Janet Balaskas: Don't go to bed at birth, stand up and move!

Interview: Zuhal Eyuboglu

An amazing interview with the founder of the Active Birth Echol.

Janet Balaskas, is a childbirth educator who changed the practice of childbirth around the world, starting in England. They have a huge contribution to the reduction of cesarean deliveries not only in their country but also worldwide. We talked to Janet Balaskas, who advocates freedom of movement during birth, about active birth philosophy.

Dear Janet Balaskas, a very sympathetic, friendly and angelic person ...

English Birth Trainer Janet Balaskas first introduced the concept of "woman managing birth", that is, "being active at birth" instead of "managing birth". By basing this on evidence-based research… In the last 40 years, it has contributed to the decline of cesarean rates in the UK from 60 percent to 20 percent.

Janet Balaskas has guided thousands of mothers in many countries to rely on the intuitive talent within them to deliver normal, enthusiastic and safe deliveries, and continues to do so. With its special training style, it enables pregnant women to understand the potential magnificent power in their bodies and to be safer and fearless in the role they take as births. The pioneer of the active birth movement in the world and also the “Pregnancy Yoga”, you can simply “deliver” the birth! I have no doubt that you will be impressed by what Janet Balaskas said and her words will encourage you.

This beautiful woman, who has given her years for birth, is very interesting that she is not a midwife or a doctor ... She is a mother graduated from philosophy and art history. But birth is his specialty. "How come?" If you say, the details are in our interview. If this reading is accompanied by a cup of coffee or tea, no one will touch it.

• First of all, can we get to know you?

I am a mother, I have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. I live in England. I have been training on active birth for many years.

• Is your profession in a health related field?

No, I actually read philosophy, English and art history. After I became my baby, I started to specialize in birth. First of all, I became an expert for myself ... Then, I combined the language and philosophy education I received before and created the philosophy of active birth. I both created the concept of active birth and wrote the book.

• Can you tell your story of being an active birth trainer?

I had my first birth in 1972. After that date, especially in the 80s, births in England were very medicalized. Births always occurred in hospitals and with great medical interventions. There were practices that we defined as “intervention” such as artificial pain and epidural cesarean. Before the birth of my first baby, I thought that the best for my baby was normal birth. I knew it would affect everything. I wanted a more peaceful and natural birth for my baby, if possible. Because, like all mammals, I believed that there was normal birth in our nature. Of course, unless there is a necessary complication and intervention… What was described at the time for birth was actually “active management” of birth. This actually meant: Managing the birth, that is, someone else managing the birth… They often chose a specific date, they started artificial pain, and then the waves were coming ... As such, it often had to be given an epidural. This was probably going to the cesarean section. So women who often faced the same beginning and end! Now Turkey as 58 percent cesarean rate was very high in the 80s in England. It seemed completely forgotten what normal physiology was and how babies would be born normally ... So I decided too, and I didn't want my birth to be like births at that time. I told my doctor that I do not want to give birth in the hospital and I want a normal birth. And then everything went well. I gave birth to my baby in normal ways, but unfortunately my doctor made me an episiotomy (vaginal incision) at the last minute. And it was actually an unnecessary episiotomy. So I thought I should find more for the birth of my next baby. After this first birth, I was trained as an antenatal trainer. At that time, I started researching how women gave birth. I looked at how women give birth in countries that are medically underdeveloped, and of course other countries…

I did research in all museums and libraries. The only thing I saw in the picture figures that I found in thousands of years old documents was that women are standing at birth ... If this is universal and has been done for thousands of years, I thought that this is the right thing. Pelvis, uterine muscles, birth hormones; I examined the physiology of all this and then I saw that the female body; It is designed for normal birth and to be standing during delivery. So if we put the woman in a standing position instead of lying on her back, I noticed that all the dynamics of birth have changed. And I saw that this means As she moves, the woman gets power and with her freedom of movement, the woman puts her body in the way she wants. And so it is completely intuitive and begins to feel what comes through when you are heading towards birth. It's really a very simple thing! So something like that; When the woman really relaxes, she can somehow find the healthiest position for her baby to progress and birth.

I also noticed that in many studies on this subject, the power of gravity at birth can be used. In other words, the more comfortable the woman left at birth and the more she moves, the more comfortable the gravity function could be. As such, the baby feels comfortable, the uterus works much more comfortably, the birth time is shortened, and so we talk about less pain. As a result, more oxygen goes to the baby and the baby opens up because it is more comfortable. I realized that it is more natural for the woman to stand up than lie down. In other words, taking care of its own birth and merging with birth ... Therefore, I used the word “active birth” instead of “active management”. This means: The woman can take control of both her decisions and choices and control of the birth! There is really a lot of research on this subject; 70-80 percent of the births are healthier in this way, and that talks about the importance of providing the shape and freedom of movement that the woman wants ... Of course, the woman can lie down at birth ...

"MOTHER CANDIDATES SHOULD REQUEST TO BE ACTIVE IN BIRTH"

Doctors usually give birth on their back. So should expectant mothers demand active birth?

The word meaning of active birth is actually: When a woman wants to give birth to an active birth team, her midwife and doctor, "I will not want to stay in bed unless I have to, I want to give birth on the floor and on the floor!" It should be. If necessary, it is of course also in the water… And it should say “I want to be mobile”.

As you can see, we are not talking about anything new. This is something that has been done for thousands of years and all over the world; the woman standing and moving at birth… And something like that active birth is something we forget. However, there are so many benefits for both mother and baby. If we look for the mother; it secretes its own birth hormones, takes care of its birth, enjoys and delivers. Actually, I need to talk about hormones in more detail, but the main thing I can say about it is; nature is giving hormonal gifts to the woman so that she can give birth to herself. It gives the baby everything necessary for the baby at birth ... In other words, the most basic principle of active birth is: Nature is the best knower.

Of course, this doesn't mean we don't need medical attention. These are mandatory interventions when necessary… And we are even very fortunate that there are all those interventions when necessary. I always say sometimes these two can be combined. These medical interventions can easily be combined with nature. Because of course, some women will need medical interventions. Active birth does not necessarily mean that there will always be natural birth. Although we know the fact that 70 and 80 percent of women can have a normal birth without the need for medical support, not everyone will give birth like this, of course. In fact, it may be as follows: If 70 percent is normal birth, 30 percent of them will be all right, even if they are helpful and supported. Within this 30 percent, both intervened normal and cesarean births can occur. And so it is very well balanced. The 10-15 percent cesarean rate recommended by the World Health Organization can thus find the most balanced version for me. Unfortunately, most deliveries are done worldwide by operations. This is really out of control. It is almost crazy ... Fortunately, this is not the case in England anymore. The cesarean rate has dropped to 20 percent in recent years ... We believe this is too much now. For example, one of the countries with the highest cesarean rate in the world is Brazil with a rate of 90 percent. This rate is 58 percent in Turkey and 49 percent in China in the ...

• What are the messages you want to convey to prospective mothers about birth?

Please learn about active birth and empower yourself with your birth. Talk to your doctor and midwife. In this regard, Turkey is in for a change. Both professionals and parents are provided with trainings, including active birth. Even in Turkey, Turkey's why I'm not in them as maintenance every invitation by doctors, midwives, psychologists, nurse, doula and provide professional training that the Yogic 40. Happily, this will educate people around the mother in Turkey.

Mothers must know that they have other alternatives. When they discover these alternatives, they can understand how different and miraculous birth is. Of course it can also be difficult, of course it can be challenging and painful; But let's not forget that the body of us women is designed for this. But of course we need professional support anyway. Because an environment where we will be comfortable needs to be established. And it is absolutely necessary to create a home environment and home temperature in the hospital. It should be such an environment that the woman should be able to feel safe and comfortable without being disturbed. In order for this to be possible, women must demand this.

In fact, there are two ways: The first one is definitely to train parents about the physiology of birth. The second is to train the birth team that will support the woman, to learn both active birth and to believe in birth again.

So you will find professionals who will believe and trust you and support you.

Janet Balaskas: "All you have to do is believe in yourself"

Emphasizing that women can make their choices in active birth and make their own decisions by feeling their body, Janet Balaskas gives the following message to the expectant mothers: “Many women can be eaten by saying 'Very difficult, how do I find these active births?' . Believe me, it was very difficult in England before. All you will do is; closing your eyes, believing in yourself and getting out of bed. And prepare very well for birth during pregnancy! To go to yoga classes, birth training absolutely! This is the purpose of our trainer trainings; The doctor, midwife, doula, psychologist and midwife who come to education will all form a birth team. In this way, I think that births will be found and will find the place they deserve. We know that many women and babies are traumatized at birth, even if they are made in good faith. And it doesn't really, really need to happen. In fact, we have everything to make births comfortable, calm and safe. We really only need to understand. Understanding again and looking consciously again. And to learn from the beginning what the natural process is. ”

"WITH ONE WORD; YOU CAN DO IT!"

• Were all your births active?

After disappointing about episiotomy in my first birth in 1972, I trained myself about birth for many years. By 1979 my handbook had already been published. My active birth book was published in 1983. Actually, of course, we all believe that medical professionals and midwives will specialize in this regard, but my opinion is; Of course, they are very good and experts, but we women are experts in our own body. All my births were active and all of them were at home. The second is in the squatting position, the third is in the four-foot position, the last is standing ... In the first I actually moved, but I only slept once and ate episiotomy in it. And then I never saw a doctor holding a knife between my legs (Smiles here).

I actually learned what an active birth is between one and second birth. Therefore, the last 3 births were completely active and accompanied by a midwife. I researched a lot of lunch, and according to evidence-based research, lunch was a system, so I prepared a manifesto that there were clear studies that no one could resist. In fact, there was some policy at first. And so this manifesto initially had a policy stance. There was a show in the streets at that time. I want to provoke a little bit of Turkish women. They really take their rights, make their voices and take responsibility. You have a birth right and your baby has a very good start. And recently, I see that Turkish women started to be educated about birth. And I see that they have started to insist not only on the right to birth, but also on this issue. Perhaps it is useful to explain the fact that it is universal, this is not my opinion; Everything based on evidence says that active birth is the safest, most comfortable birth in fact ... It is the job of the birth woman. So we have to decide how this will happen. There's a lot of fear, so what we're going to do is not to act in a fearful way when making decisions. The natural one is really safe and comfortable actually ... There is no fear in the fact and the original of birth. I want to summarize in one word, "You can!"

Could you tell us a little bit about the benefits of active delivery to the baby?

Any medical intervention has an effect on babies in any case. A medicine we give in any way eventually reach the baby. There is no drug once in active delivery. Also, since birth hormones are secreted, they go to mother and baby in common, which turns into a wonderful harmony. Therefore, mother-baby attachment occurs immediately. Active birth allows the baby to get out more softly and peacefully and reach the mother's breast. Therefore, it reaches the arms of the mother with a very comfortable and soft transition from the womb. So what is called this transition is very important. Babies born in this way are very calm and do not cry or cry less. And so they do not receive the fearful shock at birth. If they take it, it affects all their perceptions of life. In active delivery, babies come to safety and love. So the first experience that they came to the world was, "Oh, what a beautiful place ... Here is my mother's lap, comfortable and safe!" is happening. The immune system is also getting very strong this way. At this point, science has nothing to compete with nature. But if nature is not enough, some interventions may of course be necessary. That's active birth! Active birth is a change that balances naturalness and medical interventions.

“ADVANTAGE OF FATHERS TO BE ACTIVE”

• What do you think about the active participation of fathers in childbirth?

Of course, fathers are also born into fatherhood. At the same time, the spouses are also pregnant… That's why I love that they are also at birth. But that depends entirely on culture. Some fathers are in births in Turkey, some are not. I work a lot with spouses in England and this is a very nice experience. Of course, what matters is what the couple wants and what they prefer. If a father decides to be at birth, just as during pregnancy, its presence in the postpartum and postpartum is also very important. Because we are talking not only about birth, but also about the birth of a family. Sometimes women come to their birth with their mothers. It really depends on the woman who wants to accompany her at birth. This spouse may also be another family member, doula birth supporter) or pregnant psychologist. But there must be someone to be with you and speak for you. It is also very important that this person brings confidence to birth and does not have fear and anxiety about birth! And everyone who will be with the woman at birth must undergo preparatory training and be prepared.