Using the acupuncture model, pain can be viewed as an obstruction to normal flow. A line in the Chinese classics states that "when the Shen is peaceful, the pain is minute".

RESONANCE			STRUCTURE
Beliefs	Emotions	Meridians	Muscle	Result
Expectation	Fear, anxiety Shock anger from own or others past experiences	Stuck liver qi creating stuck blood (hence more pain)	Tension causes muscle spasms	Physical pain

The actual process of the uterus drawing up, allowing the cervix to widen to then release the baby into the external world is natural as is having a poo. If we as birthing mothers have no stuck cold/qi/blood/physical obstructions and are able to ride out the intense surges of life force as they wash through us, it should be possible to experience much less trauma than is usually the case.

The accepted medical model is fear based. Child birth can be seen as a potentially fatal event, requiring constant monitoring from conception to ensure nature gets it "right". Those thinking that they are protecting themselves and their families by focusing on the possibility of the worst scenarios could do well to re-study the chart above.

An easy vaginal delivery is far more likely if the woman is surrounded and supported by an expectation of birth being a normal bodily event. Anything that triggers off maternal emotional distress will impact upon her body’s energy systems, which in turn dictate the physical mechanisms of birthing.

Previous back and abdominal components and their associated energy and emotional blockages may impact upon the birthing process.

Remembering that pain is due ultimately to obstruction to normal flow, the more movement, freedom and opportunities to allow the body (rather than the mind and its beliefs) to get on with the job, the more likely the energy will flow unimpeded, resulting in a quick and easy delivery.
 

Birthing Assistance

From an acupuncture framework a crucial time in a woman’s life is during labour. At this time it is possible for her qi and blood to be wasted unnecessarily. This is because our accepted medical model reveres "facts" as being only those within the tangible scientific paradigm.

RESONANCE			STRUCTURE
Previous energy blockages stored in all levels esp. lower heater	Fear, shock, terror (old or new)	Presence of cold and physical blockages including scars creating obstructions	Lack of qi circulating due to a combination of the proceeding factors	Slow and/or very painful ineffectual contractions, eventually causing fetal and maternal distress.

Within the current medical model, disease causative factors do not include adverse climatic incursions, and other energy disruptions. Throughout the Asian cultures it is unheard of to allow a birthing or post-birthing mother anywhere near cold, draft of any description.

Cold energy in the body wastes the yang qi. At the time of birth, much maternal energy is expended, often to the point of severe exhaustion, much blood is lost, and much shock and trauma and joy are experienced. In this volatile time it is very important to be aware of the invasion of cold into the vulnerable maternal energy circuits.

Cold energy stays in the body especially in the uterus indefinitely. Once there it creates contraction and hardening, lessening normal circulation of qi and blood, hence setting up massive future gynaecological problems. The current medical fashion of the application of frozen condoms onto the highly traumatised just birthed maternal perineal area, as if it were a footballer’s ankle is a travesty.

The other major preventable maternal birth injury is that of over bleeding. After birth it is important that as little blood as possible is lost. If flooding or constant ongoing bleeding occurs past 1 week, do not be complacent, do not allow your medical advisors to be so. The mother’s ability to stay sane to be able to sleep well to replenish herself, to breast feed well and to enjoy her new baby are all dependent on her blood energy’s ability to nourish her.