http://www.care2.com/greenliving/congratulations-it%ef%bf%bds-an%ef%bf%bdorgasm.html
Congratulations, It’s an Orgasm!
I once asked a very naive question of a woman friend, who happened to be a mother, about what childbirth was like for her. Her response came in the form of a vivid and simultaneously humorous and alarming directive. First, she said, pull your top lip up to the tip of your nose which I did agreeably. Now, she continued, pull your top lip over your nose and wrap it around the back of your head, then you will know what childbirth is like.
Now maybe I should have known better to ask, as for many women, birthing stories/descriptions comprise some of their most treasured moments of personal fulfillment or most visceral Grand-Guignol tales of personal horror. It is safe to say that, unless you were unconscious, your personal birthing story will be anything but mundane.
Recently, the idea and logic behind the customary hospital birth, with frequent medical intervention and a sort of denaturalization of an otherwise instinctive physiological process, has been called into question. Without delving too much into the history, hospital births have become the socially accepted norm in most of the western world, whereas the older, bolder models (home birth, water birth, etc) have been routinely marginalized. That is now changing, or at least up for discussion, as home births, doulas, and hypno-birthing are becoming a part of the prenatal lexicon.
The latest, and potentially most sensational movement is the idea of Orgasmic Birthing, which is the subject of the documentary Orgasmic Birth by, childbirth educator and doula, Debra Pascali-Bonaro. This documentary, which is scheduled to air, in an abbreviated form, on the popular infotainment show ABC’s 20/20 (January 2nd 2009) is certain to spark controversy as well as conversation. The general conceit of the movement, and documentary, states that it is within the realm of possibility for a woman to not only endure a natural childbirth, but too actually enjoy it–really enjoy it. As documented, many women will attest to feelings of elation akin to a sexual orgasm during the birthing process, as some women report having an orgasm as the baby exits the birthing canal.
This concept is just a hornets’ nest of possibilities. It brings all sorts of questions into the forefront about human sexuality, anatomical and physiological possibilities, and the division between the erotic and the maternal, all the stuff that makes certain sectors of the population squirm in discomfort. Some women are poised to see this documentary (and this movement) as a form of liberation from the current state of medicalizing the birthing procedure, whereas others may see it as just another way to feel let down, or lacking if they don’t have a birthing experience filled with a sense of elation and empowerment.
Regardless of what the outcome may be (whether the subject just fizzles out or finds a warm climactic reception) it is fair to say that, come January 3rd, people will be talking.
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27 comments
add your comment »Childbirth does NOT have to be painful..
and Yes Orgasm can be reached...Oxytocin (that causes Orgasm) is the SAME Hormone that Causes you to Have Contractions and BIRTH YOUR BABY...
Please people...Learn that Childbirth is not scary and it is NOT painful...and it CAN be WONDERFUL
www.orgasmicbirth.com
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thankyou...
Kabin
Konteyner
mega kabin
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In response to this author and NOT to the women who've left comments: WHO CARES? Why do men feel compelled to flatten every discussion on issues pertaining to women by blanketing it with stylized sexualization? Maybe it is physiologically possible for a woman to experience something like an orgasm, but so what? They just went through 9 months of pregnancy, they are dealing with the life-altering complexity of bringing new life into the world...
Women, if you want a nuanced, incisive exploration of birth in the US see The Business of Being Born.
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I was in labor for 24 hours. I knew nothing about chilbirth except what i had read or been told. My mother had adopted me and she never had any children of her own. As soon as I got to the pregnancy floor of the hosp. I heard a lady scream so loud it made my contractions stop. I looked at my husband and said "take me home!" But we didn't go home. I wish now thaat I could of had my baby at home with a midwife. The whole Hosp. thing really scared me more than anything, even though I had a very good doctor.
The contractions to me were a piece of cake . I thought if this is all there is I am ok. Then after a few hours the doctor broke the water bag and wow the pain began! I kept thinking how did the pioneer women do this? It felt like a mack truck sitting on my stomach until they gave me a spinal block. I felt nothing. The whole thing was to sterile and surgical like very unnatural. I would rather have done this at home in apeaceful enviornment where I could have scratched ,pawed and dug out a comfortable position! I believe that anything can happen in that area although I have never heard of this before .Interesting to note :breast feeding can cause orgasms.
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I could see it as possible I guess, I mean the muscular contractions to push the baby out are a lot like orgasmic muscular contractions. And you have the mass of the baby pushing on all those nerve endings, possibly including the G-spot. Combined with both natural, and possibly doctor-supplied, endorphins... and yeah, I guess it could, depending on if the pain is enough to overshadow it or not.
Maybe they can narrow the study down, see if it only affects the 10% or so of women who have the "female prostate"? These are the women who may occasionally ejaculate during orgasm due to having an extra fluid area near the bladder, similar to the male prostate, and pressure on it provides additional orgasmic succeptability. So maybe when these certain women give birth, it stimulates that?
Or maybe the birthing position influences it too since different areas would be stimulated, and certain nerves are in certain areas... Just figuring it's an interesting possibility to be looked into.
I personally don't LIKE the idea of such a phenomenon... But, if it is true then it's true, and if the mother feels good having the baby then good for her. Even if the thought does creep me out.
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Allis M and other ladies - this idea of 'if you fear and don't understand before birth - you will end up with a painful labour' is total... bunkum! Sorry ... but it is! I have two children... now in their 20's. I was in Britain's first hospital that allowed low lights, husbands, 'natural births', birthing chairs etc etc etc. I was a nurse myself - and was not worried. After being in labour for nearly 2 days with number one - and still only being at 2cm, I then suffered a raised blood pressure - and so was given an epidural to help lower it - better than drugs. Believe me - it helped with the pain... didn't stop it! And number two... I went just as long... and it was agonising - despite the epidural I had to have for other reasons once again. FEAR ... does not alway equate a nasty, painful labour. They happen because its just the way YOUR body works. My daughter has just had her second birth... the first after a 3 day labour - and the second after 40 hours - she had very little pain really - annoying but that was it. Whereas I just wanted to die! Then and there!! We are all different. I can't disbelieve the orgasm thing or believe it... I haven't seen it or known anyone with it! All I can say is.... LUCKY YOU!!
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My first birth was to a 9 pound posterior baby boy. I broke my tail bone and tore thru to my anus that took tremendous reconstruction surgery. I could not walk for a week.
I also was completely scared out of my mind BEFORE I GAVE BIRTH. As a child I loved children and was the neighborhood babysitter. However I was tormented as I was terrified by the horendous birth stories from my mother, aunts and neighborhood moms. Whenever I had to go to the dentist or endure any painful experience I would tell myself that I had to LEARN to endure pain as I wanted to have a baby one day. So of course the moment I went into labor the life time inner thoughts of terror and pain resulted in my poor sweet body becoming literally frozen in fear. The nurses sticking their head in the room every 30 minutes or so and saying "If you don't let us help you now, its gonna be too late!" did not help either. It took me years to over come the trauma. When I became pregnant with my second child my best friend was training to become a midwife. She taught me to trust my body and reinforced the belief that my body was programmed to give birth just as we swallow our food and breath with our lungs. I practiced my natural childbirth everyday and with my beloved friend at my side gave birth "LAUGHING" over the peaks of my contractions. My daughter was born with 2 pushes. My third child was born at home in 2 hours of labor delivered by my friend. Birth without pain and fear is possible.
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To be clear, I'm with you Lori on your December 21st comment:
"It's gotta be good for everyone..." WHAAA?? O.o I have noticed that these "women" posting these kinds of things have interesting profile information. Bonnie C.'s profile doesn't even exist any longer, it pulls up a "profile error", and Valerie's states that she is 62 years old. That's just a couple of years younger than my mother. When my mother had me, women were still put to SLEEP during childbirth and if you gave birth in a HOSPITAL, there was no option on that. It was just how things were done then. So no offense to anyone, but....I'm still thinking this entire article and the comments are a sick joke from some men or boys that are bored and have nothing better to do than make fun of womens' strength and all we go through in childbirth. Again...I'm not buying it. I do believe it is possible to give birth with a lesser amount of pain. I do NOT believe it is possible to have an orgasm while doing so. Sounds like a pretty "male conjured" premise to ME.
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I'm with you Lori H!
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Wow, what a thought. I gave birth to 5 children from 1977-1985. I had all natural but in a hospital setting. It was not by any means orgasmic but although painful, I was happy with my choice to avoid pain medications and felt great afterward. I was able to bond nicely with each baby also.
I do believe however each woman will decide for herself what they want out of the experience. I know friends of mine and family thought I was nuts to go natural, but it was my decision. I wish all women who go through birth the best and right experience they choose to have. Children are a blessing and that day is a special one.
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