Coming into the world is often the first traumatic event we experience in our lives. We all know the physical trauma of the birth process for the mother is very much real. The emotional distress that many new mothers also experience is also not disputed. But, what about us?
Have you ever thought about when you were born? Where there any birth complications, childbirth injuries, did the delivery process have any notable events? Does your mother or whoever was in the delivery room remember being told that they needed a cesarean section or did you come into the world through a the vaginal birth canal? What environment were you born in, in a hospital room, at home, or somewhere else? And what type of maternity care or resources did your mother receive to take better care of you right after your birth?
Perhaps, the labor experience and maternity services might have been a relatively positive experience for your birth mother. She might have not experienced any perineal tears, pelvic injuries, or psychological trauma from her healthcare providers. Still, birth trauma inquiry and inquiry into your birth in general is good to know for your current medical team.
What good is it to know your birth story you might say? Well, your birth is one of the first major events of your life. It provides potential clues into your current state of physical health. For example, if you were born vaginally, you were exposed to your mother’s vaginal microbiome, which can positively influence your microbiome and immunity vs being born through cesarean section. Prolonged labor, forceps delivery, or vacuum assistance in a vaginally delivery, however, might have also been a traumatic birth experience. It may have impacted your physical structural alignment or contributed to stress patterns in the body. Furthermore, any complications leading to low oxygen levels at birth could have influenced neurological or developmental health later in life.
Being born prematurely could also potentially increase risks of chronic health issues. Antibiotics given to your mother during labor, or directly to you early in life might disrupt the development of the your microbiome as well. Whether you were breastfed or formula-fed will give your insight into your microbiome development, immunity, and early nutrition. Lastly, how long you experienced skin-to-skin contact and early bonding experiences as a newborn and young child will also be factors that influence your emotional and physiological health.
You might have never thought to ask your mother whether or not she had a positive birth experience or to go more in detail about your delivery process. I encourage you however to learn more about the pieces of your story because you never know how that piece of information will help you be more informed, not just for the birth of a future child, but for the continuity of your care. Whether you experience chronic illness, are in need for surgical treatment, pain relief, experience post-traumatic stress disorder or panic attacks for something else seemingly unrelated to your birth, it is important to have a good understanding of your medical history in its entirety!
As a functional nutritionist, part of my job is asking you the kinds of questions you might have never thought about when it comes to your health because the appropriate treatment, microbiome and nervous system regulation will not be as effective if I do not have sufficient information about your medical history. Instead of simply suggesting nutrient dense meals, herbal supplements, and effective strategies to reduce the stress and inflammation levels in your body based solely on symptoms and labs, it helps tremendously to have a holistic view of your health history in its entirely. Sometimes, that means digging a bit more into your mother’s state health during her pregnancy with you, your genetics, and any other potential risk factors for chronic diseases or other health issues.
A great place to start is by asking yourself: How much do I know about my own birth already and the environment I was in as newborn? What did my early nutrition and bonding experiences look like? Do I know?
Remember, your birth story matters because it offers insights into potential health predispositions but it is not the sole determinant of your health. It only provides a positive contribution to the continuity of your care. It helps connect the dots between the past and present to create your roadmap for a healthier future and a healthier you!
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Disclaimer: The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information on here. Photo by Frank Alarcon and Solen Feyissa on Unsplash
