COMING SOON: Birth Art Classes
Human experience is the root of all art forms. Some of the greatest pieces of art have been inspired by sadness, joy, grief, love, and every human emotion in between. People create art to cope with death, to express love, and to reflect on experiences that shaped them or made an impact on their life. With this in mind, it isn’t difficult to imagine how birth art could be therapeutic for a new or expecting mother. Birth art, which can take the form of any artistic medium, helps people to process their emotions. Sometimes, this may lead to realizations about oneself that can help to approach the concern or anxieties head on, whatever they may be.
Creating birth art helps people to externalize their emotions, thoughts, and experiences relating to childbirth. Certain things may be difficult to verbalize. Tapping into your creativity while conquering or celebrating the fears or joys of birth can aid in self expression in a more relaxed setting. Practicing birth art also serves as a therapeutic outlet. I am a doula and a childbirth educator, not a therapist, and I do not advise using birth art as a substitute for therapy. However, creating art is a calming activity that allows a safe place for people to address their emotions or even explore emotions that they have been unable to put words on. This activity is a great way to reflect on any previous birth experiences or lingering emotions, which can have an impact on the birth outcome.
Like hiring a doula or attending childbirth education classes, creating birth art gives parents a sense of empowerment. When creating birth art, you have the opportunity to highlight the beauty of the experience or unpack any residual feelings from a previous traumatic experience. This activity can assist in reflecting upon and healing from an upsetting birth experience, which can offer the closure that will help them to move forward.
Birth art classes also offer a sense of connection and community, giving artists the opportunity to talk about the experiences or feelings that have inspired their art. By sharing, they may find solidarity and support from their peers who have either gone through the same experience (childbirth) or those who are preparing themselves. The prompts and the creative engagement helps people to connect to their pregnancy, the birth experience, and even their baby even more. It can be a great bonding experience for couples, it can be a relaxing day of self care, and it can be a great tool to learn about oneself. After reading Birthing From Within, I fell in love with the concept of birth art and began to follow prompts at home, surprised by how soothing the act of creating art could be. There is no pressure to paint perfectly– it is instinctual, much like birth itself. I attended a workshop and walked away from it knowing that the therapeutic benefits of birth art are a blessing. As a childbirth educator, I want to tell every pregnant and postpartum person that I know about the benefits. It’s clear to me that the best way to do this is to teach birth art classes myself! Follow Compassionate Childbirth on Facebook to stay updated about upcoming birth art classes! ;)
If you just can’t wait to get into the classroom, contact me at compassionatechildbirthphoto@gmail.com. I offer private guided birth art sessions. I provide the canvas and paint, but feel free to use any art supplies that you may have.
