The past 2 Monday nights, Giff and I have attended our birthing class. We still have 5 more classes to go, but I feel like I have learned so much already! We are taking our classes through First Birth Ministries. It's a Christian based organization dedicated to the preparation of couples approaching childbirth using biblical principles. It's an alternative to Lamaze or Bradley classes. So far, we have been reading a lot of scripture. God tells women in the Bible that childbirth is supposed to be painful. But, maybe not as painful as the world tells us it is. Through faith, we can prepare, plan and work towards a labor that is manageable, beautiful and spiritual. As Christians, we have to rely on God through time of pain, and he will not leave our side. In fact, we can grow even closer to God as a result of ultimate submission to him during labor. God designed our bodies to give birth. The more we learn, prepare and pray, the less fear we will have during labor, as we know that our bodies are doing what they were meant to do.
The class also emphasizes a natural childbirth approach. They don't expect that every woman will be able to go without pain medication or that c-sections aren't possibilities, but they are teaching us everything we need to know to have as natural a childbirth as we feel is right for us. We have learned several breathing techniques so far that will help us control our breathing when contractions become unbearable. We are in the process of learning how to completely relax our bodies from head to toe, so that we can rest comfortably in between contractions, and so that we can let our bodies work efficiently during contractions. In our upcoming classes, we will be learning different positions we can get into during labor to help bring the baby down and hopefully shorten the amount of time we are in labor.
I am becoming so excited to have this baby, although I know labor will be difficult. I feel that these classes are truly preparing Giff and I to have the best possible birthing experience. Christian, we are ready and waiting for you to join us!
2 comments:
Soon, soon. This is the fun exciting time, you are within reach. Yea...I am so excited for you.
hey andrea, i haven't talk to ya in forever, but i wanted to let you know that morgan (from sugar creek) attended first birth ministries when she was preparing for her first baby....they had a completely natural birth and all together, i believe she labored for just under 12 hours...pretty good for the first time around :) anyways, just wanted to say hi! can't wait to mee the little guy!
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