth is an altered state of consciousness, and we need to talk about it.
If you've ever watched someone in labor (like, in real life. Not on TV...), or experienced labor yourself, you know that something really interesting happens. When we're in labor, at a certain point jokes aren't funny anymore, talking becomes minimal, eyes are closed, and time seems to warp. You've probably heard this described as "Labor Land" - a sort of dreamlike state where it can feel like you're somewhere else and (mostly) unaware of what's going on around you.
Not only is there some really fascinating science behind this, but when you think about it, it's an incredibly intelligent design that even science can't explain. Stay with me...
If you know anything about birth, you know that there's a cascade of hormones working together to make physical changes to allow your baby to come out. But the part that doesn't get talked about are the changes going on inside your brain. During labor, your brainwaves slow way down from the conscious/logical/decision making brain (beta) to alpha, theta, and even delta brainwave states. It's similar to what happens when you're falling asleep or meditating (which is why I recommend practicing meditation during pregnancy!)
To put it into perspective, you're likely in beta right now. You're reading, processing information, making judgements, etc.
Alpha brainwaves happen when you're intensely focused on something, perhaps a work project or something creative. You're more in your senses and less concerned with mundane tasks and to-do's. This also happens when you're on "autopilot" - like driving to work and sort of forgetting the last 10 minutes of your drive.
Theta is that place between sleep and wakefulness. It's where you get insights, revelations, or a solution to a problem you hadn't thought about before. It's where your intuition lives.
Delta is our deep sleep state. Normally, we aren't conscious when we're experiencing delta brainwaves, but in labor you can experience the delta state while you're awake.
And here's why this matters - from a scientific standpoint, this shift in brainwave patterns is a natural, physiological process your body goes through in order to make labor/birth happen. Just like the cocktail of hormones that dilates your cervix and brings your baby down and out, your brainwaves play a crucial role in getting you through not only the physical parts of labor (like helping to reduce perception of pain), but the emotional and spiritual parts too (connection with your baby and your intuition/instincts to know what positions, breathing, etc. to use in order to facilitate your baby's journey through your pelvis).
When you understand this, it's easier to see why so many of the common practices in our modern way of giving birth actually hinder the process and make birth harder than it needs to be.
Imagine trying to fall asleep. Your body is primed with all the right hormones and knows how to slow your brainwaves to help you drift off. But every 30-60 minutes or so, someone you barely know comes in and turns on the lights, asks you questions, makes requests.... it would be really hard to fall asleep that way.
Labor is the same way. You're essentially asking your brain to fall asleep. But without the right conditions, you're setting yourself up for a long, frustrating night of insomnia.
So how do we support this natural, physiologic shift in brainwave patterns in order to support a smoother (and often quicker) labor process? Here are some ideas:
- Quiet voices
- Limit unnecessary conversation / having your partner answer routine questions when appropriate
- Low lights
- Closing your eyes
- Listening to calming music/sounds
- Massage, hydrotherapy, or any other sensory touch items that help you feel safe / comfortable
- Calming essential oils if tolerated and/or familiar smells (like a pillow from home)
- Anticipating needs instead of asking (like putting a water bottle to her mouth instead of asking "do you want water?")
Birth doesn't happen in ordinary reality or "logically". There's so much more to it than the physical/mechanical expulsion of a baby. Birth is hormonal, neurological, emotional, and for many, deeply spiritual. Understanding all of the ways the human body works in harmony to bring a baby into the world can help us move through labor and birth with more reverence, surrender, and trust.
Birth as an altered state of consciousness is one of the topics we cover in The Birth Alchemy Course, an 8-week, self-paced childbirth education series co-created with my friend and fellow doula, Kayla, of Mother Knows Birth Doula. Our course covers everything you need to know about birth that most classes don't cover, like brainwave states, mindset, advocacy and your legal rights in the hospital. If you're looking for childbirth education that not only gives you a foundation of knowledge, but practical ways to actually use that knowledge when it matters most, we'd love to support you. Check it out here.