pregnancy & birthing Blog

VISUALIZE YOUR PERFECT BIRTH

Anni Daulter — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:25:15 GMT

Your mind has tremendous power. If you are able to train your mind to imagine the perfect birth scene for yourself, you are far more likely to be able to form the birth experience that you want. This can include having a painless birth, short labor, and a healthy baby at the end of it all. If you do not have much practice with visualization, take time to research a little bit about it, as it truly can serve as a wonderful tool for you during the birthing process.

Reflections
Do some meditating on how you want the birth experience to go. Who is there? What does it look like? Sound like? Smell like? Answer these questions in the form of a visualization narrative for yourself that you will be able to replay time and time again in your mind until it becomes second nature to you.

Here is a short example of a lovely visualization for the birthing mama.
“Picture yourself in warm water, with your favorite soft music playing in the background, your loved ones all surrounding you, candles lit and your belly bursting with life. You know that you are getting so close to meeting your baby for the first time and you are excited and confident. The sun is going down and the soft glow of the sunset is upon your cheek and you look outside to see some wild flowers growing in your garden. The colors are vibrant and the flowers look full of life. You are holding your belly, talking to your baby knowing that you will be able to hold and kiss your newborn very soon. You notice each surge as it comes and goes, and you welcome each one, as you know it brings you closer and closer to meeting your baby. You breathe in and out with each surge, releasing your tension into each one. You know that there is something amazing about what you are doing and something familiar about it. You realize that you are a part of the sisterhood community of women who have birthed before you, and who are now standing in their power for you. In a short while, you will step over that threshold from maiden to mother and will know that you are a part of the tribe. You feel strong and confident and know that you can do it. Remember, you can birth your baby. You are strong and power-full and you know inherently how to do this. Stand in your power and welcome your brand new healthy child into your clan.”

Ideas

Write down exactly how you want your birth to go. This will become your manifestation tool over the next few months while you are mentally and emotionally preparing to give birth.
Choose a couple of words to act as a mantra for you during birth that will immediately take you to your “perfect birth“ scene.

TRUST

Lissa Busick — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 07:09:08 GMT

Trust is a big concept and something that most people struggle with. The reason that trust is so hard to put into practice is that when we blindly trust, we can not know what the outcome will be, we have no control, and that is very scary for many people. When a woman gets pregnant, her baby begins to grow and is 100% trusting. The baby cannot communicate with you other than through movement and is simply relying on you to do all of the right things and to step into motherhood pure and confident. This is a monumental lesson in trust. All you can do is believe that your baby will grow into a happy, healthy being. You cannot force it to happen, only trust. If you have fears about going through the birthing process, have faith that this is an ancient rite of passage that many women have gone through before and you will too. Your body knows what to do and your strength will shine through as you deliver your baby into the world.

Reflections
It is time for you to look deeply within to see how you work with believing in yourself and the mysteries of the universe.
Meditate on how you deal with trust vs. fear and who normally wins that argument in your head. During your pregnancy, you are called upon to have confidence that your baby is growing perfectly and that you will be able to deliver your child with ease and in harmony with the universe. Remember to believe in yourself and the universal plan that all things happen for a reason. As life lessons can be learned with each experience, every act is a gift.

Ideas

Think about the times that you have really trusted yourself, and times when you have not. What was the difference?
Practice trusting! Start with small things, like believing that the foods you eat are helping to form your healthy strong baby and work your way up to truly believing that your birth experience will be painless and your baby will enter the world in the arms of peace and love.
Create a “trust wheel” where you draw a circle and write who and what is allowed in. You may then say or write that anything else needs your permission to enter into your sacred space.

BIRTH ART

Anni Daulter — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:55:37 GMT

There are many ways to enjoy a sacred pregnancy, and one of them is by making Birth Art. This is a special form of art that is connected to your pregnancy and this particular baby. No matter how many children you have, each one is unique and your Birth Art creation should reflect that.

Reflections
Take some time in the next day or so to think about how you can make your pregnancy more sacred through some type of artistic expression. This could be painting a picture, making a collage, using clay to mold a figure of courage that can be with you at the birth (or any other form that feels right to you). Birth Art is unique to you and your experience as you bond with your baby who is growing inside of you. How you express this through art can be transformative and healing.

This project can be done alone or with your partner. It is nice to include your partner if they are willing to participate, as it can help to build the closeness between your partner and your baby. In addition, it can be an opportunity for you both to enjoy something fun together that can also serve as a heartfelt gift to your baby later on in his/her life.

Please note that this is not an exercise in how talented of an artist that you are. Free expression through art is just an opportunity for you to use other means to enjoy your pregnancy. As you are a vessel of creation for your baby, try to befriend your inner artist, and bring to life a piece of Birth Art that is a true expression of your experience with this pregnancy in the here and now.

Ideas

Buy a set of water-color paints and paper and free form paint by choosing colors that really speak to you. Paint a picture for yourself that relates to this pregnancy.
Get old magazines and cut out images or words that express what you are feeling about becoming a mother. Develop a “Collage of Inspiration” for yourself and have it present at the birth.
Buy some beads and create a special necklace for yourself that you can wear at the birth. This “Birth Empowerment Necklace” should be weaved with intention and when you are beading it, say a mantra such as, “I am strong and join with all women who have birthed before me and I will birth this baby easily!”

MEDITATE

Lissa Busick — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:48:02 GMT

Every medical expert will tell you that lowering your stress levels contributes to a happy and healthy pregnancy. Meditation is an easy way to naturally reduce stress and open yourself to inner peace, but it can be intimidating to many people. However, when you reframe the traditional practice of meditation to look like your everyday life, such as being mindful and present when you do daily tasks like washing dishes or driving it can become a friendly asset to your pregnancy experience.

Reflections
This may signal a time for you to quiet your life, slow down your mind and be present with yourself and your growing baby. As previously suggested, meditation can take on many forms. It can be sitting in a peaceful place doing deep breathing, or it can be an act of releasing chatter in your mind to maintain conscious presence while engaging in everyday tasks. The important thing to remember when trying to meditate is to make room in your mind for being completely aware in the moment and inviting a sense of calm to your being. This is particularly valuable during pregnancy, as a balanced body mind and spirit will encourage an easier physical experience and will give your baby the gift of growing in peace and tranquility. Overall, you will have lower stress levels, which directly impact the type of pregnancy and birth you have.

Try to maintain a daily practice, even if it’s only for five minutes a day. If you can start your day with a few moments of silence, you may see an energy shift in the way your days start to flow. This will benefit both you and your growing baby by reducing your body’s stress hormones.

Ideas

Buy a meditation pillow if you plan on practicing sitting meditation.
Ring a bell to signal a quiet time, and then set a timer for however many minutes you have to dedicate to being mindful and present and then ring the bell again when you are finished to signal closure.
Buy some nice meditation music that helps you to calm your mind. If you do not have time for a daily sitting practice, try playing the music while you engage in other everyday activities to see if it changes your energy while you do the tasks.
Book Recommendation: The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh.

BODY IMAGE

Anni Daulter — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:47:06 GMT

When a woman gets pregnant, she goes through many emotional and physical changes. The most obvious change is her growing belly and the re-shaping of her body to accommodate a new being. For many women, gaining weight is associated with being unattractive and does not match their societal consciousness of what is acceptable. The media and print magazines tend to dictate what is, and what is not, beautiful and many women have their self- image tied primarily to their body image.

Growing a baby means gaining weight. Pure and simple, your baby needs you to gain weight in order to blossom into a healthy newborn. The question is how do you feel about this new body of yours and how it relates to your self-image?

Reflections
Take some time to honor your new body as it blossoms into a mother’s body: one that will produce milk to nourish your baby; one that will expand to let your baby enter into the world; and one that will need mothering hips to carry your baby when she needs to be close. Meditate on all of your feelings that arise in relation to gaining weight and having a newly developed body. Ask yourself if you feel sexy and attractive or do you have feelings of being undesirable and ugly? Take notice of all of your feelings and acknowledge them, have compassion with yourself and own them. We are perfect in every moment and remember that your new curves are luscious and full of life!

Ideas

Stand naked in front of a mirror and let your belly be full and glorious and see what feelings it brings up in you.
Wear something that makes you feel sexy and gorgeous that accentuates your new body.
Have your big belly decorated with a lovely henna design to honor its beauty.
Have a pregnancy photo shoot to document and show off all of your new curves!

SISTERHOOD CONNECTION

Anni Daulter — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 06:44:43 GMT

Birth is a sacred practice that only women can experience and this miracle, in many cultures, has been supported by a woman’s tribe; her sisters, her friends, her female relatives, her circle. As the mystery of the baby forms in a woman’s womb, her sisters can help her to decipher the flow of emotion and the physical transformations that come with the many phases of her pregnancy. It is so valuable to be able to be a sacred support for a woman in her space of transitioning into motherhood and help her join with her highest female self, that of a creator of life.

Reflections
Make a list of your own tribe of women. Who do you trust to have in your circle to support you, not only through this pregnancy, but through motherhood? Spend some time with the women in your circle, and ask them the questions that you have in your heart about this very sacred rite of passage. Let them support and honor you through this process.

You may want to take time to connect with your own mother, and revisit the stories of how you were born. This action can help you can begin your own birthing process fresh and filled with your own her-story of how you came into the world through your female lineage. Remember that you are not alone and that you have other women who care for you and want you to have a beautiful experience. If you feel isolated and alone and do not feel as though you have a sisterhood to turn to, build one! You are a part of the collective circle of women and by birth-rite, you are entitled to be a part of this sacred tribe.

Ideas

A simple idea is to make a lunch date with a special woman in your life and to bask in the energy of the divine female.
Learn about how you came into the world. Talk to your own mother about her experience when you were born. If you are unable to do that, try talking with another relative that could have been there at the time, just to gain some interpersonal perspective.
Invite several women over for a special circle where you are honored and showered as you step into the place of birthing. (see the adornment card for more specifics)
Have a good old-fashioned sleepover, like the ones you used to have as a teenager. Invite some of your girls over for movies, popcorn, chocolate ice cream and cozy connection.
Take the time to create your Birth Call Tree, a phone list of all those you want to know you are in labor, and decide whether or not you want any of your sisterhood tribe at the birth to support you. If you do not have any one you feel could do that, consider hiring a doula to be present with you at the birth.
Book Recommendation: The Red Tent by Anita Diamant