Legendary midwife Ina May Gaskin, in Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, introduces the concept of the “sphincter law.” She explains how our bodies function and how our environment can either encourage or hinder the opening of sphincters. Consider this: you’re in a private bathroom, ready to relieve yourself, when suddenly a stranger walks in, stares, or starts talking to you. Most of us know what happens next—our bodies shut down.
Childbirth is no different. Like the anus, the cervix is an involuntary sphincter that works best in an atmosphere of privacy and calm. Fear, humiliation, or self-consciousness can halt its progress, creating challenges for labor.
This post isn’t to judge your choice of birthing environment, but to reflect on how these spaces support—or inhibit—your body’s natural process.
Scenario 1: Hospital Birth
Picture a hospital: bright lights, cold, sterile surroundings, and constant interruptions. Needles in your hand, beeping monitors, and comments from staff can create an atmosphere of stress. Even with preparation and a doula, many women face a cascade of interventions due to an environment that doesn’t support physiological birth. These stressors, combined with societal norms, contribute to the U.S.’s 31% cesarean rate.
Scenario 2: Home Birth
Now imagine birthing at home. The lights are dim, your favorite music plays, and you’re surrounded by people you trust. You’re free to move, eat, or rest as you like, without external pressures or restrictions. This cozy, familiar environment helps your body feel safe, allowing birth to unfold as it’s meant to.
Birth is intimate and primal. It requires safety, privacy, and trust. Yet, many choose hospitals out of fear rather than informed choice. Why is that? Is it based on facts or societal conditioning?
As a mother of two, I’ve experienced both worlds. My first planned home birth required a hospital transfer due to concerns about my baby’s heart rate. Thankfully, everything resolved, and I had an unmedicated vaginal birth. Yet, I wonder—if I’d started in the hospital, would I have been rushed into surgery before my body had the chance to adjust?
Hospitals are invaluable for true emergencies, but the over-medicalization of birth often does more harm than good.
For more insight, read Ina May Gaskin’s books and explore the birth stories in our journal.
Much love and respect, always—whatever you choose. ❤️
I invite you to read any of Ina May Gaskin’s books and the birth stories in our journal.