NationStates Jolt Archive


0_0 - Insufficient Emoticons Exist

Galloism
23-03-2009, 15:21
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article5924063.ece

Orgasm and childbirth are not two words you expect to find in the same sentence. But, as implausible as it may sound, increasing numbers of mothers are signing up to the Orgasmic Birth movement. Childbirth, they claim, far from being a painful ordeal to endure, can be as ecstatic and pleasurable as the moment of conception itself. Now, with the release of two new documentary films in America depicting orgasmic births, and websites awash with first-hand accounts from women claiming similar experiences, are we about to lift the lid on this taboo?

Isobel Patterson, 31, a lawyer from Brighton, gave birth to her first baby, Amelia, last December, and is convinced she experienced an orgasmic birth, witnessed by her husband, James. She remembers it as the most pleasurable day of her life.

I am well aware how many women reading this will open their eyes wide in disbelief and dismiss my experience as some sort of exhaustion-induced fantasy. Before it happened to me, I would probably have done the same. Confessing to my friends, who have, in most cases, experienced agonising 10- or 20-hour labours, that mine was the most enjoyable seven hours of my life has been tough enough. But when I add that it was accompanied by an orgasm, I find myself being made to feel in some way strange or deluded. It’s better to keep the whole experience to myself.

Like most mothers-to-be, I was terrified by the idea of birth. A typically pragmatic lawyer, I had decided on a hospital birth with every painkiller at my disposal, even before I became pregnant. I couldn’t see the point in bravely trying to go it alone when medical science could offer me so many options to make it easier.

As my pregnancy progressed without any complications, however, my feelings changed. I began researching more natural, alternative methods. I plumped for a doula. I loved the idea of a woman who would come to my home when I went into labour and was totally independent of the hospital, but experienced enough at delivering babies to help me through it. (Doulas, unlike midwives, don't assist in the actual delivery or provide medical care, but act as professional coaches who offer emotional and practical support during childbirth.)

When my contractions started at midnight, it was my doula whom I called. I was a week overdue and wanted someone who wasn’t emotionally involved with me. My mother and husband were sleeping, and I decided not to wake them up. I knew they would start panicking. But my doula was calm, relaxed and hugely positive about how wonderful the experience was going to be. I spent three hours on all fours in my living room before my husband and mother even woke up.

As my contractions intensified and I got closer to giving birth, I remember starting to feel the sensations. It was the most incredible feeling that began in my pelvis and rippled through my entire lower body. It was wave upon wave of what can only be described as pure pleasure. My pelvis began pushing downwards involuntarily and my legs were trembling as I experienced a prolonged orgasm that lasted what seemed like hours, although during birth your concept of time is very different.

I know now that it was probably more like a series of orgasms over an hour. My husband said afterwards that I was shouting, “Oh my God, it’s so beautiful, it’s like making love”, over and over again. I was trembling and smiling. The doula said my clitoris was pulsating and I kept closing my eyes in ecstasy with each passing wave as the baby moved downwards. My husband was open- mouthed. He didn’t quite know what to say. He said later that it was obvious what was going on.

My baby arrived, without any pain relief, three hours later, and my recovery was incredibly quick because I did not tear or need stitches. I felt wonderful, but was slightly confused and embarrassed about what I had experienced. I also felt somehow guilty that I had felt something usually associated with sexual intercourse during the birth of my daughter. But when I went online, I found hundreds of women blogging about similar experiences.

After the birth, I was so excited that I wanted to share what had happened with friends, but their reactions quickly taught me that this was probably something I should think of as my own private but wonderful experience and keep it to myself. It’s sad that women are too embarrassed to talk openly about orgasmic birth, but hopefully there will be a time in the future when we are more open-minded about our sexuality.

Michel Odent, an obstetrician who revolutionised childbirth by introducing the concept of birthing pools and author of The Functions of the Orgasms (Pinter & Martin £7.99)

People used to think female orgasms during sexual intercourse didn’t exist. I believe that, in years to come, orgasm during childbirth will be recognised as a natural part of the birthing experience. The idea of orgasmic birth has been backed up by anecdotal evidence from thousands of women. In my latest book, I have described the foetal ejection reflex — an orgasmic state women reach during birth that helps with the rapid delivery of the baby. During labour, there is a huge hormonal change in the body, with increased prolactin, beta-endorphins and oxytocin being released. These molecules of ecstasy help to push the baby down into the birth canal.

Sheila Kitzinger, a social anthropologist specialising in birth and author of The New Pregnancy and Childbirth (Dorling Kindersley, £20)

I’ve been talking about this for years. Though asking people to “see” it is a bit much — how do you know if you’ve witnessed it?

An orgasmic birth needn’t mean you’re climbing the walls and screaming. The problem is that birth is clock-watched and managed, often aggressively, so that women can’t be spontaneous. When a woman is in labour, and has people telling her what to do and how to breathe, she can’t be spontaneous. But when she can, giving birth can be absolutely amazing — warm waves of passion. When the baby’s head reaches the perineum it stimulates an erotic response known as Ferguson’s reflex. That is, if it isn’t destroyed by her being told how and when to push.

Maggie Howell, founder and director of Natal Hypnotherapy

For the majority of women, birth is an ordeal to “get through”. However, for a small handful of women, birth can be an ecstatic, empowering and even orgasmic experience. If a woman feels completely safe, relaxed, confident and trusting in her body, then her experience can be pleasurable and enjoyable.

The process of giving birth involves the release of many of the same hormones and physical changes that take place when making love. It is therefore possible that women experience orgasm during birth.

Insufficient emoticons exist to fully express my surprise, but this is fascinating. Women of NSG - is this real? Is it possible?
Lunatic Goofballs
23-03-2009, 15:26
I approve of this.
Galloism
23-03-2009, 15:27
I approve of this.

So do I.

I just don't know if I should believe it. It seems... a bit surreal.
Ashmoria
23-03-2009, 15:28
im not saying it isnt possible.

but its very unlikely. it seems to me that its setting up a new standard of fail for women who have high expectations on how their pregnancy and delivery is going to go.
greed and death
23-03-2009, 15:29
I had a dream!! When entire conversations could be carried out on the internet in emoticons!! It was a good dream
Galloism
23-03-2009, 15:30
I had a dream!! When entire conversations could be carried out on the internet in emoticons!! It was a good dream

o_O
Lunatic Goofballs
23-03-2009, 15:44
I had a dream!! When entire conversations could be carried out on the internet in emoticons!! It was a good dream

http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/lol.gif

:tongue:

http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/applause.gif
Pure Metal
23-03-2009, 17:27
o_O

i second that, regarding the OP.

is it weird to be a little turned on?
Nanatsu no Tsuki
23-03-2009, 18:01
*rolls around the floor, laughing her bum off*
Pure Metal
23-03-2009, 18:13
I had a dream!! When entire conversations could be carried out on the internet in emoticons!! It was a good dream

you've been reading too many of German Nightmare's posts ;)
greed and death
23-03-2009, 18:17
you've been reading too many of German Nightmare's posts ;)

Or is German nightmare leading the way ? The efficiency and universal understaning of emoticons can not be ignored!!! All Hail German nightmare Show us the way of Emoticonism. :hail::hail::hail:
Lackadaisical2
23-03-2009, 18:19
i second that, regarding the OP.

is it weird to be a little turned on?

I hope not
<.<
>.>

I've heard that childbirth can be "not so bad", but I've never heard of this one before.
Pure Metal
23-03-2009, 18:25
Or is German nightmare leading the way ? The efficiency and universal understaning of emoticons can not be ignored!!! All Hail German nightmare Show us the way of Emoticonism. :hail::hail::hail:

http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/sehrgrosse/large-smiley-042.gif
(my new way of saying yes, that's a cool idea)
Jello Biafra
23-03-2009, 19:09
Hm, that childbirth stuff sounds pretty good. I might have to try some.
Conserative Morality
23-03-2009, 21:39
O_o...
Fartsniffage
23-03-2009, 21:43
Great now men have to put up with even more nagging.

"YOU haven't done the washing up." "Where's the pesto YOU were supposed to pick up from the shops?" "YOUR baby didn't give me an orgasm when it came out."
Flammable Ice
23-03-2009, 22:37
Putting it in the news sounds like a great way to traumatise your child when they're old enough to understand.
DrunkenDove
23-03-2009, 22:39
*Head asplode*
Smunkeeville
23-03-2009, 23:00
I've heard this quite a few times, from women who frequent the baby sites and write up their "birth stories" and such.

I think the general idea of a "birth story" is to make your experience sound so much better than everyone else's because of how awesome you personally are, or to make it sound so much worse than everyone else's and let them know how awesome you are by comparison since they had a "typical" labor.

It's another form of women infighting.

It's the same with breastfeeding, if you had trouble getting the kid to latch on then her nipples nearly fell off, if you didn't have too much trouble after the start then of course she had a full out orgasm every time she nursed.
Ashmoria
23-03-2009, 23:04
I've heard this quite a few times, from women who frequent the baby sites and write up their "birth stories" and such.

I think the general idea of a "birth story" is to make your experience sound so much better than everyone else's because of how awesome you personally are, or to make it sound so much worse than everyone else's and let them know how awesome you are by comparison since they had a "typical" labor.

It's another form of women infighting.

It's the same with breastfeeding, if you had trouble getting the kid to latch on then her nipples nearly fell off, if you didn't have too much trouble after the start then of course she had a full out orgasm every time she nursed.
thats what it seems like to me.

im not discounting the possibility entirely but what with all the pain, the terror, the strangers sticking their hands inside you, its hard to imagine being in the right frame of mind for orgasm.
Fartsniffage
23-03-2009, 23:07
thats what it seems like to me.

im not discounting the possibility entirely but what with all the pain, the terror, the strangers sticking their hands inside you, its hard to imagine being in the right frame of mind for orgasm.

You obviously don't frequent the right nightclubs.
Ashmoria
23-03-2009, 23:10
You obviously don't frequent the right nightclubs.
yikes

i think im glad i dont!
Reploid Productions
24-03-2009, 00:21
Well, this just got posted to my online Psychology of Human Sexuality class discussion board.

Interesting, but I dunno just how plausible it really is. It could be women trying to one-up eachother's stories, it could just be simple exaggeration, it could even be the woman trying to convince herself it was wonderful. I suppose the type of stimulation needed to achieve orgasm COULD happen during childbirth, but I suspect it's the exception rather than the rule.
Zombie PotatoHeads
24-03-2009, 02:01
Great now men have to put up with even more nagging.

"YOU haven't done the washing up." "Where's the pesto YOU were supposed to pick up from the shops?" "YOUR baby didn't give me an orgasm when it came out."
not just men - what about the kid?
Not only would they get the usual, "I was in labor for xxx hours with you!" guilt trip spiel, they'd now also get, "And you didn't even give me an orgasm when you came out, you ungrateful sod!"
Saint Jade IV
24-03-2009, 03:38
I really don't think that this is possible for a majority of women. Perhaps it's as RP said, women trying to convince themselves that it was a wonderful experience.

Although I have been told that the body actually softens the pain memory of childbirth to increase women's likelihood of going through it again. Maybe it's just a super-strength example of that phenomena.
Forsakia
24-03-2009, 03:43
When/if that kid gets to school age and they/their friends find out about this, bad things will happen...
Christmahanikwanzikah
24-03-2009, 04:13
Wow, the kid has already given the mom an orgasm, and he/she was barely born...

Obviously, the birth of a well-trained... partner. :tongue:
Christmahanikwanzikah
24-03-2009, 04:15
Great now men have to put up with even more nagging.

"YOU haven't done the washing up." "Where's the pesto YOU were supposed to pick up from the shops?" "YOUR baby didn't give me an orgasm when it came out."

On the flipside, if the baby did give her an orgasm, now he's gotta compete with that.

...




Man, this sucks... XD
Ryadn
24-03-2009, 06:49
I got up the guts to mention this article to my mother. She kind of looked at me like I'd just said that the Vietnam War was a lot more fun than everyone seems to think. -_-
Skallvia
24-03-2009, 06:59
i second that, regarding the OP.

is it weird to be a little turned on?

I was thinking Id finally get to voice my opinions on the massive lack of smilies :(



But, I was thinking the same thing, I was like, "thats hot" then I realized Id owe Paris Hilton Money, lol...


I want to know how it was accomplished, much more anecdotal evidence exists for it being painful...

I want to know how they accomplished a different result, maybe I didnt read thoroughly enough, but it made it sound to me like the only thing she did different was get "on all fours" :confused:
Straughn
24-03-2009, 07:52
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article5924063.ece



Insufficient emoticons exist to fully express my surprise, but this is fascinating. Women of NSG - is this real? Is it possible?Well, i can't speak for the women, but i had an orgasm when my wife was giving birth to my little dudes. They were a C-section, after all. At least, as far as I could see on the monitor. j/k. I was there to help deliver and snipped cord #2.
Straughn
24-03-2009, 07:55
*rolls around the floor, laughing her bum off*
:eek:
Here, let me get that for you. I'll put it back on when I'm done.
Lord Tothe
24-03-2009, 08:11
Hypothesis: Pot is bad during pregnancy, but does wonders during labor :p
Cameroi
24-03-2009, 10:28
and this relates to emoticons? one orgazmically giving birth perhaps?

personally i prefer the ones that look like little cats and foxes to those damd circles with faces. better yet disable the damd things and let us go back to using the "1337" ascii ones. THOSE at least displayed a LITTLE imagination!
SaintB
24-03-2009, 11:09
Wtf?
Cameroi
24-03-2009, 11:12
Wtf?
that's what i said. only with slightly more interesting detail.
SaintB
24-03-2009, 11:20
that's what i said. only with slightly more interesting detail.

I'm not so good with language these days; autism and depression is taking it toll on my psyche
Svalbardania
24-03-2009, 12:09
I'm not so good with language these days; autism and depression is taking it toll on my psyche

I think I've got a cream for that.
Galloism
24-03-2009, 16:05
I got up the guts to mention this article to my mother. She kind of looked at me like I'd just said that the Vietnam War was a lot more fun than everyone seems to think. -_-

:eek: Maybe it was?
Neesika
24-03-2009, 16:08
I know at least one woman who can vouch for this, and she's not the type to lie about it. She wasn't bragging, she was a little embarrased. Not like described in the article though, no wave upon wave of orgasm, just right near the end.

I certainly didn't experience that, but I CAN say that both times I gave birth, I was in a fair amount of pain until I was finally able to push. At that point, there was absolutely no pain, which if you consider it, is pretty extraordinary. It was such a rush of relief and endorphins that I couldn't feel the tearing, etc. Our bodies are pretty amazing.

So yes, I believe that some woman have had this experience. I also believe that it's possible to learn how to replicate it so that even women not naturally prone to it can experience it. I also don't give a flying shit because I'm never having another kid.
Ifreann
24-03-2009, 16:11
Ejaculating a baby. Interesting.
Neesika
24-03-2009, 16:12
Ejaculating a baby. Interesting.
Women consistently one-up men in almost every area. Higher pain tolerance, more endurance, and now, ejaculating babies while you can only ejaculate incomplete baby makers.

And no, peeing standing up doesn't make us even.
Galloism
24-03-2009, 16:39
And no, peeing standing up doesn't make us even.

But that allows us to write our names in the snow, and, as you know, men love nothing more than seeing things that are all about us.
The Free Priesthood
24-03-2009, 18:07
I also believe that it's possible to learn how to replicate it so that even women not naturally prone to it can experience it.

That seems like a good idea. Also, possibly finally a way for men to make themselves useful at that time ^^ .

Isn't giving birth supposed to be a lot less painful when the woman is feeling relaxed rather than scared (and because of that, cramped)?

I've always thought it was weird humans need instructions for giving birth, when to all other mammals it's not really a big deal. You'd think that evolution would make short work of a species that doesn't instinctively know how to get the babies out... Is this evidence of intelligent design by a cruel creator?
Smunkeeville
24-03-2009, 18:17
That seems like a good idea. Also, possibly finally a way for men to make themselves useful at that time ^^ .

Isn't giving birth supposed to be a lot less painful when the woman is feeling relaxed rather than scared (and because of that, cramped)?

I've always thought it was weird humans need instructions for giving birth, when to all other mammals it's not really a big deal. You'd think that evolution would make short work of a species that doesn't instinctively know how to get the babies out... Is this evidence of intelligent design by a cruel creator?
Pain in childbirth was one of the garden curses.
Ifreann
24-03-2009, 18:22
I've always thought it was weird humans need instructions for giving birth, when to all other mammals it's not really a big deal. You'd think that evolution would make short work of a species that doesn't instinctively know how to get the babies out... Is this evidence of intelligent design by a cruel creator?

We don't need instincts, we have big brains.



Which is part of why childbirth is difficult for us. Big head to squeeze through small vagina. Irony of ironies.
Skallvia
24-03-2009, 18:34
Pain in childbirth was one of the garden curses.

Not according to this great Theologian:

As a midwife for 26 years and holder of a theology degree, I see no conflict between birth with pleasure and the scripture. Childbearing was a gift given at creation, not at the fall, and "pain" can be interpreted as a mother's heart agony now that her child can sin and her love incurs life's pain.

Maryl Smith, Aloha, USA