NEWS

« Any woman who experiences the vulnerability of carrying a child in her body (or heart) and bringing it earthside is heroic in my estimation.We all open. We all tear, somewhere (body, heart, soul). We all both wildly embrace and struggle to embrace these experiences. It all takes courage and that courage is always worth celebrating.”  — Rachel Lorena Brown

I still have a very vivid memory of the life-changing time when I decided to apply to train as an Active Birth teacher all those years ago. The application involved writing an essay on « What is an Active Birth ?». It was true then and I feel even more so now after years of crossing path with many pregnant women, that yes, an Active Birth often result in a natural birth… but not necessarily. An Active Birth involves getting physically ready to allow for the body’s wisdom to unfold during labour and birth in the most physiological and natural way. But an Active Birth is also an emotional process, and a spiritual one which will allow a woman, a couple, a family, to gain ownership of their experience and welcome with grace and acceptance the way birth will unfold, and any unforseen change of plans which might come with it.

That change of plan can sometimes involve a C-birth…A birth is a birth, and wether a Cesarean birth is planned or a last minute decision, there is OF COURSE still room for empowerement and pride, whatever the circumstances. C-birth mamas show so much strength and courage, which I fear are sometimes underlooked when birth is only observed through the lense of the constructed image of the « perfect » natural birth. Birth is filled with intensity, joy, struggles, pain, questioning, and beauty, and Ceasarean births are no exception and deserve to be acknowledged for what they are : the opening of a body and soul to a new life.