I grew up among ducks, geese, peacocks, goats and gardens. Despite growing up close to the natural world, I can’t say I maintained a close relationship with it other than enjoying the beauty and complaining about the more uncomfortable aspects. This changed during pregnancy.
The culturally induced line I was told separated me from the animal kingdom dissolved. The experience of pregnancy and the birthing process prompted my return to the wild unknown. I was a wild animal carrying another being from seed to human form. And, like most mammals, I became fiercely protective of my offspring. An ancient intelligence that lay dormant until the pregnancy exploded as if it had been there all along, breathing softly beneath the surface of my so-called civilized self.
Thus began my journey into the womb, the developmental transition into motherhood. Looking at my pregnant belly against the backdrop of a sleepless city, I experienced a profound disconnection from my body, community, and the natural world. Modern life had not prepared me for this transition. I didn’t know how to be wild. However, I was the kangaroo who carried his joy in a pouch made of his skin. I too was a mammal, fully capable of facilitating another being’s life. As I imagined a kangaroo hoping on the sidewalk in a concrete jungle, I panicked. I longed for vibrant greens, fresh air and biodiversity. I needed space to explore my own wilderness.
Research now shows that maternal exposure to the natural environment can promote healthy fetal development. It is well documented that spending time in nature or bringing nature into your daily life can improve physical and mental health. According to Edward O. Wilson’s biophilia hypothesis, there is an innate connection and interdependence between humans and more than humans that includes psychological well-being, personal identity, and a sense of belonging to something greater than oneself. Connecting with nature is especially important to the healthy development of a woman’s sense of self. It has been suggested that women who spend time in natural environments are more likely to maintain a healthy body image.
The concept of ecological self, or aspects of the self that capture the human capacity to relate to other living things and the earth
himself. Dominated by a dualistic opposition, nature and culture remain opposed and separate in the current Western worldview, although this is beginning to unravel as dualism is more widely understood to be inconsistent with the known laws of science. The self is a synthesis of the gifts we are born with and a continuous developmental process of relationship.
The ecological aspect of the self is a collection of the relational, continuous and iterative process of movement within ecosystems. If we are embedded in the natural environment and natural environments (eg, gut bacteria) are embedded in us, it follows that the ecological self is an essential part of ourselves. In many indigenous cultures, realizing wholeness usually involves a rite of passage or process of moving from a disconnected anthropocentric consciousness to an interconnected earth-centered consciousness. Not surprisingly, this developmental transformation is necessary for the ecological sustainability of humanity.
Ecopsychologists advocate connecting with nature during the womb. The process of developing an earth-centered consciousness it can accelerate during major life transitions and begins with the awareness that he is embedded in an animate world, laying the groundwork for the emergence of an ecological self. To realize that one is embedded in an animate world is simply to come to terms with the possibility that everything is alive, including the Earth and its biological systems. Supportive containers are needed for mothers to heal the anthropocentric disconnection from nature and redefine themselves, including the ecological dimensions of experience.
This process can also support the mother’s health. Coming to terms with the wild unknowns of human pregnancy and my place in the web of life might have been much easier if I had been part of a supportive community of women to navigate the transition and rite of passage into motherhood.
Sources
Clayton S, Opotow S, eds. Identity and the natural environment: The psychological significance of nature. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; 2003:45-65.
Davis A, Athan A. Ecopsychological Development and Maternal Ecodistress during the Registry. Ecopsychology. Sep 2023, 15(3).
Jordon M. Nature and therapy: Understanding counseling and psychotherapy in outdoor space. Routledge; 2015.
Louv R. The last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature deprivation disorder. Algonquin? 2008. Louv R. The beginning of nature: Reconnecting with life at a vital age. Algonquin? 2012. Louv R. Vitamin D: 500 ways to enrich the health and happiness of your family and community. Algonquin? 2016.
Naes A. Self-Actualization: An Ecological Approach to Being in the World. The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy. 1987, 4(3).
Swami V, Robinson C, Furnham A. Positive rational acceptance of threats to body image mediates the association between exposure to nature and body esteem. Ecopsychology. 2022? 14 (2): 118-125.
Toda M, Avraam D, Cadman T, Fossati S, et al. Environmental exposure during pregnancy and birth outcomes in 11 European birth cohorts. Environment International. 2022? 170.
This story is part of The Motherly Collective partner network where we feature the stories, experiences and advice from brands, authors and experts who want to share their perspective with our community. We believe that there is no single motherhood story and that every mother’s journey is unique. By empowering every mother’s experience and offering expert-led content, we can support, inform and inspire each other on this incredible journey. If you are interested in contributing to The Motherly Collective, click here here.
