Enneagram Type 9 - The Peacemaker

The type 9 is aptly called the "crown of the enneagram." This is because they have the ability to "chameleon" or morph into looking like any type. Why? Because more than anything they long to be at peace with themselves, with others, and with their world. And they will do anything they need to maintain this.

Enneagram Type 9 in Pregnancy and Birth

The enneagram type 9 is accepting, optimistic, accommodating, stable and serene. They can be exceptionally generous with their time and resources in order to make sure everyone is comfortable and at peace. Because when others are feeling peaceful, they do too!

At the core, the type 9 believes that if they only focus on the agenda of others, they may maintain peace. This causes them to downplay their own core needs, desires, and emotions. Their core fear is loss, separation, being overlooked, conflict, or considered unimportant. They Long to live with internal peace and harmony with themselves and the world around them. Their childhood message was "It's not okay to assert yourself."

Ultimately, the type 9 longs to be essential to others, but struggles to let others know what they need or desire for fear of not pleasing them or causing rifts in the relationship.

• The enneagram 9 has great intuition. They can read people and situations and take in information through their instincts. They then process this information through their heart or emotions, analyzing what their best options are based on how it might or might not create a sense of peace around them.

• The type 9 (like types 4 or 5) pull away when they feel threatened or underappreciated. They are not likely to assert themselves and more likely to pull inward (or even leave the situation physically) to be alone. Type 9s have the least energy of any number of the enneagram.

• Enneagram 9's will downplay how hurt they really are as a result of conflict. But the reality is that they feel deeply - they just don't want to rock the boat with their own emotions. They can be very quick to apologize simply to resolve the conflict and reclaim that sense of peace. Unfortunately, the "peace" that they are living is is often a false sense as the root issues of conflict are rarely completely resolved.

• The type 9 is realistic about getting their needs met. They find a deep sense of self based on their attachments to people around them. Their focus on peace helps to meet their deepest need - at least on the surface.

The enneagram 9 in stress moves toward the bottom side of Type 6 becoming more concerned about preparing for possible worst case scenarios and feeling unsafe without their people close by. They may be more prone to fret, fear, and doubting their abilities to make the decisions they need to and ultimately "give up" giving into slothfulness and self-indulgence to help themselves feel better. In health, the type 9 moves toward the top side of the type 3 becoming more assertive, realizing and vocalizing their needs, and taking action to make sure things are accomplished. Their energy increases and they are more willing to move toward goals.

The core question of the enneagram type 9 is "How do I need to accommodate others in order to maintain peace and harmony?"

When pregnant, the enneagram type 9 may find herself in one of two typical scenarios: either relatively relaxed allowing things to come as they may, downplaying her symptoms and discomfort and continuing to focus on the people around her rather than herself . . . or start to becoming hypervigilant about all of the "what ifs" of pregnancy and birth. Because of their intense fear of loss or separation, they may have a heavy fear about losing their baby and want to do anything possible in order to prepare (even at their own expense.) A type 9 may be inclined to listen to her provider, being sure to be all the things she should for her growing baby and willing to accept interventions she may otherwise be opposed to because she wants to avoid conflict with her providers.

A truth to hold to is that as an enneagram 9, your voice matters, and your desires are valid - your desires for your pregnancy and birth experience as well as your deep emotions about keeping baby safe.

An Enneagram Type 9 needs to find their voice and realize that their birth belongs to them - not to their doctor, partner, or doula. It's also crucial to have a support person present in their birth experience who knows their desires and preferences and will stand up and advocate for them when they cannot do it themselves. Finally, a type 9 needs to stay present in the moment and in tune with themselves and their surroundings even when things feel stressful. It's in choosing to be present in the moment that they can become empowered to voice what it is that they need.

Are you an enneagram type 9? How did your personality affect your labor and birth experience?

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