Let’s have a quick fact lesson about birth in the modern world, particularly in the United States. What if I told you that nearly 75% of hospital births were medicated, (a.k.a. Epidurals and/or Spinal Blocks), and of those epidurals, 20% resulted in a cesarean (C-Section)? Let’s talk about inductions, did you know that over 30% of expectant women are induced (use of Pitocin/Oxytocin/Cervidil) and 36% of those inductions resulted in a cesarean?

What do all of these things have in common? They are examples of interventions by medical professionals perceived to make your birth experience safer and/or easier. Don’t get me wrong, medical interventions can be absolutely necessary and do serve a place, but they shouldn’t be the norm. As a first-time mom who needed an emergency C-Section it was completely necessary, but it got me thinking, if I hadn’t been coerced into being induced, if my water wasn’t forcibly broken (making my contractions completely unbearable), if I didn’t get that epidural would my experience have been different? I’d like to think a resounding heck yes! Why, because the second time around I did everything the exact opposite and got the natural birth I was hoping for.

What I wish I would have realized the first time around is that modern society has shifted our birth experience from a woman’s centered environment to an industrial baby making factory. Stay with me on this one. What I mean by this, is that we’ve become so ingrained in the physical aspects of birth we forget that historically birth has been an emotional, psychological, and spiritual experience that is shared with loved ones around you. It was essentially communal, and definitely a natural experience.

Instead of trusting a mother’s intuition and her own understanding of her body, normalizing medical interventions sends the message to expectant moms that your bodies are not enough, and that you need something to make birth work more effectively.

Well I’m here to say that you are enough, you can do this, and you are stronger than you can even imagine!

Giving birth is probably the hardest thing you will ever do, but it is what you were designed for, it’s what the birth experience was always intended to be since the beginning of time. When you acknowledge and prepare for the other areas of the birth experience, you can walk confidently into birth without fear. 

The best way to prepare and build a strong mind, body and spirit for the birth experience you were made for, is by taking a birth and prenatal yoga class. 

Prenatal Yoga gives you:

Strength and flexibility: The yoga poses themselves help you with your mobility and the overall function of your body.

Connection. This practice gives you the opportunity to connect with yourself and your baby, which builds trust in your body and your baby as you prepare for birth.

Coping skills: Yoga teaches you all different types of solutions to support you through labor and delivery. From breathwork and meditation, to the best poses for optimal delivery. It’s your guide to natural pain management. 

If nothing else, just remember it’s your birth, your body, your baby, so your rules. You’ve got this mama, stand firm in your birth power because you are the ultimate goddess.

With love & gratitude,