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Birth stools are probably one of the essentials of home birth specialized midwife. You may have seen some kind of urinal like low chairs in old pictures of traditional births, or commonly used in Africa still nowadays. These birthing chairs are called birth stools or birthing stools.   

Birth stools help the mum-to-be have rest between contractions when on a squat position. They are not aimed at being a permanent sit during the whole delivery. Whilst in a contraction, the patient should kneel to a squat position or grip the handles to heave her hips, rising into a semi-arch position. That will ensure the best physiological position for the baby when delivering with the help of one of these birthing stools.

They’re becoming harder and harder to find for those of us who don’t leave in the US, but on the other hand, they last a life time. Those I like most are oak made, and I’ve seen some wooden models that can be un-mounted for easier transportation (that’s a good idea!).

Like for the squat position, I feel that the use of birth tools needs to be approached during the whole pregnancy to ensure its best usage. Preparation is needed as it is for all physically demanding challenges.

Enemas are currently vastly used in hospital care to avoid fecal detritus from interfering with delivery. They are done mainly for hospital staff comfort more than for the mother and the baby, and use chemicals with the nasty effect of mother dehydration.  And what the mother needs most once at this stage is liquid. Same old story…

Never the less, taking enemas during pregnancy and childbirth is indeed a very good idea, and an excellent way to relieve pain. A simple enema bulb is more than effective and only plain, gently warm water may be used; no soap, no chemicals, some people like to add salt if blood pressure is ok – I don’t.

The enema will actually relief pain and discomfort during pregnancy and can be done as often as wanted (I advise not to take more than one a day though), it won’t deteriorate the colon. Its action goes from lowering blood pressure to providing back pain and headache relief. It does give a fast feeling of general wellness and liberation and helps with common pregnancy constipation.

During birth, it not only provides the same comfort and pain relief for the mother, but it helps strengthen contractions and speed them up too.

And of course, the hygienic reason used in medicalised environment still stands out, but is very much dependant on the mother’s position: it is indeed an issue when the mother is lying on her back (gynecological position I can never stress enough not to adopt), it isn’t in a squat position where detritus is directed backwards and the baby is naturally being pushed forward.

Anthroposophy was created by Rudolf Steiner in the early XX century. This approach to Spirituality states that anyone who “conscientiously cultivates sense-free thinking” can attain experience of and insights into the spiritual world; Steiner wanted his approach to be as systematic and precise as “regular” science is within the physical world. Needless to say, this statement has generally been rejected by scientist and philosophers.

The truth is that Rudolf Steiner did a huge amount of empiric and trustful work, which gave birth upon others to Waldorf education, -one of the solely educations I know of that respects the child rhythm and nature, as well as his balanced need to learn from what he sees and what he doesn’t. This interdisciplinary learning integrates artistic, intellectual and practical elements, and emphasizes the importance of imagination, and Freedom. As Steiner was from the western world, spirituality concepts that are present in Waldorf education are based on Christian inspiration, but Spirituality is never narrowed to a single religion in this approach. You may find more information at the Wikipedia’s Waldorf education page.

Anthroposophy is also the source of Biodynamic Agriculture, which is of course organic, and shows with magistracy how spiritual concepts have a material application in order to high up our physical world: only a few drops of any biodynamic remedy applied at the right time (moon and astronomical time that is) and combined with a full approach will have Mother Nature give its most splendid fruits and Earth regenerate itself. A biodynamic farm should be one of the most wonderful landscapes that meets the eye. You may find more information at the Wikipedia’s Biodynamic agriculture page.

Steiner created anthroposophical medicine in conjunction with Ita Wegman. Anthroposophical medecine states that the body seeks an equilibrium in permanence, and that is what we call “health”. Using homeopathy, artistic and massage therapies, it ensures that the organism has everything it needs to recover its balance, therefore its good health. It perfectly accepts allopathic approaches such as surgery when needed, but it respects what each individual is and what his life has been up to the present stage. You may find more information at the Wikipedia’s anthroposophical medecine page.

From a birthing point of view, Anthroposophy is a meaning and respectful approach to life and labor. From a medical point of view, it allows to stress relieve the body and the maternity experience, as natural birth is greatly enhanced by applying anthroposophical remedies when needed, especially on a prevention basis.

From a spiritual point of view, Anthroposophy helps us know what our place is, and what the place of the newborn will be. From a karmic point of view, but also upon the different stages a soul takes to incarnate: it begins with conception, but the embodiment process ends only years after the baby is born. Knowing this greatly helps us and the child to embrace life and the physical world – as at first this may seem like an obstacle.

Steiner also created eurythmy, was contemporary of Franz Bardon ( Franz Bardon’s legacy is the best compilation of antic and practical knowledge, also known as Theurgy) and of the Theosophical Society (Helena P. Blavatsky, Annie Besant), where he met his second wife Marie Von Sievers. As theosophist weren’t ready to accept some of Steiner’s practical approaches, he left the society in 1912.

Sound has its own healing powers and there are, as a matter of fact, sounds and words so powerful themselves they can produce or stop things from happening. I will talk in another occasion of those, but just let’s keep in mind for this article that whatever a mother to be listens while she’s pregnant, her baby does too. And that sound will have itself a strong memory feedback once the baby is born: it will ease and calm him down, allow him to fall asleep with a sense of security.

I cannot imagine better sound to offer a baby than the one above, as it will also nourish parent’s souls too; wouldn’t it be ideal if this welcome and healing mantra could be song while birth is taking place too?

This mantra was recorded when a monk, who was very well loved by the Dalaï-Lama, was about to pass away. In order to help the transition, the Dalaï-Lama sat upon his bed and sang these mantras for hours until the monk left our world.

Those who witnessed the scene begged the Dalaï-Lama to record this wonderful song to share it with the rest of the world. A cd was recorded with the sole condition that it would never be sold, although it can be copied and shared.

The mantra goes as follows:

“Om trayambakam yajamahe
sugandhim pusti vardhanam
urvarukamiva bandhanat
mrtyor muksiya mamrtat”

And you can listen it from here:

Sri Mrutyunkaya Mantra for Healing by the Dalaï Lama.mp3

There is also this alternative spelling for Mrityunjaya Mantra (Victory over Death, also called- Mahamoksha Mantra, Great Enlightenment):

“Om Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushthi Vardhanam
UrvaRukamiva Bandhanat
Mrytyor Muksheeya Mamritat “