The following are some theories and considerations surrounding the concept of the birthing environment for newborn babies. They include:
A gentle birth approach
The water environment
A gentle birth approach. Some parents believe that the abrupt change of environmental temperature, loud noises and bright lighting at the moment of birth have an undesirable impact on their newborn child. This motivates them to plan for a gentle transition for their baby.
A French obstetrician, called Dr Frederick Leboyer, believed that there were many benefits for making the transition from the womb to the outside world a gentle one. In the 1970's he published a book called "Birth Without Violence" arguing the advantages of setting up an environment for a 'gentle birth', as one way to minimise the so called 'shock' of the first moments of a baby's life. Many parents (and some birthplaces to varying degrees) have adopted some of his concepts. You may wish to read more on his theory in
back to the future, past and present philosophies.
His concepts are reasonably easy to incorporate into most birthplaces. You may wish to include them in a
birth plan.
Ways to implement his philosophy can include:
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Dimming the lighting or darkening the room during the day. |
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Quietening the birth room, talking only in whispered voices. |
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Massaging the baby with warm hands while they lie on their mother's belly. |
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Immersing the baby into a warm bath when first separated from their mother. This is not with intention of bathing the baby, but to 'return' the child to a warm, watery environment - one they are familiar with. |
The water environment. In line with the Leboyer Method, water birth has taken his concept one step further.