SYA Birth

I get it. It can be SO hard to be patient, especially in today’s culture of instant gratification. Waiting for our “due dates” or even GOING PAST our due dates, seems unbearable. But this is where we need to change our mindset.

I like to tell my clients to expect to be pregnant for 42+ weeks. That way they lose the sense of “failure” and “disappointment“ they may feel for every day they wake up “still pregnant”.

Enjoy having baby safe inside you and know they are growing and developing at an accelerated rate that slows exponentially after their birth. Each additional day of pregnancy should be looked at as a gift you are giving your unborn child.

Remember each baby will grow and be born at their own pace. Not to mention that feeling pressured and stressed in the last days will prevent the necessary flood of oxytocin needed to actually kick start your labor in the first place.

In your last month, focus on balance. Eat well and rest well. Go for walks and have periods of activity, flexing and stretching. Pamper yourself and focus on oxytocin building activities with your family. Baby will come in his or her time, and you can smooth out that process by patiently and contentedly waiting.

In order to birth without fear and inhibition, and to minimize or even eliminate pain, we must get out of our thinking state of mind and enter our instinctive, animalistic, trance like state of mind. This helps us to build oxytocin, and avoid adrenaline. Beta endorphins minimize our perception of pain and help our labors progress and even makes us feel good, while catecholamines can halt our labors or even cause “regression” as our bodies prepare for fight or flight.

Females of all mammals in nature overwhelmingly have an innate ability to give birth alone without help. Why do we think females of the human species are designed by the Creator flawed and weak? When we are able to truly stop OVERTHINKING the process of birth, and TRULY trust our bodies, our babies, our attendants and our environment, we will be much more likely able to fully relax and lean into this deeply primal state that facilitates a smooth and positive natural birth experience.

Taking care of your health and pregnancy is the number one way to avoid pregnancy complications!

Did you know:

-Doing low intensity exercises during pregnancy, such as walking, swimming and stretching, increase health in both mother and baby, and increase chances of mom having a low risk, natural birth.
-Maintaining good nutrition is the number one way a mom can ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.
-Avoiding harmful substances such as alcohol, smoke, ci******es, pollution and even too much caffeine or sugar can prevent many harmful conditions in pregnancy.
-Having 80-100 grams of protein daily during pregnancy ensure baby has the building blocks to grow healthy and happy, and reduces the chance of developing pre-eclampsia DRASTICALLY.
-Salting your food to taste can help you maintain an increased blood volume necessary to pregnancy and birth.
-Folate from natural sources is better and more readily absorbed by the blood than folic acid, so even if you supplement, try to ensure good amounts of folate rich foods in your diet.
-Avoiding drugs during pregnancy as much as possible can reduce the chance of harmful consequences to the unborn baby. You can try more natural options for minor and common aches and pains first before resorting to drugs.
-Consult with your health care provider if anything seems off or unusual, always better to be safe than sorry. Do not ignore pain or unusual symptoms.
-Never ignore pica (craving to non-food substances) during pregnancy, as it is an indication your are deficient in vitamins and minerals. Craving ice, for example, is a common indication of anemia (low iron).
-Drink enough water, as dehydration can cause preterm labor if severe, and reduces energy output by 30%.

What is your favorite way to get exercise in your pregnancy? Comment below!

Women inherently have the power to birth their babies, 99 times out of 100. You just have to TRULY and WITHOUT ANY DOUBT believe in yourself and your ability as a woman and a mother to birth your baby.

You have all the tools within you that you need to birth your baby!

Birth needs:

-time
-calm
-deep breathing
-surrender
-support
-trust

To be able to:

-increase oxytocin
-build pain tolerance with endorphins
-avoid too much cortisol and adrenaline too early
-release prostaglandins in the cervix through contractions
-work with the pain and sensations to stay active and move in beneficial positions to assist baby
-work with the baby in sync

You have it in you! Allowing fear and anxiety, doubt and overthinking to take over, will reduce oxytocin and endorphins, increase cortisol and Adrenalin, and cause labor to slow down or even stop altogether.

Working with the pain, allowing the pain to be there and understanding that the sensations have a place and purpose, will help you surrender to the instinctive process and can allow you to meet your baby faster!

What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind at the end of a long day?