Birth Power

If you ever need proof of how strong and empowered a woman can be, watch a birth. I myself was fortunate enough to witness one, to reaffirm my belief in the powers of women.

All women have different experiences of birth. Some feel self-assured, some nervous, some are focused on the pain. Some have their children quickly, some slowly, some yell and moan, some are quiet. All of them should be admired, commended, respected. Giving birth is a test of physical and mental endurance for which there is no way to prepare. Yet no matter what the circumstances or how difficult the birth, women are able to tap into strength they may not have even known they had. Most female-bodied folks possess the superpower of bringing another human being into the world.

This is not to say that you must give birth to be a “real” woman or to feel confident and strong; there are just as many ways to tap into your own powers as there are women in the world. Likewise, we shouldn't devalue women who, for whatever reason, are unable to give birth despite their wishes to do so. However, as a society, we can respect the birthing process and, in doing so, respect the intrinsic power of women.

The predominant attitude in our culture is that birth is a strictly medical event where something could go wrong at any second. Birth is unique in that regard. While birth is a high-stakes event where medical interventions can certainly be necessary and life-saving, many other high-stakes events are not nearly as mistrusted. People do extreme (and extremely dangerous) sports without constant monitoring. Some people hold jobs that put them at risk for serious injury or even death and are rightly praised for their bravery and selflessness instead of being fretted over at every moment. So why do we assume the worst of birth? Do we still see women as too fragile? Women have been successfully giving birth for thousands of years, even before humans developed sophisticated birthing technology. Women are capable.

When a woman is in control of her own birth, she is empowered. This doesn't have to mean a natural birth; if a woman wants an epidural, she should have one. No matter what the particulars, being in control means being trusted, encouraged, and allowed space and time to labor in her own way. She must be the star of her own birth, for she- not her technological assistance- is responsible for the momentous occasion when another human being is brought into the world. If a woman loses that control, she will still end up with a healthy child, but something else is lost. An opportunity is missed. A woman leaves with a bad taste in her mouth, even though she has a beautiful baby. Birth is not just about the end result.

Women are capable. We can do this. Trust us. As Laura Stavoe Harm said, "we have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful; it's that women are strong."