Orgasms during Childbirth?

[Gigli2008 70]

First thing next month (Friday January 2) will be the primetime debut of a film that has been making the “under the radar” rounds of women and film festivals since May. ABC’s 20/20 will air the documentary “Orgasmic Birth”, by Debra Pascali-Bonaro, a childbirth educator and a doula, which asks the question: What would happen if women were taught to enjoy birth rather than endure it?

Some women will see this film as a declaration of emancipation from the medicalization of childbirth. Others will see it as yet one more way to raise expectations and make new mothers feel inadequate if they do not experience the “ideal” birth.

The message of the film is “that women can journey through labor and birth in all different ways. And there are a lot more options out there, to make this a positive and pleasurable experience,” Pascali-Bonaro tells ABC. “I hope women watching and men watching don’t feel that what we’re saying is every woman should have an orgasmic birth.”

But the title certainly catches attention, referring to what Pascali-Bonaro calls “the best kept secret” of child birth – that some women report having an orgasm as the baby exits the birth canal.

Tamra Larter experienced that while Pascali-Bonaro’s cameras were rolling. She and her husband, Simon, opted to have their second child in their suburban New Jersey home, and through most of the hours of labor the couple was kissing and caressing.

“The phyical touch and nurturing was just really comforting to me,” Larter told ABC. Of the orgasmic birth that resulted she said: “It was happening, and I could hardly breathe, and it was like, ‘oh, that feels good.’ That’s all I could say really.”

Christine Northrup, an OB-GYN and author of “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom” explains in the film that orgasms during labor are the results of chemistry and anatomy: “When the baby’s coming down the birth canal, remember, it’s going through the exact same positions as something going in, the ####### going into the #######, to cause an orgasm. And labor itself is associated with a huge hormonal change in the body, way more prolactin, way more oxytocin, way more beta-endorphins — these are the molecules of ecstasy.”

And on that note I open up the comments for your thoughts …

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12...-childbirth/?hp

[Jenn! 918]

Well, I've never been through childbirth, but I really doubt that I'm going to be worried about having an orgasm.

Just like an orgasm probably wouldn't give me any comfort if I were getting my arm sawed off either.

[Gigli2008 70]

Well, I've never been through childbirth, but I really doubt that I'm going to be worried about having an orgasm.

Just like an orgasm probably wouldn't give me any comfort if I were getting my arm sawed off either.

I have gone through 2 child births. Obviously the author of the story (a woman) has not. To me it wasn't the last few minutes leading to birth that was painful and difficult, it was the 7 + hours of labor and contractions.

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I'd say it's unlikely that most women would have an orgasm during childbirth. Not that it is impossible, but very unlikely.

I don't get how you can compare a normal 6in ####### the size of a good polish sausage to a 7.5lb 20inch full-of-bones fetus. Maybe they are into extreme fisting or something.

[Anna C. 4]

I've read about it a couple times, it does happen rarely. Didn't happen to me though

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I thought an orgasm actually takes places in the brain? Although there may be external stimuli that can contribute to reaching orgasm, if one is not in the right mind for it, then it doesn't happen. And I hate to use an extreme example, but nobody would suggest that rape victims experience orgasm when they are assaulted...or even if there are external stimuli, that doesn't make the experience any less horrible for the victim.

[*julez* 124]

I thought an orgasm actually takes places in the brain? Although there may be external stimuli that can contribute to reaching orgasm, if one is not in the right mind for it, then it doesn't happen. And I hate to use an extreme example, but nobody would suggest that rape victims experience orgasm when they are assaulted...or even if there are external stimuli, that doesn't make the experience any less horrible for the victim.

The article says they were kissing and caressing throughout labor, which I suppose must have contributed to the successful orgasm during delivery.

It does sound weird, but if it works and people can do it, why not?

[Amby 490]

I thought an orgasm actually takes places in the brain? Although there may be external stimuli that can contribute to reaching orgasm, if one is not in the right mind for it, then it doesn't happen. And I hate to use an extreme example, but nobody would suggest that rape victims experience orgasm when they are assaulted...or even if there are external stimuli, that doesn't make the experience any less horrible for the victim.

The article says they were kissing and caressing throughout labor, which I suppose must have contributed to the successful orgasm during delivery.

It does sound weird, but if it works and people can do it, why not?

I read something about this a long time ago. Stimulation helps increase your pain tolerance.

[Nessa 23]

that's wrong and perverted!

[msu17 0]

I agree. Orgasming during childbirth seems creepy to me. That's something that happens during intimate moments with your husband, NOT something your newborn should be involved with

[MissStacey 1]

I'd be more concerned about pooing on the table. I hear many woman do that and don't know- the nurse will discreetly clean it up.

[Amby 490]

I'd be more concerned about pooing on the table. I hear many woman do that and don't know- the nurse will discreetly clean it up.

I can confirm that it happens ALL the time...one time my mom said someone farted in her face when she went in to check her cervix

[Nessa 23]

i bet i won't poop since i'm constantly constipated

[Dr. Obvious 49]

I was hoping I did, because I was seriously dreading taking that first sh#t with my tear running the way it ran. Eek. Luckily, when I finally went three days later, it wasn't that bad.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i bet i won't poop since i'm constantly constipated

Psyllium fiber supplement.