Tips for Conscious Pregnancy and Birth
Compiled by Lara Catone
- View your pregnancy as a time for deep inner exploration within yourselves and relationships. Ask lots of big questions of yourself and partner such as:
- What do we want for our pregnancy and birthing?
- What are our fundamental beliefs about pregnancy and birth and do they support our goals?
- What are our fears?
- What are our dreams?
- What information/support systems will help us to achieve our goals?
- Where can we seek more information?
- What were our births like? Is there healing that needs to take place from our early lives?
- Do we have other unresolved issues personally or within our relationship?
- Why do we want to bring another life into this world?
- What kind of parents will we be?
- How can we strengthen our bond?
- How can we practice deep intimacy amidst our changing roles?
- Take lots of time for yourself doing things you enjoy. The following activities are great:
- Prenatal and partner yoga
- Dance (belly dancing!)
- Journaling/ Writing
- Painting
- Drawing
- Swimming
- Walking
- Gardening
- Meditation/ Deep relaxation
- Affirmations are a strong way to manifest your desires for a healthy pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. You can write affirmations and then read/repeat them to yourself aloud or silently. Write your affirmations in first person, present tense with positive statements (I feel good vs. I don't feel bad). Here are some examples:
- My baby is growing, beautiful, and strong.
- The universe loves and supports me and my baby.
- I am and will be a good parent to my child.
- I trust my body, and I follow its lead.
- My mind is relaxed; my body is relaxed.
- I am relaxed and happy that my baby is coming to me.
- Use visualization techniques to picture exactly how you want your labor and birthing to be. Visualization is also helpful for deep relaxation and meditation.
- Communicate with your baby.
- Take time out each day to talk to your baby and send messages of love and happiness.
- Mental, or silent, messages can be just as powerful as spoken ones.
- Tell your baby what the birth will be like and that you are ready to receive him/her and will be patient until they are ready.
- Have partner and siblings take time to speak to the baby.
- Read to or play soft music (classical is great) for your baby.
- Sit quietly and receive messages from your baby.
- Be mindful that everything that you feel your baby will feel as well.
- Do your homework. Make informed decisions by educating yourself even more than you would with other major decisions/changes in your life.
- Interview your care provider(s) carefully to be sure that their philosophy and protocol will support your desires and goals.
- Ask caregiver(s) about their personal statistics for epidural, induction, c-section rate.
- Seek out information from lots of resources (your care provider, internet, books, a doula, a childbirth educator, alternative health practitioners, support groups/organizations).
- Learn what’s happening in your body and with your baby through various times in the pregnancy.
- Know what nutrition is best specifically for you and baby especially if you have a special diet.
- Know your rights as a birthing mom to make choices and informed decisions about testing and medical procedures.
- Find out more about tests routinely given for prenatal care to know if they are really appropriate/necessary for you.
- Find out about all of the possible interventions performed in a hospital, when these become absolutely necessary, and your decision-making power over these interventions.
- Research childbirth preparation and methods (i.e. Bradley, Hypnobirthithg, Birthing from Within).
- And don’t forget about the postpartum: health, nutrition, exercise, breastfeeding, newborn care, and parenting.
- Avoid getting caught up on your “due date.”
- It’s really an ESTIMATED date.
- Only 5% of women go into labor on their due date.
- Babies gestate for different lengths of time 40 weeks is only an average length of time. Anywhere from 37-42 weeks is considered full-term.
- Consider a time that is your possible “birth month” instead.
- Stay away from negative stories and messages about birth.
- Surrender to this beautiful, magical time in your life, let nature run her course, and enjoy each step of the way!