Birth literacy belongs to families.

Birth has been pathologized to the point that information about Birth has become the intellectual property of obstetrics and midwifery.

Birth has become a field of medical sciences rather than a human experience that belongs to each of us. Instead of being taught skills we are encouraged to outsource to the medical system.

Because teaching it means you know how to control it.

And if we can control our Pregnancy + Birth experiences we become self sufficient, being active participants in our Pregnancy and Birth processes so that we may make informed decisions about the support and interventions we require (or want!).

In many parts of the world it is illegal for a non-medically trained professional to attend a Birth or to undertake any activities that fall under the category of "diagnostics and treatment" that "manage" the Birth.

This might include using a pinard stethoscope to listen to the Baby's heartbeat, using your hands to explore the position of Baby, using herbal remedies to heal tears or manage bleeding or cutting or burning the cord.

This carries forth absurdity as none of these things are inherently medical in nature

and why shouldn't I be able to heal myself?

Why shouldn't a Mother know how to find the position of her Baby, why shouldn't the Father be able to locate and listen to the heartbeat of his Baby?

Why shouldn't we be informed about true Birth physiology and what to do in the case that an intervention is required?

Most families are required to outsource information as we have not grown up in contact to Birth nor is this information readily available to us.

When we are not informed about Birth and Birth physiology we can fall into a Circle of Reliance.

A classic example is this:

First time Mother - no experience in Pregnancy/Birth

Relies on the practitioner to calculate expected date of arrival

Family doesn't invest in learning Birth physiology as "that's what the Midwife is there for"

Date of arrival roles around, baby is not coming

Midwifes can only attend the Birth up until X amount of weeks

Family does not feel prepared or empowered to take the Birth into their own hands

Mother feels external pressure

Decision to induce (incl. "natural" methods such as castor oil)

Problems arise during Birth (baby struggles to breathe, haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia)

Midwives/Obstetrician manage these

Family feel they were saved by the medical professionals

"Thank goodness the Midwife was there!"

Feelings of reliance on medical professionals are further perpetuated

Another example is the "baby is measuring too big" which leads to closer observation in which more parameters are monitored where more "problems" are found so the Mother is induced and that leads to a cascade of interventions... for a Baby that ends up not being big at all!

If we are truly informed about Birth and about our options, we reclaim our power.

This doesn't mean we shit on the medical system.

Because sometimes the medical system provides the help needed.

This isn't about rejecting help in Pregnancy and going it alone.

Because sometimes others can gently nudge us in new directions and support us in our sovereignty.

This is about decentralising Birth and putting it back into the hands of community.

Information, knowledge and wisdom about Birth do not belong in a textbook.

They do not belong in a medical school.

Birth lives and breathes among us.

Birth belongs to us.

Birth literacy belongs to families.

Mother love,

Scout