Journal of Orgonomy Volume 22 no. 1

The obvious importance of continuing this work and the efforts of Eva Reich in disseminating orgonomic knowledge about birth gave rise to the Perinatal Research Project of the American College of Orgonomy. Senior therapists and students of the College began monthly discussions of the classic and orgonomic literature. All phases of infant development from conception through the first postpartum year are of interest, but particularly so the relationship between maternal energy levels and patterns of muscular armoring, their infantile counterparts, and their etio-logic role in difficulties of the perinatal period. Also of great interest are manifestations of the orgasm reflex and energetic superimposition in labor, delivery, and the emotional relationship between mother and infant. Soon after the seminar was established, several pregnant women living in the Princeton-New York City area expressed an interest in participating as research subjects. A protocol was developed and expectant mothers were interviewed before the group to determine eligibility for the project which included ready accessibility for follow-up and observation during pregnancy and deliver. A knowledge of orgonomy, or previous orgone therapy, were unnecessary for inclusion.

Once accepted, the subject was assigned a physician from the group who established further contact with the subject and her husband to gain their confidence, conduct a biophysical examination on the treatment couch, follow the subject through delivery, and visit at home with the mother and child for one year postpartum. Where appropriate, and with permission from the subject, video tapes were made and presented to the group with the physician's notes at regular intervals throughout the period of observation.

In this project, we apply fundamental bioenergetic principles described by Reich, but it is clear that much is still to be learned. A functional approach to the work mandates that observations shape our hypotheses and not vice versa, awareness that the presence of an investigator can influence and possibly distort the process under observation; also awareness that observer armoring and preconceptions can interfere with the ability to perceive what is most obvious, especially in the highly charged, intensely emotional atmosphere of pregnancy, delivery, and the early life of the child.

Degree of involvement with the mother-to-be has shown an interest-ing evolution as the research continued. The original protocol called for maintaining a strictly neutral stance, avoiding giving advice at all times, and not intervening during labor and delivery. In practice, however, this stance was clearly artificial, and a decision was made to respond to appropriate requests of the parents without assuming primary clinical responsibility. This meant, if asked, giving an opinion regarding management of the pregnancy, labor, and infant care, and providing orgonomic assist-ance during labor. Interventions were then included as part of the re-search process.

The following case presentations describe some of the observations made to date regarding armoring in the mother and its apparent effect on the birth process. The information from the first case was compiled from the subject orgone therapist, interviews with the research group, and observations by the attending physician during pregnancy and labor.

Case Presentation

Roxanne D. is a 32-year-old white female who delivered a son by Cesarean section five years previously. Since that time, in orgone therapy, she made considerable progress overcoming asthma, unsatisfied orality, and reactive aggression, her major characterological defense against anxiety. In the second trimester, she presented to the group as a pregnant, well-developed overweight woman of medium height with a high energy level and armoring in the oral, throat, thoracic, and pelvic segments. Her therapist later reported, just prior to labor, sufficient mobilization of the oral segment, permitting energy movement down into her pelvis. This in turn activated a deep block in her throat, holding back heartbreak and fear.

Roxanne and her husband were very knowledgeable about and interested in natural childbirth. They were determined to make this second pregnancy and delivery a far better experience than their first. At that time, after a 20-hour labor with complete cervical dilation but without maternal or fetal distress, a Cesarean section was performed unexpectedly and without prior discussion. Postpartum care was mechanical, contactless, and at times Irrational. Intent on preventing a recurrence and hoping to avoid another Cesarean section, a detailed plan regarding in--hospital care was worked out by the couple. As revealed in interviews with the group, Roxanne felt she had "failed" by not delivering her baby vaginally. She also acknowledged a fear of vaginal delivery, some relief that the Cesarean section had been necessary, and attributed much of her anxiety to her obstetrician's lack of support and his cavalier attitude during labor. In a second interview at the end of the third trimester, Roxanne's anxiety focused on the possibility of not having a vaginal delivery despite universal optimism.

The current pregnancy was not without difficulty. Starting a new job and caring for her five-year-old often left Roxanne tired. She had a bout of influenza pneumonia and occasional episodes of asthma. For the most part though she felt well, and there were periods of clear perception, intense self-contact, and satisfying marital-sexual intimacy. She had a pleasurable dream of swimming in a very beautiful, deep pond. Near term, however, Roxanne, responding to increased anxiety, had a tendency to go out of contact. Occasional episodes of staring were easily inter-rupted by conversation.

Labor started three weeks "late" with rupture of the amniotic membrane. Within an hour and a half, Roxanne's cervical dilation progressed to ten centimeters. Not realizing that she was well into the second stage of labor, she held back the urge to push. Once informed b), the obstetrician of her progress, she began pushing with each contraction. This was accompanied by deep sighs that caught in her throat because of armoring in that segment. The attending research orgonomist, at Roxanne's re-quest, proceeded to mobilize the neck and throat permitting the energy movement into the chest. She felt the urge to bite and growl.

As the contractions increased in intensity, the pelvis mobilized, with a tremendous increase in energetic charge. Roxanne's body became erythematous and her energy field highly expanded. A circle of pallor indicating contraction remained, however, around the diaphragm. With each contraction three waves of energy moved through the body ending n the pelvic reflex.

As energy reached the pelvis, throat and thoracic armoring intensified. With the expression of the emotions, especially terror, held in these segments, Roxanne was able to stay in contact. Using the medical DOR-buster resulted in an unusually strong contraction and seemed to relieve holding in the diaphragm. The orgasm reflex became fully developed, and an 11 lb. 6 oz. girl was delivered vaginally. A strong energetic discharge through the genital (orgastic discharge) accompanied the birth.

Roxanne's immediate postpartum contact with her newborn was pleasurable and filled with a love palpable to all present. The baby began nursing within minutes and appeared content. Initially, the baby's eyes were slightly clouded energetically, and the forehead appeared tense. This and a tendency to be easily startled and scared gradually cleared over the next few months. At four months she appeared clear-eyed and serious, content and energetically healthy.

For about three months postpartum, Roxanne felt "wide open" in the pelvis and emotionally expansive. She experienced great feelings of well--being and a capacity for intense sexual pleasure in intercourse.

Case Presentation

Cynthia T., although not involved in our research project, asked a physician from our group to attend her labor. She demonstrated a remarkable biophysical contrast to Roxanne.

She is a 29-year-old white female with severe ocular armoring. A "lazy eye" was treated surgically during childhood. She has a six-year-old child born by Cesarean section.

Her current pregnancy was unremarkable except for increasing anxiety and contactlessness as she approached term. During labor, at a dilation of 8 centimeters, regular contractions occurred every two or three minutes. While her breathing was deeper than usual, respiratory excursion were still limited. She perceived her contractions as strong, although the medical orgonomist felt otherwise, reporting a lack of intensity to her energetic charge and energy field, in particular, the latter appeared diffuse and disorganized. None of the pulsatory movements and waves seen in the first case were present, except for an energetic buildup with each contraction. The pelvic reflex was absent.

As labor progressed, Cynthia experienced episodes of panic and went "off" in her eyes. Contractions became less effective in moving the baby through the birth canal. Maintaining eye contact with the medical orgonomist, however, helped her to focus resulting in more effective contractions.

After about six hours, a 9 lb. 8 oz. baby boy was born. As in the previous case, there was a palpable discharge of energy at the moment of delivery, although here it was not as strong or as complete. Several hours later, Cynthia began trembling -- a manifestation of the energy remaining undischarged during the actual birth.

The baby appeared bright-eyed and alert, looking around with a wish to nurse. Cynthia was overwhelmed and out of contact. Ocular armoring was prominent. She tried to deny her disappointment about the child's sex and, despite his immediate presentation to her with encouragement to respond, she was unable to make any real contact with him. Holding the baby was the most contact she could sustain. She was too self-absorbed and needy to permit more.

The baby was brought to the breast almost 12 hours after birth. The next day Cynthia was able to make better contact with the newborn, although her interactions with him were somewhat mechanical.

Discussion

The two presented cases demonstrate some of the effects of armoring on labor and delivery. In the first, movement of energy into the pelvis evoked intense orgasm anxiety, which was controlled by contraction in the armored throat and chest segments. In the second, ocular armoring and blocked respiratory function associated with a weak, diffuse energy field limited the intensity and swing of energetic pulsation with decreased effectiveness of uterine contractions. In both cases, therapeutic intervention helped release energy blocked in the armor and facilitated the progress of labor.

These cases further demonstrate the direct relationship between states of armoring in pregnant women and difficulties encountered during labor. In the first case, with high and sufficient energetic charge and the capacity for release of the armoring with effective orgonomic first aid, waves of energetic pulsation ending in the pelvic reflex were seen to be directly associated with the physical process of labor and delivery. In both Cases, this process shared a functional identity with the biophysical status of the delivering mother at the time of delivery.

 
* Dr. Blasband is a Clinical Orgonomist in San Francisco, CA, and Princeton, NJ; Diplo-mate in Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology; Diplomate, American Board of Clinical Orgonomy and Fellow, American College of Orgonomy. Dr. Konia is a Medical Orgonomist in Easton, PA, Diplomate in Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiarry and Neurology; Diplomate American Board of Medical Orgonomy and Fellow, American College of Orgonomy.

REFERENCES

1.   Reich, W.: The Cancer Biopathy. New York: Orgone Institute Press, 1948.

2.   Reich, W.: "Armoring in the Newborn Infant," Orgone Energy Bulletin, 3:3, 1951.

3.   Raphael, C.: "Orgone Treatment During Labor," Orgone Energy Bulletin, 3:2, 1951.

4.   Silvert, M.: "Orgonomic Practices in Obstetrics," Orgonomic Medicine, 1: 1, 1955.

5.   Baker, E. F: "Genital Anxiety in Nursing Mothers," Orgone Energy Bulletin, 4:1, 1952; and "A Further Study of Genital Anxiety in Nursing Mothers," Journal of Orgonomy 3:l, 1969.

6.   Baker, E. F.: Man in the Trap. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1967.