Follow your instinct and give birth wonderfully.
How does that sound to you?
In general, it sounds right.
Because birth is indeed driven by instincts. Just like in dogs, cats, tigers, and other animals.
However, even though humans share a similar birth mechanism and hormonal processes with animals…
Humans differ greatly from animals, not only because we walk upright, but also—and most importantly—because of the structure of our brain.
Humans have a highly developed cerebral cortex—the neocortex. That is why we are called Homo sapiens (wise human).
This doesn’t mean animals are dumber than us. They are just different. The main difference between humans and animals is that animals are guided by instincts all the time. During birth, it is easy for them to follow their instincts because they follow them every day anyway. Precisely because they don’t have such a highly developed part of the brain—the neocortex.
And humans, thanks to the neocortex, build houses, bridges, and tunnels, and fly into space.
And…
This neocortex prevents them from giving birth normally.
In short: humans overthink.
If you look at the neocortex as the driving force of progress, it’s great that we have it.
Living in a house is more comfortable than in a cave. And getting somewhere by car is faster than on foot.
But if you look at the question from the perspective of “giving birth well,” then something needs to be done with this neocortex. Because all thoughts, analysis of what is happening around you, and other brain activity VERY strongly interfere with the birthing process.
Giving birth is a process of instincts; you don’t need to think here, you need to give birth. But what can you do with a neocortex that keeps wanting to think and figure things out? You can’t just take it out for the duration of labor and plug it back in later, right?
A modern woman who is experiencing labor for the first time and actively uses her neocortex in everyday life has an urgent need to learn “what to do with this neocortex” before birth.
Because due to a lack of knowledge or shaky confidence, getting scared during labor is inevitable.
And fear is one of the strongest activators of the neocortex.
Fear is a body’s defense mechanism. Fear helps us survive.
But birth is not survival; it is the birth of a new human being. Here, you shouldn’t be afraid—instead, you need to do what?
That’s right, you need to give birth here.
Easier said than done, right?
But it’s actually not that hard to do. If you understand, of course, what exactly needs to be done.
During birth, we need the ancient brain—the hypothalamus—to take control of us and our body. And the neocortex needs to be put to sleep while the baby is being born.
For the neocortex to calm down and say, “Okay, you’ll manage here without me,” we need to NOT STIMULATE IT.
What stimulates the neocortex?
Light. Remember under what conditions it’s easier for you to relax and fall asleep. In bright light, or do you turn off the lights? The answer is obvious. Because our neocortex calms down specifically in darkness or dim light.
Loud, sharp noises, such as the clinking of metal, cause us anxiety and a desire to find out where the sound came from and if it poses a threat. That is how our defense system works. And that’s good. But in labor, on the contrary, we don’t need to defend ourselves or save ourselves. We need to give birth. So, no sudden noises during birth.
Off-topic conversations or questions like “the first day of your last period” literally pull a woman out of her state of deep immersion in labor. So it’s worth organizing the most important day of your life in a way that avoids unnecessary questions.
Cold. Let’s refer to sleep again. How do we drift off to sleep? You might notice that moment when your feet finally warm up, your body feels warm and cozy, and that becomes the starting point for falling asleep. If you haven’t noticed, pay attention, because that’s how it works. Warmth brings relaxation, and with it, peace for the neocortex.
A sense of safety. This is the hardest part. No, not to understand. You are smart enough. It’s hard to execute. Unfortunately, modern childbirth is set up without an understanding of any of the points above.
The modern approach to birth as a purely medical event was originally intended to help and improve things. But the question of how to improve on something that is already perfect remains open.
So currently, we have birth taking place in hospital rooms. Where there is modern equipment, a hospital bed in the middle of the room—everything according to the view of birth as an illness that needs to be treated. But is there anything that birth actually needs? Anything that puts the neocortex to sleep?
No, there isn’t.
So what should we do? Are all women now forced to give birth in pain and agony?
Of course not.
First, a sense of safety can be built internally. To do this, you need to prepare for birth.
Because instincts are instincts, but the modern medical approach to childbirth and the neocortex often prevent these instincts from fully manifesting.
It is best to prepare for birth by reading Michel Odent, Grantly Dick-Read, and by taking specialized courses. The Internet is fine, of course, but the information there is unstructured and often blatantly false.
Furthermore, such quality preparation helps you look at the approach to birth in a given medical facility from a different angle. When you know where the truth lies and where it doesn’t, you are much better equipped to assess the situation and choose a different facility if their approach doesn’t suit you.
Or even use the services of a birth center or a home birth midwife.
The more you learn about birth, the better you understand how reliable the process is.
The more you learn about birth, the less it scares you. And that is precisely the safe space inside you that your neocortex so desperately needs for a good birth.
