April 18, 2023

A Thought On Birth: From Turmoil To Tranquil

In my previous post I mentioned that THOUGHTS matter – they matter BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER labor. Our mind is powerful! Our thoughts and attitudes play a huge role in impacting the pregnancy journey and the birth process, and that impact takes shape long before delivery day.

What emotions come to mind for you when you hear the words childbirth, labor, or delivery?

Do you immediately jump to the association of fear and pain? Do you cringe at the thought of pushing your baby out and wonder how on earth you are going to be able to do that? Do you find yourself being filled with anxiety and turmoil?

OR …

Do you find yourself filled with a deep appreciation for the raw strength of the female body? Do you embrace a tranquil, joyful acceptance of the process? Do you see the inherent beauty in birth?

Many women in the United States embrace the former set of thoughts and beliefs because we’ve been surrounded by a culture that has treated pregnancy and labor as a form of disease and as a process to be carefully managed from external sources rather than adequately and realistically preparing the headspace of expectant moms and equipping them with internal strength. We’ve all seen the dramatic portrayal on television and we’ve heard the stories of struggle from friends and family. Especially now, at a time when we can have instant access to any information we want at the click of a button, we’ve somehow managed to make pregnancy and labor an event that is separate from us rather than a part of us.

Being pregnant can be scary. Facing labor, especially if you’re a first time mom or if you’ve been left with traumatic experiences from previous births, can be scary. Not knowing what to expect can be scary. Simply knowing that your body is about to give birth to a human can be scary.

I get it! I’ve been there too. I had to look my own fear straight in the face when it came to the birth of my son.

But what if I told you it was possible to approach this process with an entirely different perspective? What if I told you it was possible to find joy in labor? What if I told you it was possible to embrace a calm attitude and to find comfort in the process despite the intensity of sensation?
 

THE FEAR TENSION PAIN CYCLE
 

If you’re wondering WHY it even matters, here is why: Our body responds to our mind!
A fearful mind = a tense body
A tense body = a body in pain
A body in pain = more fear
*REPEAT*