There are always times when safety includes technology and a gentle belly-birth is needed. But even in these situations, having an awareness of the hormones allows you to ask the questions of what can be done to “close the hormonal gaps” as Dr. Buckley suggested. Some examples of helping the hormones to flow and filling the gaps when needed are to ensure skin to skin care after birth and no early separation of MotherBaby-Family. We know this in animals, as we would never take kittens away from their mother upon birth. We know that by doing so, we would disturb their bond/attachment, and animal mothers will often reject their young if that sensitive first hour is disturbed in any way.
Breastfeeding is on the continuum of our sexual and reproductive health. It’s not isolated as just postpartum feeding. Conception, gestation, labor, birth and breastfeeding all involve our sexual parts, vagina, cervix, vulva, labia, clitoris, breasts. When you see all these sacred parts listed – how can we separate birth from our bodies and into a medical event? Birth and Breastfeeding are intimate and seeing them as such – honoring the continuum – helps prepare for breastfeeding by preparing for a safe, satisfying and pleasurable birth.