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Meditation – an essential empowerment tool for dealing with prenatal stress!

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Meditation is an essential empowerment tool for helping you to deal with prenatal stress, depression and anxiety.

As you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy are you feeling a little more anxious about your baby’s birth or becoming a Mom? If you’ve given birth previously, perhaps you’re concerned about not having enough time to finish all you need to, before Baby arrives. All these worries are normal, but if they start to consume your thoughts and keep you awake at night you have prenatal stress and you need “help”! Why? Because research has revealed that high prenatal stress can lead to all sorts of health issues for you and your baby, and it can lead to mental, and behavioural disorders, later on in your child’s life.

Thankfully “help” is not necessarily a visit to another health practitioner with another bill to pay. “Help” is 10 minutes a day in the silence and comfort of your own space. “Help” is doing daily meditation.  

Before you jump to dismiss the idea of meditation and listing all the reasons why you can’t do it, consider some of the scientifically proven benefits of one of the most natural ways of calming yourself and empowering yourself for the birth of your baby:

  • Meditation lowers your heart rate and blood pressure.
  • It also increases your endorphins and dopamine levels which helps you to handle pain better.
  • Meditation is one of the best ways to lift a pregnant Mom out of a prenatal or postpartum depression as it boosts her serotonin levels and reduces cortisol (the fight or flight hormone).
  • Regular meditation during pregnancy gives you a better chance of having a successful birth outcome with a healthy, more relaxed baby, who grows up being able to handle the toddler and teen years with less anxiety and behavioural disorders.
  • And meditation connects you to your unborn child on a deep spiritual level.  

Meditation can be done in many ways using different techniques, and researchers generally agree that the same benefits are achieved using any of the meditation techniques. Meditation teaches your mind to relax whilst focusing your attention on a mantra, movement or a breathing technique.

Beautiful Birth Magnificent Mom is a birth empowerment program in the form of an eBook. It teaches you how to do daily meditations as well as other essential empowering techniques for the birth of your baby. It’s available here for $20!

This excerpt is a sneak-peak of the Sensory Meditation in the BBMM empowerment eBook…

What meditation requires of you, is to take 10 minutes a day for yourself, in a quiet, non-distracting environment and follow these simple steps

  1. Find a quiet space, a place that you love being in. Preferably in your garden or in a place where you can observe nature.
  2. Sit comfortably in a cross-legged position on the floor or your yoga mat – this position helps Baby get into a good position for birthing. You may need to fold the end of your yoga mat and place it under your booty to raise your coccyx slightly to prevent any lower back pain.
  3. Switch off your cell phone.
  4. Start your meditation by taking a deep breath in. Feel the breath going in through your mouth, down into your chest, and moving deep into your lungs.
  5. Exhale, observing the breath as it moves up and out through your mouth.
  6. Repeat this breathing a few times, just observing your breath.
  7. Now observe each of your senses, individually as you breathe: what can you see (if your eyes are closed, consider the patterns you are seeing behind your closed lids); be aware of any environmental sounds you are hearing; smell any fragrances in the air; notice if there is a taste in your mouth; feel your body and be completely in the moment as you feel any movements your baby may be making in your belly. Hug your belly and greet your baby.
  8. With your eyes and mouth closed, allow yourself to just bask in the moment.
  9. Bring your attention to your breath as you observe the air being inhaled through your nose and moving through your body. Feel the air invigorating various organs and nourishing each essential part of your body.
  10. Exhale and observe the air moving up through your lungs and your throat. As you expel the air imagine all the stresses of the day or issues and concerns on your mind, being expelled with the air through your mouth.
  11. Feel every part of your body is refreshed and rejuvenated.
  12. Take another deep nourishing breath in and direct it to your baby. Imagine your baby being swaddled in this nurturing life-giving air. Exhale through your mouth and repeat this twice more.
  13. Slowly come to your awareness again and open your eyes.
  14. Take a few moments to adjust to the environment again and give thanks for the rejuvenation you feel in your body.

Meditation is simple and offers instant gratification as well as profound long-term benefits. As a pregnant woman, daily meditation will teach your mind to relax and get you connected to your body. So, when your midwife or care provider tells you to “listen to your body” you’ll understand what s/he means. Meditation will help to strengthen your pain threshold and allow you to focus better during labour.  And it reduces your blood pressure and any high metabolic rates. One of the most important benefits of meditation is that it connects you to your baby on a very deep level, establishing that bond between you before your baby is born.

There are precious few things in life filled with true innocence, and even fewer with such opportunities for personal and Spiritual growth than this transformational time. “ ~ Marcie Macari.

Birth Empowerment

Becoming empowered for the birth of your baby!

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Becoming empowered for the birth of your baby is the best thing you can do for yourself as a woman, and as a Mom!

Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, yet it’s only in recent years that birth has become a medical procedure and birthing women have been stripped of their “power” in the birthing room. Sadly, this dis-empowerment has often resulted in women struggling to come to terms with motherhood. Their confidence is often shattered and the vital maternal bond with their baby is compromised. Many women struggle with post-natal depression too.

Yet, all of this can be avoided if you’re empowered for your baby’s birth.

So, what is it to be “empowered”?

If we deconstruct the word “empower”- the “em” is an old French prefix meaning “in”, and “power” has its origin in the 1300s and means “ability”, “strength” and “might”.   

Now let’s consider “empowerment” …

Oxford defines it as:

“The process of becoming stronger, and more confident especially in controlling one’s life and claiming one’s rights.”

And Cambridge defines empowerment as:

“The process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you.”

It’s not as simple as reading a self-help book or watching a Youtube presentation.

Both these definitions describe empowerment as a process, meaning, it’s not as simple as reading a book or watching a Youtube presentation. Becoming empowered requires you to establish some necessary routines in your life. You’ll actively engage in exercises that’ll challenge you emotionally; stimulate you mentally and condition you physically. You’ll also learn how to nourish and nurture your spiritual connectedness.

So, your empowerment journey is a very personal experience in which you discover, learn about and become your best version of YOU!

You’re probably thinking, “My baby is almost due, when am I going to have time for this?”

I get it! As 21st-century women, our lives are busy and consumed with family, friends and work. The in-between times are filled with social media presence, and your “me-time” is reduced to bathroom time and sleep time. So, there’s seldom any downtime for YOU. But, when you embark on your empowerment journey, you’ll discover that “me-time” is an essential part of achieving true empowerment.  

It’s about becoming your best version of YOU!

During this rite of passage, you discover things about yourself you were completely unaware of before. You learn how to identify and improve weaknesses which would otherwise hinder you during the birth of your baby. You learn about your body, your baby and the miraculous physiological process of giving birth. Most importantly you learn how to grow and tap into your feminine wisdom which is the driving force behind your birth empowerment process. It is that higher consciousness that will ultimately empower you as a woman and a mother.

That said, do you think you’re empowered for the birth of your baby?

If you answered “yes”, Congratulations!

You are going to be a POWA© (Prepared Organized Woman of Action) Mama!

If not, you need to get empowered for this life changing experience.

Birth empowerment is a magical journey which transforms you into a woman who is so much more than the person you are now… and the best thing about it is, everyone can do it!

So, if you’re in the last few weeks of your pregnancy it’s the perfect time to begin your empowerment journey. Don’t waste another moment…

click here

to begin your birth empowerment journey!!!

Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim!” ~ Nora Ephron.

Empowerment

Doula Dynamics!

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As far back as history goes, in most cultures and countries, women have supported women during childbirth. In most cultures a midwife was present to oversee the birth and assist the process physiologically. In many instances the midwife had an assistant, or a “doula,” a Greek word meaning “servant woman” to support the birthing mother if she did not have her own inner-circle of women and family members to support her. These women would provide wisdom, nourishment, nurturing and comfort measures to the birthing woman during the birth. Universally, birth was regarded as a sacred and empowering event in most women’s lives.   

Sadly, medical development and advancement in our modern society have robbed birthing women of that sanctity.  These days, pregnancy is regarded as a medical condition and delivering a baby a medical procedure. The birthing room is brightly lit with fluorescent lights, hospital noises fill the air and the birthing woman is confined to a bed where, more often than not, she gives birth in a position she’s told to assume and not in a position of her choice. What’s more, she is further constrained to her choice of birthplace by the insurance company requirements and protocols.

 Giving birth has become big business for hospitals, obstetricians and insurance companies, and all of them do it in the name of “safety for mother and child”. Research and statistics show that Cesarean sections, and medical interventions during birth, are at an all-time high. However scientific research has also revealed that the presence of doulas, supporting birthing women physically and emotionally, reduces c-section deliveries and substantially reduces the use of epidural anaesthesia, forceps deliveries other medical interventions during birth.  

So, in a world in which there are so many considerations to take into account, and where birthing women are required to “work within the system”, you can have the best of both – make use of the expertise of a doula at your birth. Whether you’re having a natural delivery at a birthing center or you’re giving birth at a hospital, even if you’re having a c-section delivery, a doula will significantly enhance your birthing experience!

Here are some tips to consider when appointing a doula:

  • If you have the means to hire a private doula make sure you get referrals from your midwife, care provider or friends.    
  • Research the doulas who’ve been recommended to you. If they are private doulas, most of them have a website or a Facebook page which provides info about the doula, and where you can get an idea of her birth philosophy and the type of person she is.
  • Interview potential doulas.
  • Like any interview, prepare for it and compile a list of questions to ask during each interview.
  • Remember you need to “click” with your doula. She’ll be working in close contact with you for a good period of time, so if she has an annoying tick, or is too overbearing for your likes you’ll need to flag it. Thank her for her time and interview another candidate.    
  • If you don’t have the financial means to pay for a doula, and your insurance company doesn’t cover the cost of a doula, there may be volunteer doulas who work in your area – do a Google search to find them.
  • In many countries there are foundations that serve low income families and many of them provide the service of a doula when you enroll in their birthing program. In this case you wouldn’t be able to interview your doula, but the fact that she’s working for this foundation guarantees that she has your best interests at heart.      
  • If you have a birthing partner, it’s a good idea to include him/her in the interview as it’s part of the doula’s job to advise your birthing partner how s/he can best support you during your labor and birth.

Your doula will support you, nurture you and be your advocate, if you want her to be.  She can make the difference between you having a traumatic birth experience and having a beautiful birth experience!

Self Care

Releasing your birth fears so you have a beautiful birth experience.

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Your due date is looming, and you’re doing everything you can to ignore those feelings of fear that are consuming your quiet moments. This is normal for most pregnant Moms. But how do you stop your fear/s from dominating your thoughts; those wakeful times during the early hours of the morning; and the essential alone time you need before Baby arrives?

The first step in dealing with birth fear is to identify it and understand it or find its source. Some people fear the pain of labour and giving birth, whilst others fear having medical interventions. Whatever your fear is, it’s real, and you need to deal with it if you want to have the beautiful birth you dream of having.  

For some women the fear of giving birth can become so debilitating it manifests in serious physical conditions including panic attacks, severe vomiting, erratic blood pressure and depression. This is a medical condition known as “tokophobia” – a pathological fear of becoming pregnant or of giving birth. If you are one of these Moms, seek professional help immediately. Because, if you don’t, and you keep ignoring that severity of fear, it’ll cause you to have a traumatic birth experience, which in turn, may cause severe health and mental health disorders in the future. 

However, if you’re like most Moms in their eighth month of pregnancy, whose thoughts are being consumed with anxious birthing concerns as the birth date gets nearer, then you’re needing to give voice to your fears with a trusted friend and confidante. Once you’ve given those fears airtime, reconcile the advice you were given, in some alone time. This private time is very necessary to overcome the source of your fear and empower yourself for the birth of your baby. 

Let’s look at a few of the tried and tested techniques that are particularly effective for dealing with birth fears…

Talking about it…

Hopefully you’ve attempted the first, and one of the most effective methods, for dealing with fear – talking about it. Verbalizing your anxiety and worries very often puts the source of your fear into perspective, especially if you’re an auditory learner, you process things more effectively by hearing them. So, talk to your partner, close friend, doula or therapist about your worries. A word of caution though, be wary of who you confide in, because you don’t want to be told any birth horror stories, even if they are intended as consolation stories. In fact, you’d be doing yourself a favour to keep away from the scaremongers – they just feed your fear!

Journaling …

On the other hand, if you’re a visual learner then you process things better by seeing them, so, writing down your fears, as in journaling, will be just as effective for you.

Alone time…

Once you’ve given voice to your fears, and received some advice from your trusted people, it’s essential to reconcile your emotions in some alone time. This part of dispelling your fears is all too often left out, and it’s the most important part of fortifying your emotional and spiritual well-being for your birthing journey.

Whilst meditating use different breathing techniques…

Take 30 minutes in your day and find a safe place, where you’re close to, or in nature…if you can do this every day for the rest of your pregnancy, you’re sure to have a beautiful birth experience. Spend the time meditating and exploring different ways of releasing your birth fears. Whilst meditating use different breathing techniques to calm and control your anxiety. These techniques will be useful tools to use in the birthing room too! 

Yoga Nidra technique of holding opposites…

During your meditation, practice the yoga nidra technique of holding opposites. This is a very effective mind balancing technique which was taught and practiced by yoga swamis for centuries. In recent years its benefits have been widely acknowledged and used by psychotherapists to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in many soldiers returning from war. The gist of holding opposites is to sit comfortably and quietly for a few moments. Close your eyes and bring to mind a fear you have regarding the birth of your baby. Welcome the fear without judgement. Identify the emotion associated with that fear. Don’t try to change the feeling – just allow yourself to acknowledge it and experience it. Now think of the opposite emotion. If it helps, recall a situation in which you were filled with this opposite emotion. Allow yourself to experience the fullness of this emotion. When you’re ready, think back to the fear and imagine holding it in one of your hands. Now place the opposite emotion in the other hand and hold the two emotions together, simultaneously experiencing each emotion.  Now, allow the two emotions to neutralize each other as you bring your hands together in a prayer of thanks. Give thanks for the ability to do this exercise successfully and feel the power of peace that fills your body.

The Sedona Method of releasing your fears…

The Sedona method of “releasing” your fears is another a very effective method of dealing with fear. It’s based on the idea that we hold onto emotions as we would hold onto on object. And we identify with those feelings as being personal by saying things like, “I am scared” or “I am anxious”. Hale Dwoskin, the author of the Sedona Method, describes the basis of his Sedona method in the following way: 

Your feelings are as attached to you just as an object is attached to your hand as you hold it. Without realizing it, we are misidentifying that we are the feeling. Often, we believe a feeling is holding on to us. This is not true… we are always in control and just don’t know it. “

– Hale Dwoskin : Author of The Sedona Method

So, we can let a feeling go, just as easily as we can let go of an object we are holding in our hand. One simple way you can use the Sedona method involves sitting comfortably and focusing your thoughts inward. Bring the fear you have about your baby’s birth into your awareness and welcome that feeling. Sit with that fearful feeling and answer the following questions:

  • What is it you’re afraid will happen?
  • What is it you do not want to have happen?
  • Could you let go of wanting that to happen?
  • Now, let it go. Release that feeling of fear. Let it go and feel the relief of release in your body.

It sounds too easy to be true, but don’t judge it before you’ve tried it!

Visualize your dream birth…

Another technique for releasing your fears is to visualize your dream birth. During your meditation visualize each part of your perfect birth experience, using each of your senses to make the visualization as real as possible. Now put that visualization onto “repeat” mode and play it over, every time a fear comes into your mind replace it with the visualization.    

These are a few of many techniques you can use to dissipate your birth fears.

In the presence of calm and love, oxytocin is released into your body…

At the end of the day, releasing your birth fears will restore calm to your being. But most importantly, in the presence of calm and love, oxytocin is released into your body. Oxytocin is the magical and powerful hormone that stimulates your cervix to open, it causes your uterus to contract and it promotes lactation after your baby is born. Research has discovered there are many other roles oxytocin plays in our bodies and minds, so even if you’re having a c-section delivery, it’s essential for your body to be releasing a good supply of oxytocin to ensure a healthy bond is created between you and your baby. Amongst other functions, it also triggers protective instincts, it reduces stress and it induces sleep. Ultimately, the prerequisite to achieving a good supply of oxytocin for a beautiful birth, is to dispel your birth fears and to be in a love-filled state of calm during your birthing journey.  

You can experience the essence of these techniques and more, in my birth empowerment eBook, Beautiful Birth Magnificent Mom… in 4 weeks.

Birth is the opportunity to transcend. To rise above what we are accustomed to, reach deeper inside ourselves than we are familiar with and to see not only what we are truly made of, but the strength we can access in and through birth.” ~ Marcie Maccri 

Nature

Birth Empowerment with Nature

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You have been anointed by Mother Nature to become a mother and bring a new life into the world. This is the most sacred honour you, as a woman, will be blessed with, so in this last month of your pregnancy, surround yourself with nature and creativity.  Marvel at creation in all its forms and at every opportunity give thanks for this magnificent role bestowed on you.

In the birth empowerment program, Beautiful Birth Magnificent Mom in 4 weeks, you’ll learn how to empower yourself for the birth of your baby using nature. With a simple yet masterful method, you learn to develop your feminine wisdom by appreciating the magnificence of nature in all its forms. The more you grow and trust your feminine wisdom, the more likely you are to have a beautiful birth experience. And ultimately, your feminine wisdom will be the driving force that navigates you through motherhood.

A sneak-peak into the “Nature Walking” module of the empowerment program has you taking a 30-minute walk in nature, to marvel at Mother Nature. This idea is inspired by the Japanese healing therapy of “Shinrin-Yoku” or “forest bathing”, a health therapy which,

…”has become a cornerstone of preventative healthcare and healing in Japan.” http://www.shinrin-yoku.org/shinrin-yoku.html

Ideally you should walk under a canopy of green trees, however, if you have no wooded area or forest nearby, a walk along a nature trail, on a beach, or in a park is just as good. Most importantly you must be outside and indulging your senses with nature as you walk. Listen to the birds calling to each other; smell the air and the fragrances created by the plants or the water; admire the colours and perfect petal formation of the tiniest flower; and touch or hug a tree noticing how the bark feels under your hands.


Submerge yourself and your senses in the awesomeness of nature and there will be no limits to your creativity! “

The purpose of walking in nature is to marvel at its perfection. Every aspect you take cognizance of, is absolutely perfect – just as your baby is! During your walk, find a place to sit for a few minutes and watch as nature happens around you. Notice how the animals and creatures around you go about their activities with eager intent, yet with no apparent effort. Be curious about any mothers with their offspring. Watch how they naturally assume a caring maternal role, guiding their young as they go.

As you’re watching nature transpire, take a deep breath in, and as you do, create an intention allowing yourself to become one with the environment you’re observing. As you exhale release any self-limiting judgments you may be having, about yourself or people around you. Be at peace knowing you belong in this space, in this moment and everything is as it should be.

Now, find a flower or a bud and examine it carefully. Notice how the outer petals protect the inner more delicate petals and the stamens. With this same awe, imagine your cervix opening, and your tissues and flesh succumbing to deliver your precious creation into the world – perfectly as Mother Nature intended.   Take a mental picture of this moment remembering the feeling of peace with every sense. Find a pebble, a feather or a piece of bark which feels good in your hand and imbue it with that sensual peace. This will be a touchstone you can take into the birthing room with you to remind you of this powerful moment – reassurance that in this moment ,

You and Mother Nature are one, and all powerful, delivering your creation into the world. “

 

Self Care

Maternity Reflexology – so much more than just a “foot-rub”!

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Have you ever indulged in a Reflexology treatment, before or during your pregnancy? To describe it as “…leaving you feeling like you’re walking on clouds afterwards” just doesn’t do this deeply powerful therapy justice.

Therapeutic Reflexology is based on an ancient form of therapy in which therapeutic pressure is applied to reflex points in the soles of the feet and hands to bring about “homeostasis” or balance within the body’s intricate systems.  It’s a deep, intrinsic therapy which not only restores balance to your body organically, but it rejuvenates the mind too.

Reflexology has its origins 5000 years ago in ancient Egypt, as is illustrated on the walls of the tomb in Ankhmahor. Just less than 5000 years ago, Chinese records show that Buddhist monks brought a similar technique of Reflexology from India to China.  And in more recent years, reflex points were discovered in the ears, face and tongue. But, for today’s reflection, I’ll be referring to “traditional Reflexology”- done on the feet, as that’s where my expertise and love for this beautiful therapy originates.

Maternity Reflexology is a specialized form of traditional Reflexology. The Maternity Reflexologist applies therapeutic pressure and massage techniques to specific reflexes in the Mom’s feet, and/or hands. This restores the balance of raging hormones, insomnia and erratic blood pressure, to mention but a few pregnancy related health issues. What’s even more wonderful is that Maternity Reflexology not only rejuvenates her pregnant body, but it restores calm to her mind, which is all over the place during this time of her life, and it nourishes Baby too! If Mom has been having regular Reflexology treatments throughout her pregnancy, it’s almost guaranteed she’ll have an easier birth and Baby will be calm and content.

Even if you haven’t had Reflexology throughout your pregnancy there are still incredible benefits to having Reflexology treatments in your last month of pregnancy. Some of these include:

  • Quelling nausea.
  • Easing back pain.
  • Relieving constipation.
  • Stimulating circulation.
  • Improving quality of sleep.

There are many reports of Reflexology being used to assist in inducing labour – in my Reflexology practice in South Africa, I treated many pregnant women for this purpose. And it also has its merits when used in the birthing room to calm Mom between surges (contractions), to regulate her contractions, and to stimulate placental delivery.

Postpartum, Therapeutic Reflexology is invaluable for re-establishing hormonal balances in the body, stimulating milk production and reducing post natal depression. If you had a traumatic birth experience Therapeutic Reflexology is a gentle, non-invasive therapy in which you feel nurtured and pampered, all the while restoring your body to its pre-pregnant state. And, even if you had a wonderful birth experience, it’s strongly recommended that you continue Reflexology treatments after having Baby.

The benefits of having Therapeutic Reflexology treatments before, during and after the birth of your baby are numerous, but a word of advice …not every Reflexologist is a “Maternity” Reflexologist. When looking for a Maternity Reflexologist you would be wise to ask for credentials and past experience working with pregnant women. Maternity Reflexology should not be painful. There are many Reflexologists out there who believe that “working the pain out of a reflex point”, regardless of how much pain they inflict on their client, is necessary to clear the blockage. However, in Maternity Reflexology this is completely untrue. Just as you chose your midwife or OB/GYN care provider as someone you feel comfortable with, so you should feel completely safe and at ease with your Reflexologist!

And if you don’t have access to a Maternity Reflexologist, there’s nothing more relaxing, and sensual, than your partner giving you a candlelit foot-rub after a long day on your feet!

Self Care

Self-care secrets that will contribute to you having a beautiful birth!

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This 9th month of your pregnancy is sacred. If this is your first pregnancy, then this is probably the only time in your life you’ll be able to take time out of your busy day and dedicate it entirely to YOU. It’s not only the perfect time to be honouring YOU and your magnificent body, but it’s the best time to be preparing for this magnificent, life changing event of giving birth.

For many women this 9th month may also be the most intense, as you may be trying to put in as many hours as you can at work before Baby arrives. Or perhaps you’re trying to finish a degree you’ve been studying hard, burning the candle at both ends, to achieve. I admire your hard work and tenacity, but please, if there’s any advice you need to heed at this time, it’s this… take time-out for YOU during this sacred 9th month of your pregnancy. 

If you want to achieve a beautiful birth and be mentally, physically and spiritually equipped to handle life post-par tum, as a Mom, you need to savour every moment you have to yourself, now, in this sacred month.

  • Indulge yourself with good wholesome nutritious food – no fast-food junk that your body will have a hard time digesting.
  • Hydrate with purified water – too many pregnant women are walking around dehydrated, which may lead to birth complications.
  • Pack in some extra nutrients with freshly squeezed juice or sip some herbal tea. Herbal teas have  wonderful nourishing properties and are naturally caffeine free, so they are better for you and for Baby.
  • Soak in an Epsom salt bath at least once a week – it’s a wonderful detoxifier, and makes you sleep like a baby.
  • Get into a daily routine, before your shower, of dry brushing your body with a natural fibre brush. It stimulates the circulation and is wonderful for boosting the immune system.
  • And, spend as much time as you can in nature, stimulating your senses with the miracle of creation all around you.

Just taking the time every day to perform these self-care practices will allow you time for YOU. In this way you’ll be blessing your body and inadvertently tapping into your feminine wisdom which will significantly enhance your birthing experience and give you the added advantage of lessening the postpartum blues, so many new Moms experience. 

If you bless your body, your body will bless you!

~ Gloria Steinem
Self Care

The 9th month is sacred!

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Photo by Alexander Krivitskiy on Unsplash

If you’ve entered your last month of pregnancy then you’ve got through the terrible bouts of morning sickness, and the roller-coaster mood swings. You’ve watched your belly and boobs grow to a size you never imagined they could be. And you’ve become well versed in the pregnancy and birth lingo. You’re excited about meeting this little person with whom you’ve become intimately bonded. But you’re also starting to experience some pangs of anxiety about the birthing process, especially when every mother you speak to seems to be filling your head with her birth story…

“That’s okay Mama! It’s entirely normal!”

Up to now your pregnancy has been a unique journey, and rest assured, your birth experience will also be a unique experience, because no two births are entirely the same!

But the secret to achieving a beautiful birth experience, is to invest this last month of your pregnancy in YOU. In this way, you not only empower yourself for the birth of your baby, but it becomes a life changing milestone in your life’s journey, that will prime you for motherhood.  

Ultimately, you’ll always look back on this month as your sacred month!

In the following weeks I’ll be giving you some sneak-peeks into my Beautiful Birth, Magnificent Mom in 4 weeks, birth empowerment eBook. I’ll also share with you, some of the best “self-care” secrets for this sacred 9th month…

Until next week, I’d like to leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Harriette Hartigan, an exquisite birth photographer, writer and midwife :       

Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation where the human spirit is courageous and bold, and the body a miracle of wisdom!”

~ Harriette Hartigan