‘I felt like I could do anything!’ Writing the phenomenon of ‘transcendent birth’ through autoethnography

Birthing Consciousness as a Case of Adaptive Altered State of Consciousness Associated With Transient Hypofrontality

“…Future research might reveal that these cognitive and phenomenological features during birthing might be linked not only to pathology but also to positive birth experience and perhaps even to positive birth outcomes. Current evidence is tenuous, as was noted recently by Kurz et al (2019) in reference to “transcendent” birth experiences: “While the pathological end of the spectrum of psychosocial wellbeing after birth is well recognized, we often fail to articulate how the other, more positive end of the spectrum might be experienced” (p. 24).…”

“…High euphoria levels are also experienced after the birth is over. The endogenous opiates released during unmedicated deliveries produce feelings of elation, which leads to the postpartum phenomenon experienced by women after natural and undisturbed childbirth referred to in the literature as “the superwoman syndrome.” This phenomenon is the feeling of “being able to do anything” (Cheyney, 2011; Kurz, Davis, & Browne, 2019).…”

Birthing as an experience of awe: Birthing consciousness and its long-term positive effects.

“…and sensations of amazement and awe experienced by women subsequent to unmedicated and undisturbed birth (see Cheyney, 2011;Dixon et al, 2014;Kurz et al, 2019;Olza et al, 2018). Physiologicalunmedicated birth is repeatedly portrayed as highly unique, a life-changing event granting a sense of accomplishment, empowerment, meaning, joy, and pride (McCutcheon & Brown, 2012;Olza et al, 2018;Whitburn et al, 2019).…”

“…Women have described a sensation of withdrawal, and use phrases such as “in the zone,” “in a faraway place,” and “on another planet” (Olza et al, 2018, p. 6). Kurz et al (2019) refer to this phenomenon as “transcendent” birth experience. Women who experienced this focused attention—experienced less affective pain.…”

“…Physiological-unmedicated birth is repeatedly portrayed as highly unique, a life-changing event granting a sense of accomplishment, empowerment, meaning, joy, and pride (McCutcheon & Brown, 2012; Olza et al, 2018; Whitburn et al, 2019). These sensations and the postpartum “superwoman syndrome,” the feeling of “being able to do anything” are connected to the opiates released during natural, undisturbed birth and increased oxytocin release that occurs immediately after physiological birth (Cheyney, 2011; Kurz et al, 2019). The increased oxytocin release after unmedicated birth not only creates the natural high of the postpartum woman, but also it influences maternal–infant bonding, supports breastfeeding, and reduces postpartum internal bleeding (see Blix et al, 2020).…”