If you follow celebrity gossip, you might recall all the media hype around silent birth when Katie Holmes, then partner to actor and Scientologist Tom cruise, was expecting her daughter Suri. While you might have got the impression that itâs the mom who isnât allowed to utter a sound during the birth, it actually has to do with the people thatâs with the mom during her labour.
As we know from Tom Cruiseâs explanations, the idea of a âsilent birthâ comes from Scientology doctrine. Itâs based on the principle that expecting moms must be provided with the utmost care and respect and that everyone attending the birth should be as silent as possible during the labour to help mom and baby through the experience.
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Is a silent birth better for your baby?
While thereâs no scientific evidence that a silent birth is better for your baby, we can definitely appreciate that you might like to have a calm environment in which to labour if youâre having a natural birth. We know that the last thing you need is people cheering you on to âPush!â as if youâre in a rugby scrum about to catch a ball! On the other hand, though, weâre betting that youâll be so focused on pushing your baby out that youâll hardly notice whatâs happening around you.
What our expert says
According to Christine Klynhans whoâs been as a practising midwife in South Africa for over 20 years, sheâs never specifically attended a birth where the parents requested a silent birth as part of their religion. Nor has any of her colleagues. But, she adds, in sensitive midwifery-led births, âsilence is almost a given, as we know that a darker, quiet, private and unobserved environment is the one in which the birth hormones function optimally.â
As for any noise during the labour harming the babyâs psyche as he grows up, Christine reminds us that babies have the ability to hear all sorts of sounds, both inside and outside the uterus, from early in your pregnancy. âI really donât think the usual noises in a labour room is enough to traumatise a baby â but if there is a lot of shouting, or screaming, and momâs stress hormones are starting to affect baby, itâs not supportive of a good birth experience.â
Content editor and writer on Living & Loving, Sonya has over 25 years experience in the media industry. She edited Living & Loving magazine for six-and-a-half years and is the former editor of Longevity magazine. Sheâs won numerous media industry awards and is passionate about the health and wellbeing of moms and children.
Outside of work, she enjoys trying out recipes, reading crime mysteries and thrillers, practicing yoga, and exploring new destinations.
Learn more about Sonya Naudé.
