If you are reading this and you are pregnant, I will start by saying, Mama, you are incredible, and you are creating life in this very moment. Take a moment to honour yourself and the profound miracle of life that is taking place, and a gentle reminder that you have everything you need within you to birth your baby, and here are a few little drops of nectar that supported me throughout my own pregnancy experience.
The journey of pregnancy is one of the biggest transformations a woman will ever go through and it can be overwhelming with where to start in preparing for birth. The more informed we are about birth the more empowered we can feel - taking steps to prepare the body for this huge life transformation... and allowing ourselves to attune more deeply into our intuition when making decisions that are right for ourselves and our baby. For me it was essential to prepare for birth, not only physically within my body, but my heart and mind. This allowed me to feel empowered in the lead up to birth and feel ready on the day that birth took place.
Body
Some little ritual's I started to embed into my daily practise in the lead up to birth:
~ Taking a moment each day to connect with your breath. I found my breath was my most powerful tool during the intense stages of labour. You can explore different types of breath work techniques to support each stage of labour labour, finding what works best for you. For me, by focusing on soft belly breaths I was able to override most of the intensity during surges and really stay present in my body rather than being in my mind.
~ Belly massage everyday to connect with bub, feel growth, movement's and her location in my womb
~ Spending as much time in nature as possible, especially in the weeks leading up to birth
~ Journalling weekly, my thoughts, emotions, shifts in my body, challenges; this has been beautiful to reflect back on
~ Drink Raspberry Leaf Tea from 34 weeks up to 6 cups a day
~ Removed refined sugar and wheat from my diet
~ Staying hydrated with pure rain or spring water
Heart
Taking time to connect with self in meditation daily, whether it is for 5 minutes or an hour. I also wrote out affirmations which I hand wrote on cards and hung in my birth space.
Here are some affirmations I used:
I know my body better than anyone
I trust my body, and the divine intelligence of nature
I trust, let go and surrender to the energy of birth
I will follow my babies lead during birth
Mind
I am an information fiend, I love to deeply research a topic, gaining different perspectives and seeking wisdom from those who are embodied by experience. For me, doing a Birthing Course with She Births to learn the physiological stages of birth was one of the most empowering tools to find empowerment. I also read books on natural birth and enjoyed hearing honest and personal Birth Stories from other Mama's to better understand the shifts women go through and myriad of ways birth can look.
Empowering Books on Natural Birth:
Sacred Birthing by Sunni Karll
Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May
A Guide to Childbirth by Ina May
Reclaiming Childbirth as a Rite of Passage by Rachel Reed
Whilst these things assisted me in the birthing process, to be quite honest, you don't really need to seek anything externally.. you have all of the tools within.
Plant Allies for Birth Preparation
Raspberry Leaf (Rubus Idaeus)
This uterus centric help holds a deep connection with the female reproductive system and is especially helpful for conception preparation, to support throughout the pregnancy journey and postpartum recovery. A member of the rose family, it has a sweet warming taste, but also reminiscent of black tea. Often use in preparation for conception it promotes fertility and helps to regulate and balance hormones. It relieves pre-menstrual pain and heavy periods and has been known to help reduce risk of miscarriage and birth complications. During pregnancy, usually recommended to start drinking from 32 weeks; it provides stimulation to the womb and helps to ripen the cervix in preparation for birth. When used postpartum, it can enhance the richness of breastmilk and support a healthy, abundant flow.
Nettle Leaf (Utica Dioica)
This power herb is both a food and a medicine; it is nutritional, clearing , regenerative, reconnecting and drying and is known for its powerful red blood cell building qualities. It works on a deep cellar level, providing replenishment of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, D, E and K and high mineral levels of Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Zinc, Magnesium. Nettle helps to heal connective tissue, support anaemia and nutrient depletion and also works as a remover of stagnation. Nettle is your ally, during pregnancy and post-partum with its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and circulatory benefits.