Heartbeat Hypnobirthing

11/01/2024

The 'fetal ejection reflex' is NOT the 'Ferguson reflex' (spontaneous pushing). Yet, I see the terms used incorrectly and interchangeably everywhere. I think this is a symptom of our current recirculation of surface-level misinformation in the birth culture. As a stickler for detail I twitch every time I see the term 'fetal ejection reflex' misused 🥴🤣 I usually save these types of longer rants for the Collective, but here you go...

FERGUSON REFLEX
Discussed in an article by James Kenneth Wallace Ferguson in 1941 (another female bodily function named after a man). AKA 'utero-pituitary reflex' relates to when the baby's head descends and stretches the cervix and pelvic tissues stimulating receptors in these tissues to create a feedback loop that increases oxytocin and changes the contraction pattern to stronger and more expulsive. This is the normal uncontrollable spontaneous urge to push.

FETUS EJECTION REFLEX
This term was initially coined by Newton, Foshee and Newton concerning experiments on mice. Michel Odent applied the term to physiological human birth in his article 'The Fetus Ejection Reflex'. In the article, Odent discusses his theory of physiologic fear where the fetus ejection reflex is initiated by a surge of adrenaline and catecholamines. This reflex results in an extremely fast birth ie. immediate ejection of the baby as an evolutionary survival mechanism initiated by a threat (predator) at the end of labour. In his article, Odent writes "The fetus ejection reflex must not be confused with the Ferguson reflex. The Ferguson reflex is triggered by the pressure of the presenting part on the perineal muscles–in other words, local factors–while the fetus ejection reflex can start much earlier and is not triggered by local factors."
You can find more birth-related information on my blog, podcast, YouTube, articles, books, courses and collective at www.rachelreed.website

27/12/2021

When you're in labour, a few measures and checks are used to estimate the progress of labour. So what is Friedman’s Curve and how accurate is it? Find out!

22/11/2021

20/06/2021

Become an internationally recognised certified HypnoBirthing Educator. Empower couples to have a satisfying, calm, positive birth experience.

11/06/2021

“Going inward is not a direction, inward is a dimension. It is tapping into the eternal source of energy.”
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05/04/2021

“We asked Dr. Michel Odent one time if it was OK to have the first baby at home. He replied, “Zis is zee most important birth to have at home because, if a woman has a beautiful, sexual experience with her first birth then, perhaps, she can go to the hospital with her second or third. She will never let them do anything to her because she knows her body works from that first birth.” And then, we have Dr. Michael Rosenthal who says, “The first intervention in natural childbirth is the one the woman does herself when she walks out the front door of her house. It is from that first intervention that all the others follow.” “ Gloria Lemay (Pushing for Primips)

29/03/2021

A team of leading international researchers has discovered significant links between medical interventions used in the birthing process – such as caesarean section and induction – and a child’s long-term health.

12/02/2021

Does anybody know the originator of this marvellous photo please? It’s been around since around 2012.
Thank you

12/02/2021

The technique employs hypnosis to induce a calm state during labor and has been used by hundreds of thousands of women, including British royals Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, and actress Jessica Alba.