Birth and rituals

Clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and author Lise Bartoli chats to us about cultural differences and how they affect pregnancy and birth around the world.  

What can we learn from looking at childbirth around the world?
We learn that natural births are the most common, with the baby descending into the world and the mother giving birth standing up, in the most natural position. In the West, we've adopted an anti-physiological position lying on the back. It's a habit that doctors have got into and continue to use even though they know it isn't the best way.   

Why is childbirth so ritualised? 
Childbirth is a terrifying stage in life, especially because so many women used to die in childbirth. The arrival of a baby is a major event that monopolises everything. The mother and child need to be protected, and in some societies this means they must be protected from evil spirits.

Can birth rites really make giving birth easier?
Yes: the power of though is huge and it affects the body. There's a beautiful ritual which consists of placing an unfurling flower in water next to the pregnant woman to aid the opening of the neck of the uterus. As she watches the flower unfurl its petals, the woman unconsciously sends signals to her body to open up.   

Are there any particularly startling customs?
In India, pregnant women are believed to have such a direct link with their babies that they have to live in peace throughout their pregnancy. The entire community does all it can to make her feel as happy and well as possible. This isn't always the case in the West, where pregnant women aren't always treated well during their pregnancy.
In a number of countries, women are closely surrounded by their loved ones during and after the birth so that they're taken complete care of. It's society's way of thanking women for bringing babies into the world. Again, this isn't always the case in our society: women often give birth far away from their families, and they often find themselves alone with the baby after giving birth.