Your Viking Cry
Is Birth a silent event, or do you let your inner viking come out each time you push? A contraction may not warrant a warrior's voice; but birthing your baby certainly deserves a delightful sound.
During labor, primal, low, sounds can enable the cervix to open and release the inner animal, and the necessary strength to endure an opening womb and a baby to descend down and out. A loose mouth can keep you relaxed; the laws of the sphincter muscle require blowing raspberries or moaning with an open mouth. Making sounds can be a huge part of coping, and an outlet for the energy that contractions require. Ina May recommends one moo's like a cow, others suggest mimicing Dory speaking whale. If needed, remind yourself that now is not the time for soprano. Keep it low like a bass or a baritone. As an opera singer adds long siren slides, crescendo-ingredients up and down a swooshing scale.
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When transition hits, a tribal scream that echoes the cries of all your female ancestors, give a yell that is so instinctual and internal that it can only come during childbirth as if to summon all the feminine power and reverberates every cavern of your body to prepare you to say, now is the time.
Often a high pitched sound with pushing is completely involuntary, but doctors and nurses alike will agree that vocalizing during the decent and birth of the baby is productive. "A low growl again and she'll be here" were words spoken by a doctor witnessing the energy and intention of the howling mother in her care.
A foul mouth can rear it's head as you may want to rip the rails off the bed with those final pushes.
Ignore any standard you believe should be set about the volume and manner in which you should holler, moan, yell or scream. There is nothing more liberating than allowing your vocal chords to let loose. If your other little ones happen to be in the room and hears you roar, you only have to reassure, "Mommy is just being a dinosaur" and you might have another young dino joining the ranks.
Your partner may even be able to identify your animal - does labor reveal a mama bear, or a milk cow? If you decide to let loose, summon the strength of your inner viking.
Article by Sarah Ziroll - August 9, 2024
Hi! I'm Sarah, a birth coach at Birth Made Mindful, musician, wife and mother, raising boys who are 7,4 and 2. I love making everything a bit more exciting with over the top DIY projects. My life's mission is to infect others with happiness and radiate positivity. Dedication, Diligence and Determination are three words I strive to live by! I am a yellow personality and a social butterfly.