By Cathy Daub, Christine Wood, and Cristin Tighe
“Birth is a dynamic happening, not a passive endurance test.” -Jean Sutton
Birth is one of life’s most powerful, intimate, and transformative experiences. It is the moment when two journeys—the mother’s and the baby’s—intertwine most profoundly. Yet, in modern maternity care, birth is often presented as something mothers must endure, manage, or be rescued from. Too often it is framed as frightening, unpredictable, or out of the birther’s control.
But this could not be further from the truth. Birth is not something that happens to the mother. Birth is something the mother and baby do together.
At BirthWorks International, we teach that birth is instinctive, that babies are intelligent and active participants in their own transitions, and that the mother–baby dyad is a biologically and emotionally connected team long before labor begins. When expectant mothers understand how this partnership works, they become confident, centered, and empowered—prepared not only for birthing… but also for parenting.
This article explores how:
- the mother and baby work together during labor
- positioning and movement influence progress
- the environment affects hormones
- doulas support instinctive birth
- pain can be approached physiologically, and…
- How to feel grounded and prepared (and what should be done to prepare)
Whether you are pregnant, supporting someone through pregnancy, already helping educate parents, or hoping to teach birth preparation, these insights can transform the way you understand labor and birth.
The Mother–Baby Dyad: A Cooperative Team from the Start
From the earliest weeks of pregnancy, the mother and baby are in constant communication—biologically, hormonally, emotionally, and energetically. They share nutrients, hormones, microbiome signals, stress responses, and circadian rhythms. They even learn one another’s movements and patterns.
This profound connection is known as the mother–baby dyad, and it forms the foundation of the BirthWorks Philosophy.
- When the mother feels stress, the baby feels it too.
- When the mother feels calm, the baby settles.
- When the mother moves, breathes, sings, or rests, the baby responds.
Yet, despite this deep connection, modern narratives often tell expectant mothers that birth is something they cannot influence—that they must lie back, be still, and let others manage and direct the process. This misconception has consequences.
Research shows that when birth is treated as a passive medical event rather than a physiological process, mothers report more fear, more trauma, longer labors, and less satisfaction. Babies, too, may experience more stress and surgical interventions.
The truth is:
Birth works best when the mother and baby participate together—each doing their part.
BirthWorks’ Childbirth Education helps parents understand this instinctive, biologically coherent, and emotionally bonded relationship.
Birth Is Dynamic, Not Passive
Birth is not linear. It is dynamic, rhythmic, and responsive—like a dance between mother and baby.
Jean Sutton, midwife and pioneer in physiological birth, captures this perfectly:
“Birth is a dynamic happening, not a passive endurance test.”
This means:
- The baby is moving, navigating, spiraling, and rotating.
- The mother is responding, adjusting positions, breathing, and finding comfort.
- The uterus is working in organized patterns that adapt to the baby’s needs.
- Hormones are flowing based on the environment, safety, and emotional states.
When the mother is told to lie flat, stay in bed, or disconnect from her instincts, this natural synergy can be disrupted. But when she is encouraged to move, lean forward, change positions, vocalize, and follow what feels right, birth unfolds more safely and smoothly.
Babies Seek Their Best Position for Birth
One of the most remarkable aspects of birth is that babies instinctively try to position themselves optimally.
Beginning late in pregnancy and continuing throughout labor, the baby does that by:
- tilting
- rotating
- tucking their chin
- applying pressure
- responding to the shape of the pelvis
Their movements and positioning are not random. They are biologically choreographed. Mothers can support this process through small, simple habits:
During pregnancy
- Keep knees lower than hips when sitting
- Lie on the left side when resting
- Use movement, gentle stretching, or upright positions throughout the day
- Forward-leaning positions help get the baby in the right position (versus leaning back)
Clues baby is in an ideal position
- The mother feels the baby’s rounded buttocks high under her ribs
- Kicks are often felt in the upper abdomen
- There is gentle pressure low in the pelvis.
When babies are well-positioned, they send clear hormonal signals to the mother’s body, helping labor begin naturally and progress.
Movement, Upright Positions, and Gravity Support Birth
One of the simplest and most powerful truths in childbirth is this:
Gravity brings babies down; movement helps babies rotate.
Upright positions—walking, swaying, dancing, lunging, slow-dancing with a partner—encourage the pelvis to open and allow the baby more space.
Helpful positions include:
- Standing and leaning over a counter
- Sitting forward on a birth ball
- Swaying with a partner
- Hands-and-knees
- Squatting (supported)
- Side lunges
- Stair walking (like usual or sideways, holding on to a railing)
- Resting on a bed while leaning forward
These movements:
- assist engagement
- encourage internal rotation
- reduce back pressure
- shorten labor
- help the baby find the best path through the pelvis
BirthWorks emphasizes instinctive movement because it taps into the intelligence of the body and the wisdom of the baby.
Environment Matters: Safety Fuels Oxytocin
Birth hormones are exquisitely sensitive. Oxytocin—the hormone of love that creates contractions and fuels bonding—flows best when mothers:
- feel safe
- feel loved
- experience privacy
- are touched gently
- are surrounded by trusted people
We facilitate support for them by creating a relaxed, calm space. This means the birth setting matters profoundly. (Harsh lighting, noise, unnecessary staff interruptions, fear-based language, and lack of privacy suppress oxytocin.)
Soft lighting, warm water, familiar people, and a quiet, protected environment enhance hormonal flow. A calm birth space:
- reduces pain perception
- lowers intervention rates
- supports spontaneous progress
- allows mothers to stay connected to their instincts
- helps babies stay calm and oxygenated
This is why many families choose to take childbirth classes online or in person, hire doulas, or arrange for supportive environments that honor physiology. (Learn more about getting certified as a professional expert who can do this.)
Doulas Help Protect the Instinctive State
Doulas play a crucial role in modern birth, especially in hospital settings, where routine disruptions can interrupt the physiological dance of labor. A birth doula’s presence:
- reduces fear
- supports comfort
- protects privacy
- advocates for mother-led decision-making
- helps maintain rhythm and flow
- reduces the likelihood of cesarean birth
- increases satisfaction
BirthWorks-trained doulas also help reframe personal and cultural narratives of fear and return birthers to the wisdom that already lives within them. This partnership—between those birthing and their doulas—supports the hormonal conditions that make birth safer, shorter, and more satisfying.
Forward-Leaning Positions Create Comfort and Progress
One of the most effective, simple, instinctive positions for labor is the forward-leaning position. Some examples of positions that work include:
- on knees, leaning over a birth ball
- leaning over a bed or counter
- kneeling while resting arms on a chair
- supported standing forward lean with a partner
- hands-and-knees
- leaning forward in a warm tub
- sitting on the toilet
Benefits include:
- less pressure on the back
- better rotation for the baby
- improved oxygenation
- easier breathing
- reduced pain perception
- more effective contractions
- encourages “letting go”
Forward-leaning positions enhance both comfort and progress—again reflecting the intelligent cooperation between mother and baby.
External Comfort Tools (Used Sparingly)
While tools like massage, counterpressure, warm packs, or guided breathing can help, BirthWorks encourages mothers to:
Use comfort techniques only as needed, not constantly—let the one birthing guide what is needed.
Why? Because the birther’s own rhythm, breath pattern, and endorphin flow are most powerful when uninterrupted. Too much talking, touching, or interfering—even with good intentions—can pull her out of her birthing brain. A partner or doula should watch for cues, offer support calmly, and protect the birther’s inner focus.
The Natural Progression of Labor
Labor typically begins with excitement, early contractions, and a desire to talk, connect, and share the experience. As contractions strengthen, the birther gradually turns inward. Certain things should be expected:
- speech becomes shorter
- movements become instinctive
- eyes close more often
- sounds deepen
- attention shifts inward
This quiet, powerful, instinctive state is a sign of progress—not distress.
When protected, this flow allows the birther to ride each wave, keep connected and communicate with their baby, and maintain hormonal balance.
Why Birth Knowledge Matters
Birth is not simply a medical event—it is a human experience that shapes future parenting, bonding, and emotional well-being.
When expectant mothers understand physiology, positioning, hormones, and the mother–baby relationship, they are far more likely to:
- trust their body
- move freely
- avoid unnecessary interventions
- feel confident
- bond immediately
- and emerge empowered
This is why childbirth education, especially early in pregnancy, matters deeply.
Reclaiming Birth, One Story at a Time
Birth matters. The way a baby enters the world matters. The way a mother experiences birth matters.
We are living in a time of rising inductions, high cesarean rates, and global concern over maternal health outcomes. Yet at the same time, we are rediscovering the power of physiological birth, instinctive labor, the powerful capabilities of women’s bodies to birth, and the ancient wisdom of the mother–baby bond.
Reclaiming birth begins with education, awareness, and trust. When mothers understand how capable they and their babies are, birth becomes a powerful, loving, deeply meaningful experience. One that strengthens families, supports emotional well-being, and lays down a foundation of connection for life.
Birth is a partnership. Birth is instinctive. Birth works. BirthWorks!
We offer holistic, evidence-informed programs for parents and professional training, including workshops and certifications—learn more about upcoming events here.
