“When I first heard about underwater birth in Russia, I thought it was a miracle. As a Rebirther, it made total sense to me! It seemed to be such a great breakthrough in reducing and preventing the Birth Trauma. In nursing, I had realized that prevention of disease was the answer, rather than trying to do something when it was often too late. In Rebirthing I soon saw that although we could do something about correcting the effects of the Birth Trauma, it made more sense to prevent it in the first place. I had become very interested in Dr. Leboyer's work in France (i.e. The “quite birth,” where the baby was put in water right after birth to soothe it, relax it – to”rebirth” it right away). But when I heard of underwater birth, I was more than excited. I could see unlimited possibilities, and intuitively I knew how this method would enhance the life of the new being.
My spiritual teacher in Hawaii, who returned from Tibet, where she had gone to see her Masters, said: “There are high beings that need to incarnate now to save the planet and they want to be born underwater.”
I was delighted to see my colleagues (Rebirthers) who were pregnant, go for it. They understood it right away. I was honored that Rebirthers in our community were the first in the U.S. to try this method, and that I was chosen to be the godmother of one of these underwater babies. I was also privileged to go to France and meet Dr. Michael Odent, who has now done 100 underwater births. (1985, at the time of this book going to print)”
Igor Charkovsky started the Russian Underwater birth technique. The mother sits inside a glass tank during the last stages of labor. The water level is at her shoulders. When the infant emerges, he or she floats in the water and continues to breathe through the umbilical cord for about 10 minutes. Then the child is removed from the water and the umbilical cord is cut. The effect of the water is to reduce stress for both mother and child. Charkovsky has a great belief in the therapeutic value of water. Being in the water calms the mother and brings the baby into the world in a placid state. The baby comes from a liquid environment into a liquid environment. The light is less intense. It is a gradual introduction into the world.
Apart from reduced trauma, underwater babies do things conventional babies find impossible. Often after two or three months they can stand and at six months they can walk. Dr Charkovsky's experiments also show that the underwater babies, who do a swimming program, lack any fear of water, are more confident, lack aggression, an are more intelligent than conventional babies. They rarely fall sick, easily withstand cold and weather changes, do not have temper tantrums, sleep soundly, and are physically stronger, more active, brighter an more resourceful than average.”
(excerpts from “Ideal Birth” written by Sondra Ray - Rebirther)
INTRODUCTION
THE MIRACLE OF UNDERWATER BIRTH
RESULTS OF UNDERWATER BIRTH
“Having rebirthed thousands of people over the last years and researched the effect of their Birth Trauma on their lives and bodies, I feel more grateful than ever to have this tool and to be able to share it with others. I feel proud of my true life's work; and yet I think the greatest contribution would be to prevent the Birth Trauma in the first place, rather than trying to heal it later.
I am thrilled to think of babies being born who had little or no Birth Trauma.
Dr Leboyer's research has already proved that babies born with the “quiet birth” are brighter, healthier, happier-even ambidextrous-and more joyful. Who would not want this? What mother does not want to imagine that she could have a whole childbirth experience without pain? We must start with the thoughts that this is possible.
When I first heard about the “Russian Method” of birth, where mothers delivered the baby right into water, it made total sense to me. The baby has already lived in fluid for nine months, so being gently expelled into a larger area of liquid before having to cope with the shocking change of atmosphere was, it seemed to me, a better way of coming out.”
