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A Conversation with
Ina May Gaskin
Leader in America’s Natural
Childbirth Movement
by Gail Condrick
I
na May Gaskin is the author of
At the time, my husband Stephen and
Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May’s
I were traveling on a cross-country
Guide to Childbirth, developer of
lecture tour with a caravan of 50 school
the Gaskin maneuver for shoulder birth
buses; along the way, babies were born
complications, and founder of The Farm
and we midwifed each other. We began
to unfold in the most peaceful way, the
Midwifery Center, in Tennessee. Since
to coalesce into a community, finding
mother experiences the natural release
1971, she has influenced and inspired
roots and settling in Tennessee, where
of a mixture of ecstatic hormones,
women around the world with her
we founded The Farm. Some members
oxytocin and beta endorphins. Birth-
views on natural childbirth.
of our community were doctors and
ing mothers actually have the ability
nurses and we made contacts with local
to become more fluid and are able to
Q. You have been called the nation’s
hospitals and health authorities. We had
relax the muscles that need to open.
leading midwife and the founder of the
good outcomes with our pregnancies
If the body senses fear, the muscles of
natural childbirth movement in Ameri-
and breastfeeding rates right from the
the involuntary system become rigid
ca. How did you get started?
start. Our on-the-job training grew as
and inflexible, which makes it hard to
change shape. Then, the immobility
we learned from each other as mid-
Like many women, I had tried a
escalates, causing extreme pain where
wives and friends.
hospital birth and vowed never to be
normally, labor would continue unim-
treated that way again. It was the late
peded. Fighting this natural functioning
Q. What do women and their partners
1960s and Americans were in rebellion.
wastes a lot of energy.
need to know about natural childbirth?
Women began demanding access to
Yet, a birthing mother can make an
birth centers and midwives.
instant change and release the ecstatic
Women need to know that their bodies

hormones naturally, simply through
work better than they think they do. It is
deep breathing, laughter and even
vital to trust the process of nature. We
experiencing gratitude for those helping
Learn How to Give
must believe that women’s bodies are
her. All of this works best in an atmo-
perfectly made for childbirth and the
a Great Massage
sphere of privacy and calm.
natural rhythms of giving birth. When
to Your Partner our larger culture understands how Q. Will you explain what you refer to
women’s bodies work and we trust that as our country’s “big secret” regarding
In the giving we receive.
ours will work, we will have an entirely childbirth?
new psychology of childbirth.
Basic couples massage workshop
and private couple sessions
Natural childbirth can provide a There is a generally held belief that
are based on simple, easy-to-learn holistic approach to childbearing, one
childbirth is safe in the United States
Swedish and Sports Massage techniques.
that includes the physical and emo-
while, in reality, we lack accurate re-
tional, spiritual, and cultural needs of
porting on this country’s rising maternal
Develop confidence and skill...
and take the time to enjoy your
each unique birth. To attend the birth
death rate. The reports we do have,
partner in a new way.
of another person is a great, humbling,
based on long-term data compiled by
wonderful opportunity.
the Centers for Disease Control and
3 hours $225.00 private couple sessions.
a later National Vital Statistics Report,
Group workshops available. Call today.
Q. Why does the mind/body connec-
reveal a doubling of the annual ma-
tion play a key role in childbirth?
ternal fatalities tracked per 100,000
TOUCH FOR TWO
live births, from 7.5 in 1982 through
Laurie Holmes, LMT, MA#43186 954.439.1786
When the biological process is allowed
1996 to 15.1 in 2005. Given suspected
30 Broward County
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