Childbirth without Fear

Dear little soul

I've been reading a lot, so much, about the birth, that I momentarily forget that I'll be meeting you at the end of it all. That's why I'm returning to meditation.

I do find that in my reading, there are so many cultural differences that make me giggle a bit when I read them. Like there's an Australian book called "Birth Skills", co-edited by Sarah Murdoch where she talks about her self-consciousness and embarrassment about being in the prenatal classes. I have never really felt embarrassment about breathing or chanting or singing (well, maybe a little bit about dancing, but then everyone else was dancing and if you're really in the moment, who cares whether somebody else is not in their moment and is looking at you and judging you?).

One author I've been reading, Juju Sundin, derides a book called "Childbirth without Fear" written by Grantley Dick-Read in the 30s I believe, and then revised in the 50s. She says it's ridiculous that this obstetrician should assert that pain in childbirth is only caused by ignorance and fear. It's not the fault of the woman, but back then, the fault of the establishment. And in some ways in our medicalised world, it's still the fault of the establishment (like, it's normal to give birth in a germy hospital when you're not sick). So, I tend to agree with this obstetrician (as someone who has not yet given birth), for I see pregnancy as a healthy condition that for someone with no health issues (me), means they can give birth safely and without fear, at home.

I don't know, maybe it's optimism, wishful thinking, or naïeveté, but I do believe that knowing what is happening to your body, believing that the chemicals and hormones your body makes will block discomfort - if you don't let adrenaline dampen the natural chemistry of the birthing process, and the constant attendance to the connecting to and meeting of the baby by both mother and father, should prepare the birthing mother's body for a fearless delivery. I don't believe anything will go wrong and if it does, I know we're so close to facilities and have such good care around us in the form of a doula, midwife, postnatal nurse and your Soul Papa, that we haven't anything to worry about. All bases are covered.

Still, the lady in the health food shop told me that you can't really prepare for childbirth. Of course I take her word for it. Strange as it may sound, I can't wait until the contractions start. Now, I'd never have said that 8 months ago. Back then I was terrified of facing pain. Now, I'm just looking forward to meeting you. I do still love being pregnant and I don't want you to come when you're not ready, though!

Come to us when you're ready, dear little soul.

Love your Soul Mama