Birth Sexuality

Absolutely! Birth and sex are fueled by the same hormones. So it makes sense that whatever you can do to get that oxytocin flowing -- affection, sexual arousal, etc. -- will also get the labor going smoothly.

Here's a great article about it: http://www.mothering.com/11-0-0/html...ic-birth.shtml

And another:
http://www.body.arc.co.uk/body2/birthOrgasm.html

I haven't read Ina May's new book, but when I read Spiritual Midwifery I have to admit I was shocked at the things she was advocating. The midwife doing nipple stim, massaging the perineum, and putting pressure on the clitoris? I don't know about you, but that would NOT make me relaxed and orgasmic, that would make me incredibly tense. In some of the birth stories she'd also sit there and advise the husband on how to be intimate/affectionate with his wife, and commented on how some of them just didn't know how to do it. Um, maybe they were uncomfortable doing it with you watching and critiqueing? After I read that I thought, geez, she really doesn't understand sexuality at all. I'm really interested to see what she writes in the new book about it, it has been, what, 30 years since Spiritual Midwifery? Maybe she's figured some things out since then.

I had the world's longest reply made and then deleted it :

Thanks for the links! I really enjoyed the Birth, Sexuality and Orgasm article that really nailed a lot of questions I have pondered all during my reproductive life!

The UC site definitely deserves more exploring. I read a lot of quotes about the actual birth being orgasmic or intensely pleasurable, but was hoping there was more "labor was pleasure" :LOL Maybe for some it is, but that has not been the case with me

I still can't imagine enjoying a makeout session during labor, but hey, if it helps ease along labor I am there

I have to laugh thinking back to my first pregnancy when I got very close to 42 weeks and the MW was talking induction, I started a nightly intercourse regimen with dh who quickly turned sour on it when he realized all I wanted him for was his semen : he said "honey, I just want to cuddle..." I was truly ticked about it only wanting to go into labor, crying and ranting that he "had" to help me. I can see I have come a long way...

blueviolet; This newer book does seem more mainstream-reader friendly from what you say, altho I never read Spritual Midwifery. She does mention having stimulated some nipples once in it, which did not miss my attention but I was thinking, hey, I can stimulate my *own* nipples, thanx!

It is interesting how it seems that the expectation of pain can be very powerful. Having read these links I can see how my second birth actually was pleasureable, but I think in my head it was more "it feels good to push, soon the pain will be over" but mostly at that point I don't think I would say it was pain at all, more like a wonderful feel while pushing followed by a euphoric endorphin rush. I could have stayed in the endorphin rush forever!

Quote:
That was my first thought as well. Make out? Good God, just leave me the heck alone!!

Maybe if my labors lasted longer, but I pretty much go from "Is this labor?" to transition in a few hours.