A friend sent me the link to this up-and-coming documentary. I’ve not seen it yet, so I can’t give a commentary or full analysis, but I support natural childbirth. I *think* I understand where they’re going with the “orgasmic” parlance, but I’d like to see it before I make a judgement. The friend who sent the announcement to me is super excited, and hoping it really displays the sacred of human birth and life.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vlm9y6hQpk]
See Orgasmic Birth for more information.
It’ll be showing at the Majestic in Madison, WI Sunday March 8, 2pm. See the official web site for other shows.
10 Responses to Orgasmic Birth
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I haven’t seen the documentary, but have heard of this. I was under the impression that actively seeking orgasm outside of the context of marital lovemaking was sinful…
I mean I am certainly a supporter of natural birth when possible, and if an orgasm happened on accident, well that is one thing. But seeking it out??? Um don’t think so.
Yeah, I’m not sure what they’re trying to say about the “Orgasmic Birth.” Like, do they mean it’s so natural and go-with-the-flow, it’s *like* pleasure, or do them mean you can actually orgasm during birth? I’m with you if it means the latter, but I think it might be hyberbole to make a point about natural birth.
From what i heard there iss an actual movement to encourage…well, orgasms during birth. I am not sure if this video is indeed related to this movement, but it is a movement being championed by some (although few). I can’t really understand it at all though given my own birth experience though, hahaha.
I’m wondering if a different word instead of orgasm would be suitable. When you eat your favorite food and really enjoy it is that an orgasm? I don’t think so. The point I imagine they are making (though I have not seen the documentary though I am familiar with Ina Mae Gaskin) Is that birth can be pleasurable. Yes, birth is hard work… It’s labor after all, but it really can be a pleasent, intimate, bonding (for the husband and wife). I wish there was the space here to elaborate. I personnally have had Wonderful birth experiences. (Orgasmic? No, but wonderful)
Ya you ladies are probably right, its probably referring to the fact that birth can be pleasurable as opposed to the fearful, tortuous experience many make it out to be.
“I was under the impression that actively seeking orgasm outside of the context of marital lovemaking was sinful…”
No. Actually, there is absolutely no scripture that addresses the female orgasm in the bible. And despite common mis-interpretation of scripture, there’s no laws against seeking orgasm outside of marital intercourse for either sex.
The human body was created to give birth. In fact, the doctor who discovered the “G-spot” ( a bump of tissue that, in the female, is generated from the same embryonic cells that become the prostate in males) actually observed that it was so placed as to receive direct pressure during vaginal birth, and hypothesized that this was meant to hep release extra pain-relieving endorphins during the most stressful time of the birth process. And the less pain and damage to the mother in childbirth, the better the bonding between mother and child later on.
If it turned out that the right mental approach and method in childbirth could reduce the use of painkillers and improve outcome, why not look into it?
Susan, I think the morality of purposeful orgasm outside of intercourse depends on what you consider your moral authority. Universal Christians, or Catholics, use Scripture along with Sacred Tradition and the Teaching authority of the successors to the apostles. Also, to say that female masturbation–because that is what we’re talking about here–whether it’s in the context of birth or bed, is scriptural is not very well founded. Why would it not be okay for men to masturbate (“spill their seed,” GN 38.8),but it would be okay for women?
Ok, so I’ve been doing some research into orgasmic birth and they do mean, in many circumstances, actually reaching climax either during the time the baby is moving down the birth passage (which must be extremely relaxed) or just as the baby is emerging. In many instances the women were not “trying” to have an orgasm, but were suddenly overwhelmed by intense feelings of pleasure and caressing, and just went with it. While I have never experienced anything but extreme pain during delivery of all my 3, naturally homebirthed babies, I am hopeful that with this new baby things will be better and less pain-centered the more I can try to relax and let my body do on its own what it was made to do. While I have a theology degree, I certainly do not propose to speak for the Church in this matter, but it would seem to me that if God designed a woman’s body for this kind of thing to be possible (after all, our birth passages are the most sexual part of our beings, and the same nerve endings are being stimulated during birth as are stimulated during intercourse) that it would not be immoral to let your body “go with the flow” if this type of thing actually happened to you. Oxytocin, the love/bonding hormone, is produced by our bodies to the greatest extent at two times – during intercourse, and during/immediately after birth. It is this hormone which decreases the release of endorphin-inhibiting hormones, and causes the intense feeling of mother/baby bonding that women with proper hormonal balances find so incredibly blissful following birth. If oxytocin levels are at a peak during delivery, and the birth passage is stimulated by the physical embodiment of the intense love between husband and wife, it would seem to be an almost natural course, a true climax of the lovemaking of nine months before. This is, again, my personal opinion of course… but it would seem to be in line with general Church teaching on the theology of the sexual nature of the body and the relation between man and woman. In this context, the orgasm would seem to be a final conclusion of the initial act of intercourse which led to the creation of the baby in the first place. I do not think that it would fall under the category of “masturbation” unless specific outside steps were taken – such as clitoral stimulation – to try to aid the process along.
Natalie, thank you for stopping by!
I’m really not sure what your theology background is like, so you’re right that it’s good no to “propose to speak for the Church in this matter”. However it is an interesting discussion. I wonder what Mary Shivanandan would say about this topic? I want to respond more on this topic, but I have to run right now. More later….
Of course, it would be amiss for any theologian to attempt to speak for the Church, let alone myself. I have a bachelor’s degree in Catholic Theology from Franciscan University, that’s all… emphasis in moral theology, philosophy, and catechetics… certainly no other affiliation to anyone who could “speak for the Church” (really, only someone with permission from the Vatican could do that!)
My main point, though, is that it does seem to fit in line with the theology of the body of John Paul II, especially when you consider the sexual nature of birth (truly, the climax of the procreative marital act) and the fact that, since God created the “G-spot” which can really only be activated during birth itself… causing a rush of oxytocin and other pleasurable hormones… and it is this which leads to feelings of orgasm in some women… Therefore it would seem to be amiss to fault His creation of something that primarily has that (a rush of sexual/bonding hormones) as its purpose. Perhaps, in a way, it would also reflect the words of Christ as quoted by St. Therese of Lisieux: “The Cross is the bed of My spouses; it’s there I would have them taste the delights of My Love.” Christ Himself is combining a reflection of the intensity of suffering with the intense delights of the marriage bed. Those women who have experienced both great suffering throughout labor, and then the great pleasure of orgasmic birth, may well relate to this reflection.
My husband and I believe strongly in the intimate, sexual nature of birth, created to be so by God – which is why I have had all homebirths. One does not want another man staring between his wife’s legs during a most intimate, sacred encounter… a true communion of persons in its most basic but sacred form. And again, I’ve never had anything remotely related to orgasmic birth
but I could not find moral fault with a woman who, letting her body take control (as is best for both mother and baby, since both will have more oxygen and less complications), finds herself in this sacred state of self-gift.