Birthing Balls and that process called labor.

The power of the human mind never ceases to amaze me! Education, good nutrition, daily exercise, personal goals and birthing wish lists all play a role in preparing a woman for her starring role in the labor and delivery process. When not confronted with regular contractions, during a prenatal visit, I take the opportunity to ask my patients what their plan is for relief of the discomforts of labor. Usually when I hear "I'm planning to go natural, but I'm open to an epidural", the epidural is moved up the list of options for pain relief quite quickly once regular active labor ensues.

Over the past few months and years I've been privileged to assist first time moms and experienced moms walk their road map of labor. I always find that the natural, un-medicated mom has first made the choice in her mind that her body is capable of giving birth without medication or epidural, and she will work with her body as it changes to welcome the new life within her. Moms can accomplish this feat when they feel safe and are surrounded by people they know, love and trust. Intermittant fetal monitoring, when the strip is reassuring, encourages their mobility by way of walking, rocking in a rocking chair, taking warm showers, having warm compresses to their back and using a birthing ball.

It is so gratifying to see that look of relief and control as a mom gets out of bed and sits on a birthing ball, which simulates boyancy, allows them to rock sideways or back and forth, and is a good position to help the fetus keep his or her back to the front of mom's abdomen and assist descent throught the birth canal.

One mom coped with an induced labor using the above measures and not looking very uncomfortable until reaching 7 cm dilation. Never asking for pain medication or epidural, her husband and I encouraged her, refreshed warm compresses to her back and supported her natural childbirth goals until she felt that bearing down urge to push. Returning to bed for pushing and directed by her body how to do that, within an hour a healthy, pink, vigorously crying baby was born.

Yes, the mind is a powerful tool...and labor is kind, always giving a rest between contractions.

Sometimes the position of the baby or its size comparing to the size of mom's pelvis doesn't allow a vaginal birth, and epidurals and C-sections have their place...ah, but the mind is a powerful thing, and birth is a miracle!