Suggestions for UC Preparation

To my readers who are considering birthing unassisted:

 

You can do it! Here are some suggestions, solely based on my experience. Here is what helped me.

 

Websites to read:

Christian UC

Sarah Buckley, especially this article

Birthlife (this is a great article for skeptical relatives to read)

Laura Shanley's site (author of Unassisted Childbirth)

PureBirth

Midwife Archives

Empowered Childbirth

 

Forums and Groups:

Mothering

UC Yahoo Group (my favorite--there are several)

 

Blogs:

Sagefemme (not an active blog, but this contains much wonderful information that inspired and enabled me)

Stand and Deliver (lots of resources and personal experience)

 

Books:

My favorites were Unassisted Homebirth: An Act of Love and The Power of Pleasurable Childbirth. Also a great book to prepare psychologically is Creating a Joyful Birth Experience. Of course, also read all the classic natural birth literature like Childbirth Without Fear, anything by Sheila Kitzinger, Carl Jones, the Hypnobirthing book, Calm Birth, and Birthing From Within.

 

Watch:

-UC videos on You tube

-Unassisted Birth of Psalm and Zoya (?) My favorite birth movie, available online, anybody know where?

-Clear Road to Birth

 

Personally, I think watching UC birth videos is invaluable as a way to recreate your subconscious beliefs about birth. You will birth accordingly to your beliefs. If you believe it is a medical event, you will not make it. If you believe it hurts, it will. If you believe it is long, arduous work, it will be. I used to believe these things but through watching lots of videos, I was able to gain new insights and reprogram my subconscious to see that birth is a simple, physiological process (a positive one!) and besides that, it can be anything your mind creates it to be.

 

Prenatal Care:

I suggest you do what you are comfortable with. Anything a doctor does, you can do yourself or you can obtain independently. But before doing labwork or medical assessments, I suggest educating yourself on the psychological impact of prenatal assessments. They are not proven to be accurate or reliable, and often induce more worry than necessary. Unfortunately, worry affects our beliefs and creates outcomes. I may be mocked for this, but personally I feel naivete is the best way to go. I relied on the Holy Spirit alone to give me any direction I needed (if there was cause for concern, etc.), and of course my own instinct. Many moms rely on dreams. As far as prenatal care, I casually measured my fundus but did no other routine information gathering. And of course I took excellent care of myself. Moms who birth unassisted usually have better health and outcomes because they tend to be responsible women.

Psychologically, I think birth is wonderful when you follow nature - it affects your hopes and emotions, and makes everything so amazing. For example, nature didn't intend for us to know the gender of our baby, and it's so exciting to find out at the time of birth! Nature didn't intend for us to have a visual picture of our babies either. I think emotionally, it was amazing not to have an ultrasound either. I found myself wondering what was inside me, and when she was born, I was thrilled and amazed to see a little human! I think this contributes to third stage hormones, bonding, and recovery.

 

But most importantly to prepare...

 

No, I am not going to suggest nutrition. I would say the most important thing during pregnancy is to prepare yourself as much mentally and spiritually as possible. You may have to adjust your personality! Get into a happy, faithful place in your life where you follow the spirit, where you avoid discouraging and evil influences, where your faith is strong, etc. Keep praying to make the right choice and be wise. I kept praying for that, and even in labor prayed that we'd be directed if we needed a midwife. That is why I feel my decision wasn't foolish - I trust the Lord. He did not tell me that we needed medical assistance, and we didn't. Everything worked out so perfectly! (and my faith was not 100% perfect, I had doubts arise during pregnancy but I always addressed them and worked through them until I felt confident again) You want to get into a peaceful, balanced state of mind. If you feel emotional, stop what you are doing and go cry. Think through it. Write your feelings out. Do this until the emotion/doubt is resolved and you feel strong again.
Surround yourself with encouragement. Don't tell your birth plans to anybody who will dissuade you or send worries or negative energy your way. I didn't want anyone to know I was in labor because I think they naturally start worrying and that power gets sent out into the universe (See the film The Secret).
 
I know you can do it! It certainly takes effort though. But the rewards are incredible! You will grow so much as a person, so much closer to God and to your husband as well. Birth is not about getting a baby out. It's a wonderful opportune time to rebirth yourself into a new, confident, even Holy person. And your baby will be so blessed by it also! A loving pregnancy without worry, a gentle birth without intervention or the presence of strangers--these things are so valuable to a new child! They will have the best start in life. More so than any nutrition program, I firmly believe. Birth the right way! And realize the pinnacle of True Womanhood!