What If It Still Worked? Science Can’t Explain It, But You Know It Helped - Pregnancy and Birth Beyond Science

Not everything has a study or has enough research and repetitive results to be conclusive, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real. This blog, part 2 of 3, explores the space where science and alternative, holistic care meet.

Let’s Start With a Truth You Already Know

You’ve probably heard some version of this:

“If it hasn’t been scientifically proven, it didn’t really work.”

But if you've ever done something, acupuncture, breathwork, listening to singing bowls in your car, even just talking to someone who really got you, and felt your body shift in a way you couldn’t quite name, then this blog is for you.

Because sometimes?

It works.

Even if science can’t explain why.

Even if someone side-eyes you for trying it. (Don't worry, DH, I know you and I don't agree on this and that's ok)

Even if your doctor raised an eyebrow.

“Science vs. experience” is a false choice. You don’t have to pick sides.

You don’t have to pick sides.

The medical world often likes neat boxes.

“If there’s a study, we trust it.” “If it’s been trialled and tested, we’ll recommend it.”

And yet, so often, care gets reduced to protocols and statistics:

“You’ll probably go into labour by X date.” “This stage usually looks like this.” “If you don’t progress in X hours, we’ll have to...”(Hi, Dr. T. — I see you.)

And honestly? That kind of thinking isn’t all bad.

Science has brought us incredible things.

But what if pregnancy could be more than a checklist?

What if birth felt calming? More natural, more primal?

What if we gave the birth person a voice, not just a protocol?

What if birth wasn’t just about getting baby out, but about welcoming baby in, opening space for their dad, co-parent, or family to meet them in a sacred, connected, gentle way?

In real life, not every (and let’s be honest — most) births follow a straight line.

They rarely go exactly to plan, not for doctors, not for midwives, not for the person giving birth, or their partner.

When I attend births — and even during prenatal sessions — I often share a traditional Indigenous perspective that helped me heal from my own birth trauma:

Once labour begins, you’re no longer in control.Your baby has taken over — and it’s time to let them lead you.

Birth isn’t about timing the stages.

Following the breath.

It’s about listening to the body.

Honouring the baby.

Surrendering to the moment.

(And let’s be honest — for those of us living in a high-stress world where “go mode” is the default, surrender can feel almost impossible.)

But that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach.

It just means we need support that makes space for softness.

You don’t have to choose between being intuitive or informed.

You don’t have to pick “natural” or “medical.”

You get to be a person — a whole person — with options that respect every part of you and can be included into your birth journey.

When Baby Is Ready, But Science Isn’t the Whole Story

There’s a moment in every pregnancy when the world starts watching the calendar, counting weeks like they’re milestones on a board game:

6 weeks: Morning sickness hits, and spoiler, it’s not just in the morning. It can any time of the day (and night) or even all day. 12 weeks: Fatigue that doesn’t feel normal. Nerve pain in places you didn’t expect. 28 weeks: sleep changes, digestive shifts, emotional ups and downs...

Pregnancy doesn’t just get hard at the end.

For many, the overwhelm starts early.

And when you’re navigating all of that — nausea, fatigue, sharp pains — it can feel like you’re already failing a test you didn’t study for.

But what if we stopped pretending there was one “right” way to feel during pregnancy?

What if the idea of “normal” needs a rethink?

What if those curated influencer bump pics or beautiful birth videos aren't something to strive for, just something to see and keep scrolling?

You don’t have to abandon medicine.

You’re allowed to take your vitamins, see your OB, ask the questions.

But maybe we also need to expand what counts as care, so your body, your feelings, and your lived experience get to matter just as much as your chart.

Why “Due Dates” Can Create Stress and Stress Can Slow Labour

Here’s something the textbooks don’t always tell you:

Your nervous system pays more attention to safety and timing than to dates on a calendar.

If you’re watching the clock...waiting for 39, or 40, or 41 weeks... your body may be in a state of anticipatory tension. That’s right: stress about labour can actually keep labour at bay.

This isn’t psychosomatic. It’s nervous system science.

Your body is constantly asking:

"Am I safe?" "Is this the right moment?" "Can I release into this?"

When you’re:

• tense

• worried

• pressured by timelines

• overthinking every contraction…your nervous system may respond by saying:

“Not quite safe enough yet.”

So part of preparing for birth isn’t just preparing the body, it’s preparing the mind and nervous system for trust, safety, and release.

Listening to Your Body: Gentle Support That Isn’t “Just a Trick”

Let’s be clear: nothing in this blog is about magic, guarantees, or forcing labour — and it’s definitely not about discrediting the medical or midwifery communities.

This is about something else:

Support that helps your body feel more ready.

More at home.

More connected to the raw, grounded world that holds you up every single day.

Here are some practices people use, with a note on what each feels like and why it might matter on an embodied level:

Bone Broth: Nourishing from the Inside Out

Bone broth isn’t a potion.

It’s a nutrient-rich, warm, connective food that many cultures use in late pregnancy and postpartum.

Why it might matter:

• Supports hydration

• Delivers collagen and amino acids

• Feels grounding and warm

• Can feel like an act of listening to your body’s needs

Whether or not science can tie it to “faster labour,” most people agree:

It feels supportive for the body and the spirit.

Acupuncture During Pregnancy & Labour

Acupuncture doesn’t "make labour happen" like a dial.

But many people find it incredibly helpful for:

• Reducing stress hormones

• Improving uterine blood flow

• Encouraging pelvic relaxation

• Calming the nervous system

In early pregnancy, acupuncture may also support:

• Managing nausea and morning sickness

• Boosting energy

• Addressing emotional overwhelm

During labour, some practitioners use acupuncture points to support:

• Cervical ripening

• Pain modulation (not a substitute for pain relief options)

• Emotional calm

Everyone’s response is different, and that’s the beauty of this conversation. Some people feel seen by their body in a way they never felt with just charts and monitors.

Massage for Sciatica, Pelvic Tightness & Nervous System Ease

Sciatica in pregnancy is no joke. That sharp, burning sensation down the leg can be physically uncomfortable, but it also signals tension in the body.

Massage, particularly gentle pelvic and glute work, can help:

• Ease muscular tension

• Signal safety to the nervous system

• Support more relaxed pelvic motion

• Help you feel your body, not just think about it

You might combine:

• Deep glute and hip massage

• Soft abdominal touch (gentle, respectful)

• Gliding strokes down the legs

Again, it’s not about “fixing” labour, it’s about supporting ease.

Head & Foot Massage: Nervous System Renewal

Before labour, many people find value in:

• Head massage: calming the mind

• Foot reflexology: restful, grounding stimulation

Why?

Because your nervous system is listening to every touch.

A calm nervous system doesn’t cause labour, but it can help your body feel more ready to release into the experience when the time is right.

Let’s be clear, though:

If you’re anticipating labour because of stress, massages aren’t going to “force it.”

They’re going to help your system feel seen, soothed, and understood.

And that matters.

Cultural & Traditional Supports People Use (and Why They Stay Powerfully Human)

In many cultures around the world, women are surrounded by:

• Rituals

• Foods

• Restorative practices

• Ceremonial words

• Ancestral prayers

These aren’t “unscientific”, they’re embodied meaning.

And meaning affects the nervous system.

You don’t have to believe in something mystical for it to work emotionally and socially. Sometimes what we call “spiritual” is just:

• calming

• grounding

• relational

• connective

When your nervous system feels safe — physically and socially — many bodies naturally prepare for labour with less resistance.

Want to Talk About What Might Work for You?

If you’re curious about:

• Trying something outside the standard path

• Feeling heard without being dismissed

• Building a support system that’s more “you” and less “should”

• Understanding how your body responds to more than just a protocol

Then I’d love to chat.

Book a no-pressure, 15 or 30-minute Chat with me.

I’ll bring the knowledge and the heart.

You bring your questions, your story, your nervous system, your whole self.

There’s room here for everything that hasn’t fit in other places.