CLAIRE L. WINSTONE, M.A.
CANYON
COUNTRY, CA
(661) 251-9311
email: claire@speaking4baby.com
When I began to
give workshops and seminars on how babies experience pregnancy and birth,
I wanted to give a name to what I was doing, since it didn’t appear to me
to be quite like anything that anyone else was
doing at the time and I wanted people to understand clearly the intention
of the seminars. I named this aspect of my work "Speaking 4 Baby" because I believe that it is all too rare for
people to consider the point of view and experience of the baby during a
pregnancy or birth, at a time when babies have very limited means of
communicating, especially to those not experienced in receiving and
understanding the communication of prenates and babies. The "4" relates
to the four assumptions that are the cornerstones of Speaking 4
Baby’s philosophy:
Speaking 4 Baby events are conducted by Claire Winstone, M.A., psychotherapist and educator, who has trained extensively with Dr. William Emerson and other pioneers in the field of prenatal and perinatal psychology and is a member of the Association of Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health.
A (very) Brief History of Birth and Babies in the 1900s
When the care of mothers through pregnancy and birth fell into the hands of (mostly male) physicians, rather than midwives, in the early part of the 20th century, the needs of birthing babies were “placed on the back burner”. Since then, they have not fared too well at the hands of the medical institution, as birth came to be widely regarded as a dangerous medical problem, rather than as a healthy and normal physiological, emotional and spiritual process. As technology evolved, babies have been subjected to drugs to induce or augment labour, to anaesthetics and analgesics for pain relief, to forceps and vacuum extractors (sometimes more to meet the needs of health management organizations and impatient professionals than those of mothers and babies), to routine suctioning, routine early cord-clamping, separation from their mothers immediately after birth, sometimes for hours at a time (for “observation”), to rough handling, being manipulated, poked and prodded and stuck with needles and sometimes to major surgery, for many years often without anesthetic, and naturally, all without their consent.
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Little wonder that countries such as Canada and the U.S. have horrendously high infant mortality rates compared with other “first world” countries where birth has remained largely in the hands of mothers and midwives, and more often taken place outside of hospitals. While mothers surrendered trust in their own intuitions about how their babies were faring, and what they needed, physicians were all too happy to step in and tell them what they should or should not do during pregnancy and birth. Mothers who are normally fierce advocates for their children fall silent and obedient in the face of the perceived expertise of their doctors and frequently unfounded fears for their babies. And they and their babies suffer unnecessarily as a result.
In recent years, there has been an encouraging trend in the direction of empowering mothers with regard to how and where and with whom they give birth, and to ensuring that they are making informed choices for delivering their babies. To date, however, advocates for the needs of prenates and babies have been few and far between and, despite the growing body of research demonstrating the intelligence, awareness and emotional sensitivity of prenates and newborns, the experience of the majority of babies at birth is something rarely discussed among either parents or birthing professionals, and the very considerable and enduring impacts of these experiences go largely unacknowledged.
What is a Birthday?
When we celebrate a birthday, we are accustomed to celebrating the anniversary of the date on which that individual was born, yet we rarely acknowledge the deep and powerful impact that first birth-day has had on our lives and psyches. The journey of birth crystallizes all that has gone before—from the circumstances around our conception and through the months of pregnancy—and serves as a blueprint for our self-concept, our world-view, our choices and our relationships thereafter.
“In the years during which I have known Claire Winstone I have observed her in many capacities and have the highest regard for her skills. She is an excellent clinician and therapist who listens well, understands deeply and works with compassion and love. She is a gifted teacher: astute, well organized and clear, with whom it is a pleasure to study. I am impressed with her comprehension of pre- and perinatal psychology, and her integration of leading-edge research into her teaching and her pre- and perinatal work with clients. Her exceptional workshop/seminar program, Speaking 4 Baby, is fascinating, challenging, inspiring, and filled with empathy and respect for babies and those who care for them. I recommend Claire and Speaking 4 Baby without reservation.” — William R. Emerson, Ph.D., world-renowned pioneer in prenatal and birth psychology and psychotherapy.
Please feel free to contact me at:
claire@speaking4baby.com
© Claire Winstone: Revised January 2002. All Rights Reserved.
