I know it's been a while since one of my infamous rants on the worth of a natural childbirth- and I'll try to refrain from sounding too preachy- but now that I'm teaching my Bradley classes I have to give a shout out to my super great students. They are such awesome couples and have actually taught me a lot about why natural childbirth is not just important for the health of the mother and baby, but can also be a huge boost to a marriage through the bonding that creates a family when a child is born. I have two first time Mommy's and Daddy's in my class and one couple who is pregnant with their third. I get such joy every week as we talk about not just how to have a natural childbirth, but seeing how much their relationships can be strengthened by working together to get through one of the most important moments of their lives- the creation of a new one! The way the fathers in our class have become so much more attentive to their wives needs, the way the moms have learned to trust and lean on their husbands- I'm blown away! I didn't realize how much influence these classes could have on people's lives, I only knew how much mine and Adam's relationship was improved and how much I appreciated him for being an active part of the birth, and not just the conception. I'm not saying that couples who have epidurals are any less loving towards one another or their children, I just think that there is a power behind creation that is numbed with the use of drugs. A power that is spiritual, emotional, and amazing. A power that bonds us together as a family when two loving individuals work as one. I haven't even mentioned how amazing it made me feel as a woman to have achieved what society has deemed to be the impossible. To connect with your body, to work with it, to feel the decent of your child and experience the power of it's entrance into the world is indescribable. When you take the drugs you are surrendering your power as a woman to the directions of a Doctor or Midwife. On the same note if you haven't had any training or education about how to have a natural childbirth then to try it would most likely be a very unpleasant experience.
I don't know if I'm really saying this the way I want too. I guess my point would be better made by saying whether it is you first or your tenth child it's never to late to experience the empowerment of a natural childbirth, the bonding power of full husband participation, and the ability to fully enjoy the process. I hope that soon I will be able to post my students birth stories so that you can see first hand how natural childbirth benefited them.
4 comments:
I know you're passionate about this and that's awesome! I just have been through both sides of this story (without natural childbirth classes, mind you) and felt an intense bond with my husband and my child through the experience. I just don't want to diminish the fact that the woman with the epidural still WORKS FOR and FEELS the birthing process. Every situation is unique. Trust me, I had a 10+ pounder without. :)
Props to the girls who chooose to do it without medication - I just choose not to.
Just wanted to say HEY! I saw you were on Trista's favs on her blog, of course you're the feva! It is crazy to think you have three boys...how cool. Hope you and Adam and the youngsters are all doing well.
Oh, trust me we have had plenty of blow outs before this one, but it was just the biggest of all time for us. She is just quite a pooper.
I had heard so much that birthing with your husband makes your bond so much stronger. Your post reminded me of that, and I asked Rychen if he feels any different. We both said "Nah, we were already pretty close." But I definitely think if I had birthed with my focus on another man instead of him, or with my focus nowhere (drugs) than that would have hindered our relationship.
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