Facing Birth Facing Death

The parallels between birthing and dying are profound.  It can be an awesome experience to observe and a great honour to be present in the moment.  Or it can be a stressful, awkward experience.  Following are two poems.  The first is a medicalised experience, full of fear and uncertainty.  The second could be a natural, unhindered, unmedicalised, experience:  Powerful and Beautiful.

In both birth and death there is an option to bypass the experience, particularly if it looks like poem one.  This is a medicalised approach, with the purpose of avoiding stress, trauma or a long drawn out experience.  Are we being impatient, or kind?  Does it become necessary when overly medicalised, it it impossible for the experience to end without medical assistance?  Is it a personal choice that should be available simply because we can?

As the medical becomes the normal, we must face these questions.  We must prepare an Advanced Care Directive in dying, and birth’s equivalent: the Birth Map.  There are doulas for birth and death to help inform, emotionally support and create a space of honour.  Each of these very important life events can be prepared for.  We might not know exactly how they will play out, but we can understand the possibilities, we can communicate our decisions for various options.  Informed.  Supported. Confident.  We can lay down the foundations for a powerful, honoured, dignified experience.


black and white dead die diving
Photo by Life Of Pix on Pexels.com

Afraid, unsure, she seeks assistance

Tests

Monitoring

No explanations.  No understanding.

Afraid, unsure, the time comes.

machine measure

solemn faces, etched with worry

Pain relief

Relieved of the experience

woodyallendeathIt is in the hands of others

She is still unsure

Powerless

Reliant

The time comes.

It is over.


She knows what is coming

painting of a person swimming underwater
Photo by Evelyn on Pexels.com

It is inevitable

Unavoidable.

She Understands.

She is not afraid.

She feels the stir

Waves pull her down

The time has come.

Free and relaxed

She welcomes this endingnamaste

This new beginning.

Down

Down

And with relief she feels love

Her entire being is glowing

birthjourneys
As true in dying as it is in birthing

She has emerged

New

Powerful

Triumphant.

1 thought on “Facing Birth Facing Death”

  1. Pingback: Advanced Care Directive – for Birth – Beautiful Heart

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