A lot has changed and relaxation in labour is no longer such a radical idea, even if the medicalised birthing environment doesn’t ordinarily lend itself to it. I’m sure any hypnobirthing teachers reading this will now be jumping to add ‘ear nose and throat’ textbooks to their resources. While I know that having such a painless and intervention free labour isn’t realistic for everyone, I share many of Granny’s hopes.
Every person should be given the opportunity to relax and trust their body’s natural ability to give birth. No one should have to go through birth alone. People should be believed by medical staff—not thought to be ‘telling stories’. These ideas are at the very core of our work.
My aunts have since told me how Granny was a brilliant ‘mother companion’ for them:
“She stayed with us for three weeks, teaching me gently how to breastfeed and how to bathe and look after [my baby]. She taught me how to get to know him and his needs, while looking after me and making sure I was okay.”
Perhaps Granny could have done with Amma, and perhaps Amma could have done with her.