Cate's Birth - The Spiritual Journey

Since it was so late in my pregnancy with Cate that I decided to try for an unmedicated delivery, I spent the last few weeks of the pregnancy researching pain management techniques.  I felt like I was cramming for a test.  I spent countless hours reading birth stories, watching youTube videos and pouring over articles written by moms, doulas and midwives.  I wanted to have as many coping mechanisms as possible at my disposal in order to increase my odds of accomplishing this goal.  I thought I would share some of the resources I found helpful.

Here are a few links to articles I found helpful:
1. Comfort in Labor
2. Birth Sensations - This one is a little graphic. You've been warned.
3. Tracey Rose - YouTube Channel.  Lots of videos on how to manage pain in childbirth.
4. Anything you can find by Ina Mae Gaskin.
5. The Business of Being Born - this documentary is available on Netflix. Very empowering.  The follow up series (More Business of Being Born) is also worth watching.

This video was a bit of a turning point for me.  Most of the other resources I had found were secular.  While they were incredibly informative, there was something missing.  They never touched on the spiritual aspect of pregnancy, labor and delivery.  In this message, the speaker discusses the verses in Genesis regarding childbirth and the fall.  She went back to the original language (Hebrew) in which the book was written and talked about the translation of the original text.  God did not curse us, as women, to have miserable experiences giving birth to our blessed children.  We were, however, called to LABOR...  Labor, meaning hard work.  Not suffering, misery or torture.  God doesn't inflict suffering on us in order to bring a blessing.  I'm not saying blessings can't come from some very trying experiences.  But I don't believe that God would wish that on His Creation repeatedly in order to bless us.  It just not in line with God's character.

Links to things that helped me call upon God during labor:

1. Bible Verses for Childbirth

2. Birth Affirmations Based on The Fruits of The Spirit

I poured over countless birth stories on Birth Without Fear reading about women with short, relatively easy labors.  I was cautious not to hope for that, but encouraged to know it was possible.  Turns out that's exactly what I got!  Thank you Lord!  I'm so blessed to have such a positive experience to share.  

You can read it here.