wisewords
A Conversation with
Ina May Gaskin
Leader in America’s
Natural Childbirth
Movement
by gail condrick
Q. What do women and their
I
na May Gaskin is the author of
Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May’s
partners need to know about natural
Guide to Childbirth, developer of
childbirth?
the Gaskin maneuver for shoulder birth
Women need to know that their bodies
complications, and founder of The
work better than they think they do. It is
Farm Midwifery Center, in Tennessee.
vital to trust the process of nature. We
Since 1971, she has influenced and
must believe that women’s bodies are
inspired women around the world with
perfectly made for childbirth and the
her views on natural childbirth.
natural rhythms of giving birth. When
ACUPUNCTURE
our larger culture understands how
Q. You have been called the
women’s bodies work and we trust that
FACELIFT
nation’s leading midwife and the
ours will work, we will have an entirely
founder of the natural childbirth
new psychology of childbirth.
movement in America. How did
Natural childbirth can provide a
A safe, effective,
you get started?
holistic approach to childbearing, one
non-surgical
procedure for facial
Like many women, I had tried a hospi-
that includes the physical and emo-
rejuvenation and
tal birth and vowed never to be treated
tional, spiritual, and cultural needs of
muscle toning. that way again. It was the late 1960s
each unique birth. To attend the birth
Stimulates and
and Americans were in rebellion.
of another person is a great, humbling,
exercises the
Women began demanding access to
wonderful opportunity.
underlying facial
muscles, creating
birth centers and midwives.
a subtle, visible,
At the time, my husband Stephen
Q. Why does the mind/body
contouring lift to and I were traveling on a cross-country
connection play a key role in
fi rm and tighten
lecture tour with a caravan of 50 school
childbirth?
the face and neck.
Reduces lines
buses; along the way, babies were
When the biological process is allowed
and wrinkles.
born and we midwifed each other. We
to unfold in the most peaceful way, the
No scarring. began to coalesce into a community, mother experiences the natural release
finding roots and settling in Tennessee,
of a mixture of ecstatic hormones,
Terri Evans DOM, AP, CH, LMT, FS
where we founded The Farm. Some oxytocin and beta endorphins. Birth-
Specializing in
members of our community were doc- ing mothers actually have the ability
Healthy Aging
tors and nurses and we made contacts to become more fluid and are able to
with local hospitals and health authori- relax the muscles that need to open.
Since 1992
ties. We had good outcomes with our If the body senses fear, the muscles of
592-1900
pregnancies and breastfeeding rates the involuntary system become rigid
Walden Oaks • Airport Rd.
right from the start. Our on-the-job and inflexible, which makes it hard to
taehealthyaging.com
training grew as we learned from each change shape. Then, the immobility
other as midwives and friends.
escalates, causing extreme pain where
20 Collier / Lee Counties
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