willil8+comments+week+8+Wilson+Gut+Fem

Wilson, Elizbeth. "Gut Feminism". d i f f e r e n c e s : A Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies. 15.3 (2004): 66–94.

When Wilson mentions "That is, hysteria materializes the protopsychic (ontogenetic and phylogenetic) inclinations native to the body’s substrata. By ontogenetic tendencies he means the desire to return to the womb (to fetal or embryonic conditions) in order to “bring about the reestablishment of the aquatic mode of life in the form of an existence within the moist and nourishing interior of the mother’s body” (//Thalassa// 54). Phylogenetic trends are the desire for all creatures to return to the water (the thalassal trend)." (Wilson 74)

I immediately thought about women doing [|water births.] This gravity assisted, more 'relaxed' technique of natural birth I have always thought of as being better for both mother and newborn than the conventional sterility of a hospital, I'm not sure why.

Why is water (saunas, long bath soaks, steam showers) so relaxing to all of our senses? I am skeptical that we have ontogenetic and phylogenetic inclinations built-in. But, culturally, water is very significant (associations with being clean and, or, calm). Also, physically, water is very important to your body (from your kidneys down to maintaining water/salt balance and the Krebs cycle are a few ways water is used internally). Water gives pleasure when it is cold and we are hot (or vice versa). It provides tasty food, and also interesting sights and smells (waves, reflections, periodicity, salt-tang) as well as the concepts of time, repetition and continuity. We forever associate the color of water with the calm and relaxation we often find in the presence of large quantities of it.

Maybe there is more to the idea of pylogenetic trends than I thought. And if there is such thing as ontogenetic inclincations, that would explain why newborn babies find water birth less traumatizing (though of course, the idea that they are traumatized by hospital births is one invented in my head and not substantiated elsewhere at all to my knowledge.)

This is only slightly related to Wilson's core argument, but I couldn't stop from commenting on it.

.................................... After finishing Wilson's essay, I am curious to see if one could analyze the increasing use of episiotomies (vaginal cuts with forcep delivery) and cesarean section surgeries due to complications from epidural usage in association with "birth anxiety" using Wilson's idea of "Gut Feminism". This is not a good reference, but, disregarding the "numbers" given, I remember the same ideas from a Human Sexuality class that I took in undergrad. http://www.amazingpregnancy.com/pregnancy-articles/150.html