Birthing consciousness and the flow experience during physiological childbirth.
Midwifery November 1, 2024 Orli Dahan, Alexander Zibenberg, Alon Goldberg 14 citations
Women who gave birth without medical interventions—such as epidural anesthesia or instruments—reported a significantly higher flow state during labor than those who had interventions. Flow, a positive altered state of consciousness, was measured using the Flow State Scale in 766 Israeli women recruited via social media. All nine dimensions of flow—including challenge-skill balance, sense of control, and transformation of time—applied to childbirth. This finding empirically supports the concept of "birthing consciousness," a peak experience resembling flow. Understanding women's subjective experience during physiological birth can improve clinical care and promote positive birth experiences with health benefits.