Orgasmic Birth

[Pooker]

So I was watching TLC and they have ll these women that have home births and have these... well, what look to be, very pleasurable orgasmic births. All were home based, and some were home water based births. I was just trying to see if this is just HollyWood, or if you all can really get the Big "O" from the whole birthing process.

 

[MindUtopia]

There's a section in Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth about this. You should read it if you're interested. Supposedly, it's something similar to an orgasm, but not exactly the same thing or sensation. I think she did a little survey and found something like 20% of the women she surveyed (all natural home or birth centre births) experienced something they'd describe as similar to orgasm. So it's perhaps not a rare as we might think. But again, I think it's something you're definitely more likely to experience in the privacy of home (who can have an orgasm under bright lights in a hospital anyway?) and when you're comfortable (and obviously when you can actually feel your body).

 

[pimento1979]

There's a book called Orgasmic Birth, too

 

[minties]

Orgasms are excruciatingly painful for me during pregnancy, so not sure I'd want one in labour.

 

[anita665]

Orgasms are excruciatingly painful for me during pregnancy, so not sure I'd want one in labour.

I'm with you on that.

I've heard of this and I think I watched something about it ages ago but personally I just don't see it myself. I guess the birthing experience is different for everyone but all I felt while pushing my babies out was the need to poo and burning pain.

 

[YikesBaby]

I think the "orgasmic" experience that these home-birthers experience is actually a natural release of adrenaline (in response to the pain) accompanied by endorphins... which give you a natural high and are meant to help mom bond with baby. Studies have actually shown that women who have epidurals and don't experience the extreme pain and endorphin rush tend to be more prone to post-partum depression.

I want this experience - it's part of the reason I am doing a home water birth. )

 

[Pooker]

Orgasms are excruciatingly painful for me during pregnancy, so not sure I'd want one in labour.

Wow, that's unfortunate. But I could see that happening.

 

[anita665]

I think the "orgasmic" experience that these home-birthers experience is actually a natural release of adrenaline (in response to the pain) accompanied by endorphins... which give you a natural high and are meant to help mom bond with baby. Studies have actually shown that women who have epidurals and don't experience the extreme pain and endorphin rush tend to be more prone to post-partum depression.

I want this experience - it's part of the reason I am doing a home water birth. )

I love that 'rush' post birth. It's impossible to sleep because you're on such a high. It's one of the reasons I wouldn't like to have painkillers.