The Purpose of Integrative Care

Birth Doula… What does this mean? Maternal Wellness Advocate? What is the meaning behind this work, and how does it look? It’s the physiology of Birth. It’s moving away from conventional language around birth, such as ‘stages of labor’, cervical dilation, examinations, sweeps, interventions. This work is about promoting the feeling within the body. The body is interconnected with the mind; as one system, after all. It’s reframing the role, to support a birthing person through ought her/their journey honouring traditional practise. How to move, how to relax, how to breathe, and how to be present from one moment to the next.

Responsibility as an advocate for birth justice is to be able to offer evidence based information as often as possible, regarding the journey through pregnancy and labor and finally birth. Specifically, the physiology of birth, the role of birth hormones, how the infant moves through the body to transition earthside. Comfort measures, relaxation and visualization techniques, acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, reiki, nutrition, herbal medicine/remedies, and more..

We as women are expected to all of a sudden find safety and trust in our bodies in a society that has repressed and suppressed such confidence and knowledge for centuries. Therefore, it is a challenge to expect in our western ways, that we can just ‘do it’. We live in a place and time that has dependant on instant results with as little discomfort as possible. This extends to our very sacred birth practises, or lack thereof.

Integrative care is useful because if we look at birth as it is, I would argue it is the most integral, integrative human experience there is. That’s bold, and a lot to unpack. So lets unpack it?

We have inter personal neurobiology, nervous system transference, polyvagal theory, pain theory (helping the birthing person cope with labor, not eliminate the pain. Understanding what’s happening, the physiology of it all. There is a very significant role that trust and compassion play in preparation for this incredibly transformative experience. Exploration of compassionate inquiry, or motivational interviewing in order to meet the birthing person where they’re at. That stuff sounds like mind work, and it is! Body systems aren’t just connected, they are one. If the mind doesn’t recognize the body, or emotion, we can’t shift.