Let Birth Gently Unfold.
A poem. Or piece of spoken word.
You can watch me speak it HERE
So - I'm here to share all the things THEY don't tell you
It should ALL be common knowledge
And yet, it's hidden - in full-view
My target - To slay?
The "routine stretch and sweep"
A maternity service that makes MY skin creep
Separating the membranes of the uterine sac
And widening your cervix as you lay on your back
Telling your body - "These fingers will help you"
Mammals don't need THAT, not pets, livestock or zoo!
A standard practice conducted without medical cause
When you hear "RISKS & CONSEQUENCES"
Take a Step Back - Breathe - Pause!
THINK of your body's innate capacity
For conception and growing and birthing - IN SAFETY
Ask..
"WHY Intervention?"
"Why RISK"
"Why INTRUDE"
Because a baby is 'LATE'?
How rude!
Late? They are not. They are ALWAYS on time
Like Gandalf
And Big Ben
And birds that fly south ~
Grant BABIES capacity to define FULL-TERM growth
Some will take 40
Others 42 weeks
Some wont be ready for 308 sleeps
The message we send them
And us in the process..
Of putting fingers in vaginas and inviting the propress
is..
We know better than you do
You're broken - Need help!
Shush now - Let us sweep you
Shush now - Don't yelp!
It's sinister in reality - I'm not just making it so
The procedure is outdated - Lacks evidence - MUST GO!
Ofcourse - except on occasions medical intervention is called for
But that's NOT where we started and THAT'S NOT what I'm here for
I'm here to share some of the things they don't tell you
With healthy mothers and babies
To call for change.
THIS we CAN do!
In order to perform this procedure of theirs, YOUR LABOUR must have already started!
You see - You cant stretch a cervix that's not effaced and at least a BIT parted.
"Only 1 or 2 cm" -- ???
Your baby is on it's way!!!
To a natural, gentle, physiological birth - YAY!
So why intervene, when it's already happenin'
REST. REALX. Ready!
You babe IS soon arrivin'
Did you know that those fingers carry risk of infection?
Break Potective Waters?
Cascade Intervention?
Were you asked for permission?
Informed of the risks?
For ALL medical practice - The very basics are THIS
And if they haven't?
They can't so so.
YES! You're catching my drift.
You CAN say no to 'that' midwife
No stretching THIS shift.
MY baby is comfy
MY baby is SAFE
bringing her earthside is not some egg and spoon race?!
They're not ALL ready in unison - cooked right the way through
Only 4% of babies arrives the day they were due!
So, the chances of hurting the mum and her babe
Increase every. Single. Time. We. Invade.
A plethora of interventions ride this cascade!
Not simply infection and waters that break
But others and worse are the chances we take
When we HOP ON THAT bed - and DO AS WE'RE TOLD
Intrude on a process MILLENIA old
I say:
"Back OFF from MY cervix - Let MY birth gently UNFOLD!"