Trusting Our Bodies
Meg's Story...
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| Trusting Our Bodies Childbirth Classes www.TrustingOurBodies.com Jessica@TrustingOurBodies.com Serving Central Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania area |
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For more information about childbirth classes or doula services, please email me.
There was chaos all around me as I arrived
at the hospital and was already in 2nd stage
having controllable but definite urges to
push. I had kept my eyes closed during
contractions throughout most of labor, and
this continued during second stage. With the
chaos around me, there were many voices,
but those of my doula and midwife cut
through the auditory clutter. I knew and
trusted them both, and that familiarity was
very comforting. I had specifically requested
in my birth plan not to be coached on
pushing. I had visions of birth from movies
with nurses & doctors telling women to hold
their breath and counting. Just the thought
of this was irritating to me. I know how to
breathe, and how to push and work with my
body!
However, after a few good pushes, Jessica
said, “Meg, if you want, you can try a few
pushes holding your breath.” I remembered
that holding your breath can give you a bit
more power. (I think part of the benefit is
that the full lungs literally help push the baby
downward.) I thought. “I might as well give
it a try!” Sure enough, I felt that it provided
me a bit more power, so I kept it up. I also
appreciated the fact that she phrased it as a
suggestion rather than a command (I really
didn’t want to feel ‘bossed around’ while in
labor!) Later, she said, “Relax your bottom
and push from the middle.” I actually recall
that I didn’t quite hear and understand her. I
asked, “What was that, Jessica?” And she
repeated the advice. Sure enough, I put her
advice into action and felt an improvement.
The familiarity of her voice was a comfort.
But additionally, I knew she had experience
with natural birth, both as a professional
doula and having given birth twice herself.
While my midwives are very friendly to
natural birth, the fact remains that most
moms do have epidurals. I would expect a
mom with an epidural needs more, and
different coaching than a mom who has full
feeling of her body. This, combined with the
fact that all the nurses were complete
strangers made it more difficult for me to be
open to their advice. So having the support
of Jessica as my doula was wonderful.
Meg & Kevin, Parents to Kirk
Natural birth in a hospital
at the hospital and was already in 2nd stage
having controllable but definite urges to
push. I had kept my eyes closed during
contractions throughout most of labor, and
this continued during second stage. With the
chaos around me, there were many voices,
but those of my doula and midwife cut
through the auditory clutter. I knew and
trusted them both, and that familiarity was
very comforting. I had specifically requested
in my birth plan not to be coached on
pushing. I had visions of birth from movies
with nurses & doctors telling women to hold
their breath and counting. Just the thought
of this was irritating to me. I know how to
breathe, and how to push and work with my
body!
However, after a few good pushes, Jessica
said, “Meg, if you want, you can try a few
pushes holding your breath.” I remembered
that holding your breath can give you a bit
more power. (I think part of the benefit is
that the full lungs literally help push the baby
downward.) I thought. “I might as well give
it a try!” Sure enough, I felt that it provided
me a bit more power, so I kept it up. I also
appreciated the fact that she phrased it as a
suggestion rather than a command (I really
didn’t want to feel ‘bossed around’ while in
labor!) Later, she said, “Relax your bottom
and push from the middle.” I actually recall
that I didn’t quite hear and understand her. I
asked, “What was that, Jessica?” And she
repeated the advice. Sure enough, I put her
advice into action and felt an improvement.
The familiarity of her voice was a comfort.
But additionally, I knew she had experience
with natural birth, both as a professional
doula and having given birth twice herself.
While my midwives are very friendly to
natural birth, the fact remains that most
moms do have epidurals. I would expect a
mom with an epidural needs more, and
different coaching than a mom who has full
feeling of her body. This, combined with the
fact that all the nurses were complete
strangers made it more difficult for me to be
open to their advice. So having the support
of Jessica as my doula was wonderful.
Meg & Kevin, Parents to Kirk
Natural birth in a hospital
| Baby Kirk being immediately placed on Meg's chest by Kevin after his birth! |
| Meg looking at her newborn son who is only seconds old! |
