A ‘VAGINAL’ or ‘NATURAL’ birth

Birth like anything, demands a lot of holding on and letting go too

This narrative can be damaging to couples who are preparing for the births of their babies

This is a topic that to my mind robs couples months of enjoying and remaining hopeful for their birth. Wanting a vaginal or natural birth because they believe there is no discontentment that comes with giving birth this way

A birth whether ‘vaginal’ or ‘natural’ as we hear it spouted out there does NOT guarantee you satisfaction. Hear me out…

A birth is a birth regardless how you birthed your baby. Don’t be stuck and psyched on the narrative that having a vaginal birth is the best thing. Why? well.. there are women who have birthed vaginally who still live with injuries and bad experiences years later. A vaginal birth does not guarantee you will be satisfied because not all vaginal births ended up with happiness or satisfaction.

There are women still struggling with pelvic floor issues from their vaginal births

Birth as we know it is an event. Because it is an event, there are many areas and things you can not plan for ahead of time. There will be many things you may need to see through. Trust the process and believe that your care providers and their team have the best intentions for yourself, your bump and your baby. It costs so much energy to think negative and stay with worry over things you can not put to stone

As much as social media has won in convincing people that everything can be ‘picture perfect’, that is not a reality where birth is concerned. Videos are shared to iterate the importance of ‘normalising’ certain aspects of birth but one should not take it for what it is and expect to achieve the same results. Each pregnancy is different and the experiences will be different too. Strive to put across your vision and concerns (if there are any) to your care provider. Strive to maintain a healthy pregnancy by eating healthy, keeping healthy and fit, protecting your energy and thoughts and enjoy your pregnancy

9 months is very little time to waste on issues you can not control. 9 months is very little to prepare categorically for something you will have no control over a chunk percentage of. Enjoying means you will be able to look back on the journey and be glad of the milestones you will have achieved or tackled along the way. Focus on the things that matter

Sometimes there are medical indications in why some babies will need to be born by c section. Women who have given birth this way are no less mothers than those who ‘pushed’ their babies out of their vaginas or ‘naturally’ - whatever that ‘natural’ looks like for you. This almost ‘competition aura is one that is so evident in mama groups where some are holding those who did not ‘push’ their babies as if they never gave birth

1. There is no trophy in how one gave birth actually.

2. Focus on you, your journey and your family

3. Have communication lines open with your care provider

4. Trust the Process and your care givers intention

5. Ask those biting questions to make informed decisions

6. Let go of the things you cannot control

7. Remember; your experience is your own. No birth will be like YOURS