How exciting that there are more and more studies being done about the effects of pregnant and laboring women's emotional and mental states on birthing outcomes. This particular study finds that women who fear birth have longer labors.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/27/fearing-childbirth-may-prolong-labor/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57463127-10391704/women-who-fear-childbirth-have-longer-labor-times-study-finds/
Researchers at Akershus University Hospital in Norway found women who feared giving birth were in labor for 1 hour and 32 minutes longer, on average, than those who had no fear.
"I'm glad there's now evidence to say that," Fischbein said, "but it's obvious."
...duh...
According to the study, women who are fearful of labor and birth have longer labors and are more likely to need emergency c-section and assisted delivery (vaccum/ forcep extraction).
Now, is that really a wonder?
Grantly-Dick Read, in the early twentieth century, talked about how fear affects the effective working of the uterine muscles. Go back to the earliest times - the fathers of the Grecian school of medicine - Hippocrates and Aristotle -talked about the importance of the woman's emotional state, and the mind-body connection in labor and birth. Even the Qur'an tells us the story of Maryam r.a. and how she was told by Allah swt "not to grieve" and to delight in the sustenance (dates and water) that He provided.
And yet, modern medicine is just recently becoming interested in how our emotional and mental states affect our physical, biological states. It has been so focused on treating the body in isolation and as separate and independent of our mind and spirit.
Indeed it is an exciting time.. as Elena Tonetti says "We are approaching an era where science and spirituality are converging.."
Hear hear.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/27/fearing-childbirth-may-prolong-labor/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57463127-10391704/women-who-fear-childbirth-have-longer-labor-times-study-finds/
Researchers at Akershus University Hospital in Norway found women who feared giving birth were in labor for 1 hour and 32 minutes longer, on average, than those who had no fear.
"I'm glad there's now evidence to say that," Fischbein said, "but it's obvious."
...duh...
According to the study, women who are fearful of labor and birth have longer labors and are more likely to need emergency c-section and assisted delivery (vaccum/ forcep extraction).
Now, is that really a wonder?
Grantly-Dick Read, in the early twentieth century, talked about how fear affects the effective working of the uterine muscles. Go back to the earliest times - the fathers of the Grecian school of medicine - Hippocrates and Aristotle -talked about the importance of the woman's emotional state, and the mind-body connection in labor and birth. Even the Qur'an tells us the story of Maryam r.a. and how she was told by Allah swt "not to grieve" and to delight in the sustenance (dates and water) that He provided.
And yet, modern medicine is just recently becoming interested in how our emotional and mental states affect our physical, biological states. It has been so focused on treating the body in isolation and as separate and independent of our mind and spirit.
Indeed it is an exciting time.. as Elena Tonetti says "We are approaching an era where science and spirituality are converging.."
Hear hear.
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