Preparation for Millie's Birth

I've been dragging my feet on writing Millie's story. I have read so many stories and wanted to do hers justice. I also knew that no matter how good I am with words I will never have all the right ones to get across the immense amount of emotion that day has tied to it. But I realized that the longer I wait the more I will forget and that's really not doing the story any justice. None whatsoever. So I'm starting the story here. Hoping it will be an encouragement to mommas and give Millie something to read someday.

Millie's birth story starts weeks in advance. It's no secret that I'm passionate about birth, evidence based birth practices, and positive and empowering birth experiences. Where that passion will take me I'm not sure yet but nonetheless it is there and on fire. I follow various birth pages and birth photographers on facebook and one day a birth photographer posted a photoshoot of a homebirth in Florida. One photo captured the reflection of a mother laboring and in the corner of the mirror was an empowering quote. For months Senor Smarty Pants had been lecturing me about visualizing how the birth was going to go. He was channeling his highschool football coach-they visualized before every game. Motto: Mental Toughness. Visualizing was ok but I felt positive affirmations-because they are words would resonate with me more. So I got online and found quotes and scripture and mounted them on scrapbooking paper. Quotes like:

"The knowledge of how to give birth without outside intervention lies deep within each woman. Successful childbirth depends on the acceptance of the process." 

-Suzanne Arms

"There is a secret in our culture and it's not that birth is painful. It is that women are strong!" -Laurie Stavoe Harm

"The power and intensity of your contractions cannot be stronger than you because they are from you. -Unknown

"My grace is enough; it is all you need My strength comes into its own in your weakness. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become!" -2 Cor. 12:9

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you." -Isaiah 26:3

"For you know that when your faith is tested your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete needing nothing." -James 1:3-4

I then went around the house and placed them where I would see them. On the fridge, chalkboard wall, bathroom mirror, night stand, above the sink, etc. 

Like I said, I have a passion for peaceful and empowering birth. However, because I live in the culture I do I found as my belly was growing, fear and apprehension were growing as well. These positive affirmations helped my mindset and gave me the confidence that I am always so quick to give others, because when it's you-the ball game is a little different. I also had stopped watching anything that had to do with non-positive birth. Meaning no "A Baby Story" and no movies that included birth how our culture perceives the process. I found this element of preparation vital to my confidence and mindset. VITAL. When I encountered apprehension or negative birth imagery of any kind I recited and/or prayed a quote or verse.

Yeah things got serious. But it worked.

Next up, the story. 

Blessings!