From MIDWIFERY MATTERS, Issue No.109, Summer 2006
Those who don't believe that intuition plays a part in birth, or that there
are other levels of consciousness which we aren't really aware of or those who
don't believe in telepathic connections, please stop reading now! For those
still with me, I want to tell you a little story.
One evening over a glass of wine and while watching the stars in an impressively
clear sky for a September evening, I was talking candidly with a very experienced
midwife about perceptions at births. I am relatively newly qualified and find
these talking/learning experiences incredibly thought provoking and insightful
into the connections between women and midwives during the birthing process.
During this conversation, we were discussing the spiritual links between birthing
women and midwives and I mentioned that with some woman I seem to hear what
they're saying before they say anything. Perhaps there is a certain look that
I understand, but often my attention is elsewhere when I 'hear' that they 'need'
my attention. I can only describe this link as telepathic as I'm unsure what
other word to use and I must qualify this and say that I do not feel this connection
with every birthing woman that I care for.
The experienced midwife did not run for the hills but actually agreed with
me and said she had felt a similar connection and asked whether I felt the connection
with the baby too. Well, that was a new one on me. But doesn't it make you think?
We both 'talk' to women and she has gone perhaps a step further and talks to
babies too - wow! How come this isn't taught at universities across the land?
Can everyone do this, given the motivation to try? Or are we poor deluded midwives
who require institutionalisation and heavy sedation? We talk about verbal and
non verbal communication (our posture and so on) but what about our spiritual
communication? Why is that never discussed?
A few days later I was talking with another experienced midwife and mentioned
the above conversation and she was frankly relieved that she wasn't the only
one who talked to and heard the babies before they were born. Now I'm feeling
like the odd one out. I want to try to talk to the babies as well. I can't wait
for my next birth to try it out.
I am reminded about an article by Trisha Anderson about a certain smell which
is present at the onset of second stage. Until reading that I was aware of a
change but had not been able to put it into words. Suddenly it made sense and
at the next birth my senses were heightened and yes, the smell was present and
I allowed it to be acknowledged. Perhaps that it all it is to it - actually
allowing the altered perception to be acknowledged and welcomed.
I felt that I had to write about the telepathy because I wondered how many other midwives did this or could do this but have never acknowledged the fact. Maybe all woman centred midwives have this gift. It can certainly happen in a hospital environment as this is my main sphere of practice and where I have felt it, but can it happen during a caesarean section or with a woman or baby who are very ill. We will never know the experiences that a baby goes through in utero or during labour or birth, but I would like to feel that if he or she has an empathetic, telepathic midwife that he or she gains comfort from this and is reassured by it. We will never know but can only hope.
Updated LW October 3, 2006