Having to commute twice daily by car gives me plenty of opportunity to appreciate the vagaries of traffic flow and the influence of collaterals such as time of day, number of vehicles and traffic lights.

It appears that timing more than any other factor makes a huge difference to the ease of progress.   A distance that can be covered in 10-15 minutes can take up to 30 minutes or longer depending on as little as a 5 minute differential in starting time.

  I have noticed that if I leave home just a few minutes later than “normal” on any given weekday morning, a greater number of trucks and cars congregate on the freeway and every one of them are traveling less than the speed limit.  The same is also true for surface streets with the added impediment of traffic lights.  Given correct timing it’s possible to travel unfettered with all the lights glowing a benevolent green.  However, if the magical window is missed the lights shine yellow with a rapid change to red causing a great deal of speeding and stopping thereby making travel increasingly risky.

Given this observation it follows that the schedule established by traffic conditions must be obeyed for maximum ease of travel.

 The same is true for birth.  A pregnant woman’s body is supremely aware of the correct timing for birthing.  If she has chosen a natural birth and prepared for the event by taking HypnoBirthing ® classes she will respond to the release of birthing hormones by relaxing all unnecessary body functions and turn her attention to her baby traveling the birthing route.  Unfettered birthing progresses easily if the baby is allowed to travel at her own pace.  The baby knows when to turn and when to stop and it’s only when a well meaning medical professional offers to “help” that trouble might occur.

 We have artificial hormones to stimulate the uterus into rapid fire contractions.  We have epidurals to deaden the pain and episiotomies to enlarge the birthing outlet plus various methods of extracting the baby if the birth takes “too long.”  

All of these tools have their place if indicated by a medical emergency to mother or baby and we are grateful that they are available.  We are equally grateful to have skilled physicians ready to apply their art to save a mother and baby if needed.  Our objections only apply when the artificial means are utilized before the baby is ready to be born with the result that a C-section becomes necessary and a premature baby is brought into the world.  

As with traffic it’s all in the timing.