The Orgasmic Birth

Every pregnancy is the result of one orgasm, and hopefully two. Yet for most women, the pleasure ends there. Pregnancy is a time of morning sickness, swollen ankles, strange cravings and unpleasant moods swings, culminating in the agonizing act of giving birth. We all know this is true, and anyone that says otherwise is lying, right? But is that the reality, or is it simply a concept reinforced through years of anecdotal stories and media portrayals?

The truth is, for a growing number of women, pregnancy and birth are emotionally, physically and even sexually fulfilling experiences. This was certainly true for me. In fact, the sensations I experienced in labor can only be described as “orgasmic.” This, I believe, was due to the fact that I overcame my fear and refused to believe there was anything wrong with having mind-blowing pleasure in birth!

"Pleasure in birth may be the starting point for optimal family relationships. Our knowledge of reproduction suggests there may be a biological reason for connecting pleasure in birth with the best outcome for the baby." - Niles Newton, Ph.D.

In order to understand the sexual nature of pregnancy and birth, we need to go back to the beginning: conception. For the majority of couples, privacy during conception (i.e. sex) is essential. Very few people can make love with a crowd gawking at them. Our bodies are exposed and our emotions are revealed. Even the most casual observer can alter the experience, simply by being there.

These same principles apply when a couple seeks medical assistance with the aim of conception. In a sperm clinic it’s understood that a man needs privacy.