Biodynamic Birth

by Kara Spencer, Maia Healing Arts

 

Michel Odent, a French obstetrician-turned-midwife and primal health researcher, advocates in his book Farmer and the Obstetrician for the practice of biodynamic attitude toward birth. “Bio” means biological; the way of nature. In birth, this is to understand the normal physiological process of birth, gravity, hormones, and decreasing intervention by birth practitioners to allow instinctive birth. “Dynamic” refers to life force energy, change, motion. Biodynamic birthing serves each pregnant woman uniquely with the blend of natural birthing wisdom, medical science, and evidence-based practices to facilitate an optimal birth experience.

The word “biodynamic” is also well-known to describe biodynamic gardening, a model of agriculture developed by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education. Biodynamic gardening teaches of relationship between healthy living soil and cosmic forces. Biodynamic gardeners use their understanding of the lunar cycles and spiritual connection to the forces of nature to improve vitality and health of the plants, soil, and ecosystem. Biodynamic gardening utilizes the science of life-forces to aid in healing ailing land on earth. The biodynamic perspective is a holistic model of agriculture that optimizes ecological wellbeing while healing the past and providing for the future.

Biodynamic birthing is an ecological perspective of birth. A biodynamic attitude recognizes working with the natural cycles of birth, and emphasizes relationship not hierarchy. The practice of maternity care must be reevaluated to support sustainability, community, healing, and peace. Through biodynamic birth practices we can heal birth trauma, prevent unnecessary birth violence, nurture bonding and attachment, and cultivate a peaceful planet. It is essential that we not only improve maternal and infant health care but that we also heal the cycle of abused infants, and practice sustainable, biodynamic birth.

Comments

[Helena Wu, LM, CPM, Herbalist]

Well said! This is the core of my midwifery, herbalism, teaching and life. Everything is connected. We can learn to be in harmony with Spirit and Nature and therefore ourselves. It's really a way of being, not just a philosophy or technique.