Yesterday I gave a talk about The Basic Needs of a Woman in Labour to a group of 13 to 14-year-old grade 8s, my youngest daughter Kaira’s class. The teacher had arranged a week of talks around the theme of ‘Skills for 2030’ making a call some weeks prior to anyone willing and able to make an offering that they felt fit this category.
As the most ancient of ‘professions’ (one of the two eldest) and yet one which very much holds the future of humanity quite literally in its hands, I felt this was a very suitable subject matter for this topic. What more important skill to still have in 2030 than knowing how to guard and protect birth?
We called the talk ‘Guarding Birth’ and I spoke about how important it is for us to know and have awareness as fellow humans around the very simple understanding and the act of guarding and protecting this most precious and sacred process. I spoke about how we are all actually mammals and that all mammals need safety and protection when giving birth. I shared about oxytocin, the shy hormone of love, and how important it is to create that feeling of safety in the person giving birth so they can produce this hormone to birth their baby.
And you know what? It really grabbed their attention! They listened with concentration and curiousity as I went over my own history and calling as a birth attendant and how I came to write my book. I shared some birth stories (and only made my daughter blush once). We even spoke about placenta rituals and stillbirth!
It was sweet and matter-of-fact and they seemed almost hungry for this knowledge.
Whilst they may not be needing to tap into this knowledge fully at this stage of their lives I like to think I planted some seeds.
And I and I left a copy of my book as a resource in their library…
Copies of my book The Basic Needs of a Woman in Labour are available in
ENGLISH
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
SPANISH
ITALIAN
FRENCH
DUTCH
SWEDISH
GERMAN
ARABIC
TURKISH
RUSSIAN
To arrange bulk orders of a title in your language please contact me directly.
Leave copies lying around,
you never know, someone who really needs it may pick it up.
Thank you for being part of spreading the love
“A small book, with a message that is completely touching, and beautifully summarized what a beautiful natural birth should look like and what the woman needs for this. I hope this booklet will inspire many pregnant women, their birth partners, and birth professionals.”
– Jessica, Essential Health, Holland (5 Star AMAZON REVIEW)
