HUMANIZED BIRTH

The process of pregnancy and birth is a Rite of Passage. It is as unique an experience for every woman as the babies that are born to them. If honored and respected, birth has the power to bring every woman to new places within in herself and remerge a changed being. 		 
We are mammals, human animals. We must be allowed to give birth as mammals do, instinctively and intuitively. Rarely does this process actually require the interference of machines, medication, or surgery. In fact it is the preemptive use of these interventions that necessitates the use of further intervention, creating a situation viewed as urgent, halting the natural birth process. Oftentimes, introducing technology to a laboring woman sends a very clear message: "Your body is not equipped to handle this experience on its own".

A natural and personal process

However, if a woman is allowed to labor as her body and intuition guide her, while she is given emotional and physical support as needed, birth will happen as naturally as any other human function. We also believe that birth is a sexual process, and thus requires the privacy and intimacy of other sexual acts. We allow women to choose their birth teams from the persons with whom they feel comfortable enough to share this event.

Having the skills to address urgent situations is imperative. However, more important still is being able to recognize what is 'urgent' and what is simply the difference of each woman's body responding uniquely to labor. Viewing birth as normal and without fear is the responsibility of every health care provider. We work together with women and families to provide them with the information and support needed to make their own choices for one of the most important events of their lives.
At Luna Maya we believe that the humanization or "mammalization" of birth is a fundamental right. Therefore, we offer women the choice to labor in her home or at the birth center, inside a building or outside amidst nature, or in water. We do not carry out routine tests such as dilation checks, urine tests, or vital signs unless these are considered necessary. We give women the time and the space they need too open their bodies gently.
Women are free to birth in whatever position their body takes them to. When born, babies are placed directly on their mother's to initiate bonding and lactation immediately. We do not carry out routine tests on newborns for the first three hours postpartum to ensure that they are only with their parents.  

Welcoming the baby

In Luna Maya we encourage the Lotus Birth in which the umbilical cord is not cut, permitting the placenta and the cord to detach naturally from the baby's body. We have adopted this practice given that we consider the premature cutting of the cord to be an act of violence. When parents do decide to cut the cord, we make an effort to postpone the act for at least at hour after the birth to ensure that the baby's transition practice has begun. We believe that the cord and the placenta belong to the baby and we treat them with respect.

Another option is to use part of the placenta in the fabrication of a homeopathic medicine for the baby. With the guidance of our homeopath we will help you create a unique and important medicine for mother and baby.

Our practice is based on the latest scientific research and is corroborated by experience through the beautiful, peaceful, successful births we participate in and the joy of the new families.