One of the best books I’ve read that helped new moms find meaning in their births is “Birthing From Within” by Pam England. And sense finding meaning in birth is one of my obsessions, I reread it often:) As I am starting again, I thought I’d blog about my journey this time with those who want to explore what their own births have meant, or who are beginning this adventure for the first time.
“no mother in the heat of labor is experiencing ‘stages’ or depending on her knowledge of anatomy and physiology to guide her. This kind of knowledge is fascinating, but irrelevant to a mother white-knuckling through a contraction…She needs insight about what labor and birth will be like from her perspective, and preparation to be in labor and give birth as a mother, not as a trained para-professional”(pg. ix)
So to begin with, your mission and mine (which I will present to you next week), is to write about your birth, or interview someone who has given birth. I don’t want the who, where or what. I want to know the pains, grief’s, joys, trials, happiness. I want the emotions that flood through a new mom as that baby is being born. Pick one point that you remember (or ask someone else if you haven’t experienced birth) that created huge emotions and let it spill out. And then tell me what “guided” you through this experience.