My Gentle Birth Story by Martine de Luna

It’s been three weeks since I’ve sat down to write anything. But I don’t think I’ll forget either of my birth experiences. This one, however, was pleasantly different, because I was able to approach it with more knowledge, intention and preparation. So I’ll get right into it, alright?

Some pre-story notes, so you can follow my story with an informed point of view:

• For this birth, I practiced hypnobirthing, had doula assistance and daily pre-natal yoga. These practices helped me to change my mindset about birth, to approach it with an empowered womanhood and intention. Combined with a lot of prayer, meditation, “fear-clearing” and relaxation, I believe these sacred pregnancy and gentle birth practices prepared me well for a natural birth in the hospital, with no medical interventions.
• In hypnobirthing, we (I say “we” because I am now a hypnobirthing convert!)believe that a woman’s body and mind are fully enabled to give birth in a relaxed state. This ultimately relaxed state helps a birthing mother eliminate the fears that cause our bodies to react a certain way towards birth. Marie Mongan (whose book Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method served as my guidebook along with my doula’s advice) said, “Your birthing will unfold exactly as you see it now… your birthing will happen as you have defined it.”
• As I prepared (only during the last few weeks of the 3rd trimester!) for a gentle birth, I knew what I wanted and defined it: A natural birth, doula- and spouse-assisted hospital birth, using hypnosis for the elimination of fear and management of labor ‘surges’ (not “pain”, as we normally call them), with no or minimal medical intervention. All of my preferences were listed to the detail on my customized birth plan, which I worked on with my doula and my OB-Gyn.

Read the FULL STORY on Martine's website