-Hypnobabies
So per my OB's recommendation, I started the hypnobabies CDs today. Alisha, LuLu, and Ellie joined in and enjoyed a deep state of relaxation. Me, notsomuch. It is going to take a TON of practice for me to let go of all the fear and anxiety I have built up (more on that in a future post). I really want to take an in person class, but I cannot seem to find one locally, boo hiss! Here is the self study program I am doing now if you are curious: https://www.hypnobabies.com/
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| LuLu enjoying hypnobabies |
But anyways, I really do like the idea of re-framing birth to be a more positive experience. My Mom hated ALL of her births. She wanted meds but Dad wouldn't "let" her. Those who know me know I HATE that line. Although I want a natural birth it is what I want. I feel that if I maintain my autonomy over my body, I will have a much happier birth. And I think it should be the same for everyone, everyone should have the autonomy to make their OWN birth choices. You want meds? Go for it sista! All natural in a birth tub? Go for it sista! The only best birth is your birth with your choices and autonomy remaining intact. Sorry, off the soapbox now.
Anyways, Alisha and I were watching a hypnobirthing video and the instructor had her students wear an "Only happy birth stories button" and I loved the idea! Here is the video if you want to watch it: Hypnobirth Intro. I am not really showing right now, but I plan on getting one of those when I do start showing. I also changed my profile picture to the image below, even though I said I wanted to keep baby stuff off facebook. I know that some people have not had the best births and telling your birth story is important. However, when you tell your story to incite fear in others (fear mongering, ugh), that is when it becomes hurtful. So I want to surround myself with the happiest birth stories I can find.
So if you have a happy birth story and you want to tell me, please do! Like Amanda W's super fast, grunting like our ancestors, water birth, yes! Tell me more! Tell me what made you feel empowered, strong, and surrounded by peace. My baby and I want to hear that. And if you want to tell me something you wish you did (not epidurals or drugs though, please), I would love to hear those tips as well.
I've definitely watched women use their scary birth stories to scare or shame other women (the "natural birth, yeah right!" type comments. But as someone who had an objectively bad birth, that was also the best day of my life because it brought me my daughter, I have to make a case for the bad birth story. I wrote about it here: http://chronicladybug.blogspot.com/2012/06/telling-scary-stories-about-childbirth.html
ReplyDeleteI totally respect your story and value your opinion! I think that when someone shares their story as part of the "motherhood's ritual of swapping stories", that is perfectly wonderful. But when some is telling a story in an attempt to scare someone in or out of a decision, that is when I ask people to stop. Does that make sense?
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