The Power of Joy: Pre- and Peri-Natal Psychology as Applied by a Mountain Midwife

Knowledge of the consciousness of the unborn child provides the
unprecedented opportunity and responsibility to change the practice of obstetrics. Pregnancy and birth are
primal experiences, but caregivers often forget this as they are caught up in the technological current of our
contemporary obstetrical world. Fear has often replaced joyful expectation for mother, baby, and provider.
Instinctual maternal behavior of comfort and care for the unborn child can be fostered. Maternal appreciation of
and communication with the intelligent fetus can be encouraged from the first prenatal visit. The pregnant
woman and her unborn child rise to unimagined strength and competence in birth when they are prepared for
joy and have confidence on the deepest cellular level that they know instinctively what to do. Techniques of birth
preparation will be demonstrated that prevent subsequent obstetrical and emotional problems. With our growing
knowledge of the consciousness of the unborn child we have an unprecedented opportunity and responsibility
to change and improve the way we deliver prenatal care and support women and their families at birth.
Improved medical care alone does not improve outcome. To enhance the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of birth, we need to expand our attitudes and the art of our care, as well as fine tune our technical and
intuitive skills. It is important to reevaluate what we think is prenatal care. It is, very minimally, tummy checks.
More importantly it is a time to encourage and nurture the deep strengths and potential of every woman to grow
a healthy baby and give birth instinctually