From Bushnell to Bowie: Lessons from the Labyrinth for Birth and Beyond
A labyrinth is a fantastic metaphor for birth and beyond. It can really help with mindset for the journey. Let’s explore this with some wisdom from two influential members of the birth community and from a cult classic movie from the eighties.
Bushnell and England on the Labyrinth as a Metaphor
Two women that have incorporated this metaphor into their work are Britta Bushnell, PhD, and Pam England, CNM, MA.
Bushnell writes in her book, Transformed by Birth:
The labyrinth, like the experience of giving birth, twists and turns as the path makes its way toward the center. Not every path feels like it’s taking you closer, even if it ultimately does. Some turns take you in the opposite direction of where you intend to go — turning toward the exit on your way to the center or toward the center on your way toward the exit. Walking or tracing a labyrinthine path often leaves you confused or disoriented. Even if the path has no wrong turns, it can still feel like you’ve done something wrong as you traverse it. The only thing you have to do to make it to the center of a labyrinth is to intentionally stay on the path and keep going. That’s it. The oath will guide you toward the center. The same is true in labor: to make your way to birth you have to practice staying in the moment, taking only one step at a time, and keep going.
I love how she talks about the need to “keep going”. In birth, there are often moments where it feels like there is no forward progress being made. But, that’s just an illusion. A person in labor is always moving forward in time and in their journey toward meeting their baby. It’s so important to just take it one moment and one contraction and one decision at a time.
In her book, Ancient Math for Modern Birth, England says:
In a labyrinth (and in labor) you cannot see how far you’ve come, or how close you are to the center or to exiting (or to giving birth).
I really want you to remember what you just read, above, about this not knowing. During birth, there is often a lot of focus on certain markers of progress. This includes:
Dilation (how open is the cervix?)
Effacement (how this is the cervix?)
Station (where is the baby in the pelvis?)
This information can absolutely be helpful, especially when decisions need to be made about HOW to keep going and moving forward. What this information won’t tell you is how much farther you have to go and exactly how far you’ve come, relative to the total journey. There is so much that won’t be known until you’ve reached the end and can look back and reflect.
If we consider the center of the labyrinth as birth, postpartum is the journey out. Just like birth, we really don’t know how the postpartum period will go or how long it will last. Twists and turns will be inevitable as you adjust to your new role as a parent or a parent of an additional child. And for how long you will feel like you’re still postpartum will vary. What I do know is it will very likely last much longer than the six to eight week period of time that is marked with (typically) a single postpartum visit to a medical provider.
Both of these books mentioned here talk about how to draw a labyrinth, which can be a wonderful part of your preparations for birth and beyond. It can help you embody and contemplate the wisdom of what this metaphor has to offer. Also, consider checking to see if there is a physical labyrinth you can walk somewhere in your local area.
More Labyrinth Metaphors from a Cult Classic Movie
I can’t write a blog post on this topic without incorporating my favorite movie, Labyrinth. If you haven’t seen it, Labyrinth is a cult classic movie from 1986, starring David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, and a lot of puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. While this movie has absolutely nothing to do with birth, there is a baby at the center of the labyrinth that Jennifer Connelly’s character, Sarah, is desperately trying to reach.
I also found a few nuggets within this movie that can serve as off-beat metaphors for birth and beyond.
“You Have Thirteen Hours in Which to Solve this Labyrinth…”
The clocks in the labyrinth all have thirteen hours, which is how long she has to solve it. Throughout the movie, she feels this pressure of having limited time. Every obstacle and set-back is a source of frustration, because she doesn’t have time to waste.
You may feel this pressure of having limited time while giving birth, especially if:
Labor is progressing slowly or has stalled
Your bag of waters breaks (or is artificially ruptured) before labor starts or early on in labor
You’re feeling exhausted
Time limits may or may not be evidence-based, depending on the situation. And they can be stressful, either way. Here are some tips for navigating these time limits:
Have some non-medical strategies to try first if labor slows or stalls
Think through some of these scenarios (like rupture of membranes) during pregnancy and take a look at the evidence in advance
Remember that rest can be a tool that support labor progress
Informed decision-making is key when it comes to choosing or avoiding medical interventions
Care provider choice matters
“It Keeps Changing”
As Sarah navigates through the Labyrinth, she begins to realize that it keeps changing. She asks the “Four Guards” about what she’s supposed to do.
Really, the only thing she can do is accept it and continue moving forward.
It can be really frustrating if birth is not going as planned and “keeps changing” from what you had envisioned. The only thing you can do (according to Bushnell, above) is to keep going. Adaptability is key. Dwelling on how it was supposed to be is unhelpful in the moment, because that version of reality doesn’t exist. It’s important to focus on how the birth process is actually unfolding.
“Dance, Magic Dance”
Magic Dance is one of the songs sung by David Bowie as his Jareth/ Goblin King character. I had to include this one, because dancing is a fantastic way to move during labor! Movement encourages labor progress by helping your baby navigate through the pelvis.
Earlier on, you can have fun with it, dancing to some favorite songs. As labor progresses and gets more intense, dancing may look more like gentle swaying back and forth. You can use your partner/ friend/ family member for support as you dance through labor.
“This is an Oubliette”
Sarah becomes trapped in an oubliette after being dropped by the “Helping Hands”. (By the way, an oubliette is a secret dungeon accessed by a trap door in the ceiling.) She begins to feel as if there is no way out but is ultimately able to escape and continue on with the help of another character, name Hoggle.
You may have moments during birth where you feel trapped and that there is no way out. In these moments, you can call on your support team to help you find a way.
“You Have No Power Over Me”
In the opening scene of the movie, Sarah recites lines from her book, called “The Labyrinth”, but she is unable to remember one of them. Throughout the movie, Sarah feels like she has little control over her own life (in the scenes at home because of her parents and in the labyrinth because of the Goblin King).
In one of the final scenes, Sarah finally remembers these elusive words:
You have no power over me.
Saying these words out loud finally frees Sarah from the labyrinth and the Goblin King as she takes back her power.
As someone who will be giving birth, I want you to realize that you hold the power over your own body and your own birth experience. Even though, in our imperfect maternity care system, it can be easy to forget that you do. But, you are the ultimate decision-maker at your birth, and you have the right to bodily autonomy.
“Should You Need Us”
At the very end of the movie, Ludo, Hoggle, and Sir Didymus appear in the mirror of Sarah’s bedroom, reminding her they are there if she ever needs them.
Remember the people in your life who have said or you know will be there for you if you need them. Postpartum can be tough, and having help is going to be critical. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to labyrinths and birth metaphors, we can learn from influential authors, like Bushnell and England, as well as movie characters, like the Goblin King and Sir Didymus.
Whether it was the labyrinth metaphor itself or the metaphors from the movie, Labyrinth, I hope you got some helpful takeaways from this blog post! And, now, you have a couple book recommendations, a movie night idea, and some inspiration for your labor playlist!