Reclaiming Childbirth as a rite of passage by Dr Rachel Reed
Book Review written by Geraldton Doula Alana Hailwood.
Dr Rachel Reed is an icon in the birthing world. She is a former midwife, an educator, an author, a speaker and a researcher, with her PhD in midwifery practice during physiological birth. Her book Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage draws upon her PhD findings and applies them to the modern context of birth. The book acts as a call to action for the changes needed in the modern maternity system and the need for women to take back their power.
Rachel begins her book discussing the ‘herstory’ of women and the affects the patriarchy had not just on women but also their ability to trust in themselves and their bodies. It truly is crazy to see the way birth has changed over the centuries, going from surrounding the mother whilst she utilises her body and her own belief and wisdom to birth her baby, to birthing with much less support, trusting more in complete strangers to tell her what is happening in her own body and with majority of the focus being on the baby rather than the mother. “Childbirth has always been, and will always be, a significant rite of passage that transforms a woman into a mother”.
The modern maternity system and their practice ultimately portrays the message that women and their bodies are incapable, and that birth is dangerous, and that medicine can help to control the chaos and in turn make it safe, however this often has a very different affect. With the modern approach this modern approach to birth being so socially acceptable many women are stepping into motherhood untrusting in themselves relying upon the voices and opinions of others rather than their own knowledge of self and their natural ability to mother. “The cultural landscape in which a woman gives birth influences the messages she receives about herself and her role as a mother”.
The interweaving of statistics throughout the book are extremely powerful and really help to prove that change is well overdue. The maternity system needs an approach that ‘encompasses the diversity of women’s choices and experiences, and stops viewing birth as a purely physical event, when in fact it is also emotional, psychological, cultural, social and spiritual. Statistics such as 29.8% of women went into labour without being induced and continued their labour without medical interventions to speed up progress in 2018, is absolutely wild.
It baffles me that we have the knowledge and resources to support both physiological birth as well as the medical capacity to manage any complications that may arise, but instead we are left with statistics like 45% of women having their first baby are having a caesarean section when the WHO recommendations is that no region should have more than 10-15% of women having a caesarean. It truly is scary the fact that majority of midwives and doctors would be more accustomed to and would happily lean towards offering interventions than they would be witnessing and/or promoting a physiological labour and birth. “Women in the system deserve good midwives who can advocate for them & be with women, but in modern maternity midwives are stretched beyond their capacity”.
Reed then delves into the story of Eve and the physiological stages of labour and birth which she has called Preparation, Separation, Liminality, Emergence and Integration, comparing them with the more medicalised terminology of the 1st-4th stages of labour. The way she wove her own findings and knowledge with supporting quotes from varies people in the birthing world was extremely powerful and I loved reading the personal experiences and feelings of mothers, birth partners, midwives and doulas. Reed also touches on medicalised birth especially in the way that birth has evolved and changed. There was a common theme throughout, and this was in regard to the need for women to reclaim their power and trusting in their knowledge and body when it comes to the natural process of birth.
“Reclaiming Childbirth as a rite of passage” is an incredibly influential book focusing on the need for changes in the modern maternity system. I believe this book would be of benefit to anyone involved in childbirth or pregnant mums and support people wanting to know more about birth and the way that they can help to turn the tables on the way birth is now, focusing on the way that birth can become, focused on woman-centred care that recognises the mother as an expert in regard to their body and baby.
If you would like to purchase the book, you can go to Dr Rachel Reed’s website:
https://www.rachelreed.website/books
My name is Alana Hailwood, and I am an emerging doula who has completed training at the Doula Training Academy, and I service the Geraldton and Midwest area. If you would like more information about my doula services, please contact me:
Phone:
0439 625 940
Email:
[email protected]
Website:
http://nurturingtouchbyalana.com.au
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