The Death of Natural Childbirth
The second part of a series on childbirth examines how natural birth has been systematically disabled, at the cost of bonding and health.
The second part of a series on childbirth examines how natural birth has been systematically disabled, at the cost of bonding and health.
Over the past century or so, the most natural and integral part of the human life-cycle—birth—has been systematically medicalized and institutionalized, at the expense of the body’s own wisdom.
Our technological mindset leads to an “enforced impermanence” as the new is always prioritized over the old. The resultant rootlessness and churn contributes to a sense of disequilibrium while keeping us apart from the steadying forces of tradition and wisdom.
The word Luddite has a long history as a derogatory term. But it has little to do with the real history of the Luddites, who seem more relevant than ever.