The riddle of the extreme ends of the birth experience: Birthing consciousness and its fragility

Dahan, Orli

doi:10.1007/s12144-021-01439-7

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…In recent articles, I have developed this concept of birthing consciousness, which is similar to other altered states of consciousness triggered by the transient hypofrontality brain mechanism, a temporary reduction in prefrontal cortex function (Dahan, 2019(Dahan, , 2020(Dahan, , 2021a(Dahan, , 2021b(Dahan, , 2021c. Prior studies have documented the experience of an altered state of consciousness during birth, yet the psychophysiological study of birthing consciousness is only just beginning (Dahan, 2020).…”

Section: Birthing Consciousness: An Experience Of Awementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It seems that routine interventions during birth clearly trigger different, less positive altered states of consciousness than birthing consciousness (Dahan, 2021a, 2021c). Physiologically, the extreme fear and anxiety accompanying situations of complicated birth may induce a state of dissociation, which in these stressful (and sometimes life threatening) situations, birthing women experience negatively, even traumatically (Dahan, 2021c; Dekel et al, 2019). These states are in contrast to the healthy dissociative state associated with birthing consciousness (Dahan, 2020).…”

Section: Birthing Consciousness As a Promoter Of Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Highlighting childbirth-related awe—this time from the perspective of the birthing woman—is important given that women all over the world experience birthing, often multiple times, and recent studies suggest that the birthing experience has major effects on the lives of women and their families (Dekel et al, 2019). Furthermore, the birthing experience has two polar ends—one related to the awe experience with positive mental and physiological consequences—the other traumatic with negative mental and physiological consequences (Dahan, 2021c). Both sets of aftereffects extend far beyond the postpartum period (Dahan, 2021a; Odent, 2019; Peters et al, 2018).…”

Section: Awe and Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Alternatively, a birthing woman who undergoes a highly medicated birth most likely experiences a completely different altered state of consciousness. It seems that routine interventions during birth clearly trigger different, less positive altered states of consciousness than birthing consciousness (Dahan, 2021a(Dahan, , 2021c. Physiologically, the extreme fear and anxiety accompanying situations of complicated birth may induce a state of dissociation, which in these stressful (and sometimes life threatening) situations, birthing women experience negatively, even traumatically (Dahan, 2021c;Dekel et al, 2019).…”

Section: Birthing Consciousness As a Promoter Of Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Birthing as an experience of awe: Birthing consciousness and its long-term positive effects.

Dahan¹

2023

Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology

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Awe is a complex experience usually followed by various physiological, psychological, and social benefits, thus improving well-being. This theoretical article highlights a, yet unexploited naturally occurring potential for facilitating and promoting well-being: experiencing awe during physiological birth. The key is to enter into "birthing consciousness," a unique psychophysical altered state of women that often occurs during physiological birth, similar to other altered states of consciousness triggered by reduced prefrontal cortex function. This state supports a healthy birth and positive postpartum mental health. Birthing is a novel example of a natural and intense awe experience combining all three types of generators of awe: physical, social, and cognitive. Thus, in addition to the particular benefits for women and their offspring, this novel example of experiencing awe in birthing, may serve in future studies to address more complex dimensions of the phenomenon of awe in promoting well-being. Public Significance StatementThis study endorses the idea that birthing consciousness, a unique psychophysical altered state that birthing women often enter into during physiological birth, advances a self-transcendent sensation of awe. Experiencing awe during birthing empowers women, thus promoting well-being in the challenging postpartum period. Unfortunately, modern birth settings are often barriers to birthing with awe-and many women experience childbirth as traumatic.

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Section: Birthing Consciousness: An Experience Of Awementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Birthing Consciousness As a Promoter Of Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Awe and Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Birthing Consciousness As a Promoter Of Well-beingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Birthing as an experience of awe: Birthing consciousness and its long-term positive effects.

Dahan¹

2023

Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology

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“…Physiological recovery after natural and less medicated birth is generally far faster and easier than after a highly medicated birth, for example in terms of pelvic floor health (5)(6)(7), and according to many studies, the subjective experience of the birthing woman during childbirth affects her postpartum (PP) mental health (8). Acute stress and fear during childbirth hinder the birth process, necessitating medical interventions that have negative physiological and mental health consequences, compared to the physiological birth process with minimum medical intervention (9)(10)(11). 1 Thus it is crucial to understand the factors that shape birth experiences.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating intensive altered states of consciousness: How can the set and setting key parameters promote the science of human birth?

Dahan

2023

Front. Psychiatry

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The subjective childbirth experience is crucial from a public health standpoint. There is a correlation between a negative childbirth experience and a poor mental state after birth, with effects that go far beyond the postpartum (PP) period. This paper offers a new approach as to how birthing experiences, and birth in general, can be navigated. The theory of set and setting proves that psychedelic experiences are shaped, first and foremost, by the mindset of an individual entering a psychedelic experience (set) and by the surroundings in which the experience happens (setting). In research on altered states of consciousness during psychedelic experiences, this theory explains how the same substance can lead to a positive and life-changing experience or to a traumatic and frightening experience. Because recent studies suggest that birthing women enter an altered state of consciousness during physiological birth (“birthing consciousness”), I suggest analyzing the typical modern birthing experience in terms of set and setting theory. I argue that the set and setting key parameters can help design, navigate, and explain many psychological and physiological elements of the human birth process. Thus, an operative conclusion that emerges from the theoretical analysis presented in this paper is that framing and characterizing the birth environment and birth preparations in terms of set and setting is a central tool that could be used to promote physiological births as well as subjective positive birthing experiences, which is currently a primary, yet unreached goal, in modern obstetrics and public health.

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The case of poor postpartum mental health: a consequence of an evolutionary mismatch – not of an evolutionary trade-off

Dahan¹

2023

Biol Philos

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The riddle of the extreme ends of the birth experience: Birthing consciousness and its fragility

Cited by 9 publications

References 81 publications

Birthing as an experience of awe: Birthing consciousness and its long-term positive effects.

Birthing as an experience of awe: Birthing consciousness and its long-term positive effects.

Navigating intensive altered states of consciousness: How can the set and setting key parameters promote the science of human birth?

The case of poor postpartum mental health: a consequence of an evolutionary mismatch – not of an evolutionary trade-off

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