by Julie Bell

Created on: October 29, 2008   Last Updated: May 11, 2011

There is something about giving birth, or witnessing the woman you love give birth, that causes us to be mindful of the spiritual dimension to life in a deeper, keener way than we normally know in everyday life. It seems that we are more sensitive to the things of the Spirit around the time of birth. How similar this is to other significant steps in the circle of life - such as at the time of joining our lives with our beloved, and at the time of death.

The birth of this perfect, tiny person seems such a miracle. How can someone so little be so strong? How can someone so innocent be so unfathomably wise?

I have noticed many couples find that the spiritual aspect of their lives becomes especially significant to them around the time that their children are born. This was also true for my husband and I. As Christians, we believe that we are created body, soul and spirit. As adults in our modern world, we compartmentalize the different aspects of our person. But the very young, the very old, and the very weak among us seem to do this less. They seem much more integrated. The body affects and is affected by, the soul, and the soul by the spirit. Well-being cannot be achieved by only paying attention to one part but not the others. When I worked as a pediatric nurse, I noticed how children who were injured emotionally or wounded in their spirit would manifest physical symptoms that couldn't be explained medically. I've heard of old people who have pined for their departed mate and quietly followed in a few months.

Birth is an immensely physical activity, involving intense highs and lows of emotional experience, and for most people, it is also a time of special significance spiritually. It is a very private part of our being, and different people express this in different ways. For us, it was a time when we experienced the presence of God, the guidance of God and the protection of God in such a deep way that we could only fall more in love with Him.

We know that the physical process of birth is driven by hormones, such as Oxytocin, the 'hormone of love', which causes uterine muscle contractions which open the cervix, and also provide the feeling of ecstasy, and loving feelings which promote bonding not only between mother and baby but the mother and her partner also. Oxytocin plays a key role during third stage, too. It causes the uterus to involute and expel the placenta so that bleeding is minimal. It causes bonding behaviour in both mother and baby, who is 'bathed'

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