You must think differently about childbirth. What we/you have been taught now, and in the past, is not what we need to know today as an expectant mom. Women need to raise their awareness about their personal attitudes towards birth, circumstance, family, friends, spouse/partner, social, and cultural influences, and how this can influence the birth experience. Women need to develop an “athlete’s” mind, an internal, personal vision for preparing for an event that is both physical and emotional.
Why? Because the experience of birth is so much more and touches your heart and soul in so many unexpected ways that only you know. What’s missing in childbirth education and especially in hospital based classes are in-depth teachings of intuition, self-reliance, coping skills, and learning these skills FIRST before teaching about medications ( I am not anti medication).
The books and magazines available for preparing for childbirth are ineffective in helping you really prepare for birth from the inside out. Most of the information you read is based on external insights and procedures for birth. Unless you enrolled in a course that specialized in focusing on your inner strengths – such as “Birthing from Within”, most mainstream, hospital classes do not.
So, let’s think outside the box. Here are some suggestions for you in helping you really prepare for baby and parenting.
1. Be true to yourself. Make your own decisions. Avoid listening or following some one else’s plan for your birth. Usually this will hurt you more because you didn’t follow what YOU wanted but what they wanted instead.
2. CHANGE your reading material! Here is where you’ll think I’m crazy – but here it goes. Ask the questions:
- How do athletes manage their pain? They experience both physical pain and emotional challenge.
-How do they prepare for a challenging event?
-What tools do they use?
-How have many women experience painless births?
-What techniques did they use? Waterbirth? Hypnosis? Homebirth? Midwife?
-Where is my fear coming from? Am I creating it or are others creating it. If others are – keep a distance. If you are creating it, what triggers it?How can you problem solve it. One way is to keep a journal of your thoughts. Journaling is an effective way to releive stress, worries, and find your own answers to why you feel the way you do.
Here are some book suggestions:
Laura Day – Intuition, development and building skill in usinging it. Much of childbirth and pregnancy revolves around “mother’s intuition”. This is one of your personal Bith Talents!
Rhonda Britten – Fearless Living. Learn about your fears, where they come from, how to master them. Your fears about childbirth and parenting can be influenced by life experiences, and your own upbringing.
Blair Singer – “Little Voice”. Learn how that little voice in your head (between your ears) keeps you from thinking you can or can’t.
Nothing here about childbirth or babies. Instead, it’s all about tapping into your inner self because you will bring this with you into the labor room. And what you learn about yourself, your strengths, will last you a lifetime and influence how you parent your child.
Think outside the box.
Welcome 
