Body Beliefs

Today is my 8-week visit, and time to begin talking with OBs and midwives about the process of labor and delivery.   Keith and I are visiting an OB practice this afternoon, then attending a “Meet the Midwives” meeting at another hospital tonight.  

Decisions are based on lots of factors, but as I've read about various methods available for giving birth today, I've taken time to identify some core beliefs about my body and the process of childbirth so that I might have some kind of gauge by which to "feel in" to the people and practices we encounter today.   

What I believe:

I believe in my body’s capacity to deliver a baby.  While this is MY first delivery, and I have a lot to learn about the process of labor and delivery, I feel connected to the millions of women over generations of time in all corners of the earth who have given birth.  That connection is a source of great strength for me. 

I also believe the female body was designed – engineered - by a loving God as the best way to bring spirits into the world, and to be able to sustain their lives once here.  My becoming a mother is not only a miracle to me, but a responsibility and an opportunity to develop these qualities that are an inherent part of my design, my biology, my sociology.  

As a dancer, I have studied anatomy and kinesiology, the core, the pelvis and spine.  I am “in” my body.  I am familiar with the pelvis, and muscles of the pelvic floor.  I am familiar with the neuromuscular patterning of the body – how the body is fully connected developmentally, as well as how individual muscles work alone.  After all, it’s that ability to initiate and respond to subtle muscular sensations that is at the core of being a good dancer.  Sensing, articulating, initiating – these are things dancers do well. 

I also have very strong Leggat legs, thanks to my dad!

So, with these social, biological, spiritual and physical beliefs as my foundation, what I want to communicate to these care providers today is:  I believe it’s important to let my body do what it knows how to do.  The role of my care providers is to let natural processes run their course, and help coach me through the very natural process of childbirth. 

Some important details, then, that seem to bubble to the surface of my birth plan include: 

1.     Not being induced.  The baby and my body work together pretty well to communicate when this party should happen.  Hormones are released by the baby, which my body responds to; my body sets the stage to best introduce the star into the world.  It’s chemistry.  It’s biology.  If any one of those chemical processes is forced, aborted, or skipped, I am less prepared, chemically, psychologically, to labor and deliver.  

2.     Alternative birthing position.  I can’t imagine giving birth laying down.  Anatomically, it just isn’t an effective way to move a 9-lb baby through the birth canal.  It’s important to me that I am allowed to be in a position that allows my pelvis more room for forward tilting, to open the pelvic floor more.  That might be a squatting position, or sitting on a physioball.  Are doctors open to delivering a baby from other positions besides “lean back and open your legs in this direction?”

3.     Eating during labor – I’ve heard that sometimes women aren’t allowed to eat or drink anything during labor.  WHAT?  Are you nuts?  I am exerting an unspeakable amount of energy here, and my body needs calories.  Pushing might cause a little pooping?  Oh well!

4.     Not being medicated during labor.  Don’t get me wrong:  I am actually sort of a wimp when it comes to pain, blood, and I’d LOVE not feeling any pain during labor and delivery.  However, it is so important to me that I have full access to physical sensations happening in my lower body, core, and pelvis during labor.  I need to feel what is happening to best know how to move the delivery process along.  Where, when and HOW to push; where, when and HOW to breath.  The thought of being disconnected from the full capacity of my body’s physical sensation during labor feels more alienating that the thought of pain.  ….I might have a completely different opinion AFTER it’s all said and done….but for now, that’s how I feel.

I also recognize I am 39, and that there might be complications associated with my age that I am unaware of.  I hope to talk with my care providers about this.   And some things I would otherwise be opposed to (being on an IV, the baby being internally monitored), might need to be considered given my age.  I will definitely be open to their medical opinion! 

Looking forward to learning more today…