DESCRIPTION OF TOPIC:
This talk reclaims a radical yet evidence-based truth: that pleasure has a rightful place in birth. Midwives know the birth process is not only physiological but deeply emotional and relational—yet mainstream systems often ignore or suppress the body’s innate capacity for pleasure during labor. This presentation explores the neuroendocrine overlap between birth and orgasm—highlighting the roles of oxytocin, beta-endorphins, prolactin, and adrenaline—and argues for a model of care that honors this biology rather than disrupts it (Buckley, 2015).In particular, it illuminates the neglected role of the clitoris and other erogenous zones during birth, questioning why highly sensitive, innervated anatomy is excluded from education, care protocols, and clinical conversation (Gross, 2022). Drawing from physiological evidence, peer-reviewed research, and lived experience, the talk offers insight into how pleasure-based practices—like self-touch, nipple stimulation, or vibratory tools—can reduce fear, enhance coping, and deepen a birthing person’s sense of safety and agency (Bolaza, 2023; Mayberry & Daniel, 2015). The relevance to midwifery is profound. As guardians of physiological birth, midwives are uniquely positioned to shift the narrative from pain management to embodied empowerment. This talk calls on midwives to expand their toolkit to include pleasure as a valid, trauma-informed, and powerful resource in labor—complementing movement, massage, breath, and water."Orgasmic birth" is not a fantasy—it is a possibility grounded in science, autonomy, and dignity. By naming pleasure as both a right and a resource, we support not only physiological outcomes but also emotional healing and personal transformation. This submission includes a 3-minute video presentation to accompany and enliven the talk.

RELEVANCE TO MIDWIFERY:
This presentation invites midwives to reclaim pleasure—and the anatomy of pleasure—as valid, evidence-based components of physiological birth. By integrating this knowledge into care, midwives can reduce fear, support autonomy, and deepen safety—honoring birth as a powerful, embodied, and transformative experience rooted in dignity. Physiological - labor progress (including three-minute presentation competition)