Healing The Woman Within

These posts will be a long continuation of a belief I have held for a long time about the birth experience as a mother and the effects it has on our chakra and energy system. Today I’ll share the background and my beliefs on how the first chakra is harmed and how it affects the body and mind.

Chakra’s are known spinning centers of energy of the human body. There are 7 main chakra’s that are aligned on the front of the body. Each chakra relates to the way the body functions and each has its own set of organs, colors, cycles, emotions, and many more functions and relations associated with it.

The first chakra is located at the base of the spine and perineum. Because of this location I believe it is obvious to associate birth trauma to this chakra. The body, mind, soul, and energy system of the woman needs to be healed completely and at each level before the woman can overcome her experiences. There is no definite research on this theory, and I am solely representing my own opinion on how birth trauma affects the chakra system. Below is an abridged chart from “Eastern Body, Western Mind” by Anodea Judith about characteristics of the first chakra.

This chakra can be affected physically through an episiotomy, unwanted or forced vaginal exams, tears, instrumentation (including internal fetal monitoring), physical abuse (even abuse not associated with birth), or any other physical trauma endured.

The psychological abuse of this chakra comes from survival challenges that a woman can face during the birth of her child. The first chakra relates to our survival instincts, and when those instincts are challenged, neglected, or there is a certain amount of fear concerning your life the chakra can be affected. Many women report being threatened if they did not do what the nurse, midwife, or doctor ordered them to do. “You don’t want your baby to die do you?”, “If you don’t do ‘xyz’ you and your baby will both die” are common comments spoken to women concerning their birth. The extreme fear accompanied by a severe increase in stress and birthing hormones exacerbates this issue both psychologically and physically and the instincts to preserve life take over, even when the options are against what the woman originally wanted. This can lead the woman to feel abused because she was threatened.

Lastly social, familial, and medical support during and after the birth can greatly impact a woman’s health. When a woman is left alone, ignored, or told she is not worth helping her mind and body take the toll. This also includes abuse by lactation consultants and abuse of the breasts and comments on a woman’s ability to nurse and be a good mother.

As you can see in the chart when the chakra is balanced a woman will experience trust, safety and calming emotions. The ability to ‘relax and be still’ is very challenged with a newborn. Many women share that they struggle to sleep because they keep one eye open or can’t relax when the baby is asleep. They experience depression and insomnia because they feel that there is no point to sleep when the baby is just going to wake up soon anyways, or they don’t know how long they have to sleep or get something done which induces stress. Possibly balancing the first chakra can help a woman heal more quickly and easily.

The possibilities of what can damage the first chakra are endless because the original harm comes from our own birth and life and continues on as we do.

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