'Pregnancy & Birth'
"Helps parents-to-be to prepare emotionally and spiritually for
the birth of their child... an essential part of preparing for birth."
Product Description
Giving birth is the pivotal moment of a woman's life but it is often treated as a medical procedure, and not as a rite of passage in a couple's life. Childbirth is a moment that needs to honour nature where a woman comes to tap her own resources and come to know her own strenghs and resources, the self-discoveries made during pregnancy will make a birth life-enhancing and empowering for the future of a parent. Many birth classes teach from the 'outside', from the perspective of the professional, but knowledge of anatomy and the stages of labour can often seem irrelevant in the white heat of contraction. The pregnant woman needs to know about labour and birth from her own perspective, she needs to be prepared for 'birthing from within'. Pam England and Rob Horowitz have developed a multi-sensory and holistic approach to educating new mothers. At the core of their philosophy is the creation of birth art; drawing, painting or sculpture: the creative expression of the fears and hopes of parenthood. Making art is an opportunity for parents to reflect on what they know about childbirth, and what they need and want; it initiates discussion and prompts questions that lead parents to acknowledge the life they will lead after the birth. 'Birthing from within' provides a resource for overcoming pain during birth. Pain is an inevitable part of childbirth but pain coping techniques can be taught and can become part of the mother's daily life during pregnancy.