"When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change."
~ Marie Mongan
Awakened by the vigorous pain of rhythmic contractions, orchestrated by an enchanted force, I was compelled to push a tiny body pulsating within into a new world and connect to a soul dwelling across an infinite space.
Giving birth is liberating, but holding my newborn for the first time was like being introduced to a new life. I discovered a new power within—a gift I wasn’t even aware of… the gift of motherhood, endless unconditional love.
The Birth
Natural—no epidural, IV, or medical interventions—laboring in water with its relaxing support and warmth.
I was due on November 12, but I thought I would take an extra week until delivery, as I wasn’t feeling any signs of impending labor. So, the day before birth, I went shopping with my husband, Alaa. It was a nice sunny day, so we decided to take a walk and have lunch. After returning home, I did my daily yoga practice with lots of squats, hoping Raphael would arrive sooner. Then I went for a chiropractic session and picked up my brother from the airport.
Around 9:00 p.m., my water broke, but I wasn’t feeling any contractions. I called my doctor, and he advised me to come to the hospital for a check-up. When the resident OB examined me, I was 1 cm dilated. She suggested I take Pitocin to get my contractions going, but I refused, telling her I was in no hurry and, as long as the baby was doing well, I preferred to keep it natural. I handed the staff my birth plan, which clearly stated all the natural steps I wanted to follow, and they were very supportive. My OB advised me to move to my room, relax, and wait for dilation.
While being monitored, the nurse came rushing in to see how I was handling the contractions. I had to smile, as I did not feel a thing. From 10 p.m. till 1 a.m., I was just relaxing with Alaa and my mom, listening to music and chatting with them. After 1 a.m., I started feeling slight contractions, but they were not painful. At 2 a.m., I was 4 cm dilated, and from there, I began feeling stronger contractions. My contractions were in my lower belly. Luckily, I didn’t feel any back pain (I attribute that more to yoga than luck :p). It was like period cramps but much more intense (really much more :p). However, laboring in water made the contractions less painful compared to being out of water.
At 6:00 a.m., they checked me, and I was 8 cm dilated; the baby’s head was properly engaged. At 7:41 a.m., Raphael came out easily without assistance, with a couple of quick pushes. It was like a natural act of defiance by my little one, telling the world, "Hello, I can make it on my own."
The final stage was the easiest, as the urge to push felt very relieving, and my hip alignment allowed the baby to move out quickly without strain. It was in the final stage (10 minutes) that I used the bed. We immediately did skin-to-skin bonding, and that was the best part. You just know that it’s worth it all. I delayed all the medical procedures for my little one until we had bonded. Alaa got to cut the umbilical cord after it stopped pulsating, giving the dad a share in his son’s birth.
How I Managed My Labor Pain
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Water, water, water (hot water tub): Being immersed in water helped me to simply go with my contractions and allowed me to benefit from the intervals between each contraction to relax and gather my energy.
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Walking: As odd as it seems, at the beginning of my contractions, walking was very relieving.
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Lunges, all fours, and child’s pose: As a yoga teacher, I couldn't help but incorporate some yoga poses into my labor to relieve pain.
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Silence: I’m a person who enjoys silence, so having this ambiance during labor was beneficial. It allowed me to focus on my contractions and meditate between them.
How to Prepare Your Body and Mind for Birth (6 Steps to a Healthy Delivery)
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Yoga, yoga, and more yoga…
Yoga supports the accelerated changes happening in our bodies, both mentally and physically. It tones the physical body, especially the pelvic floor, hips, and abdominal core muscles, in preparation for the birthing process. It’s mentally relaxing, allowing us to trust that our bodies will open up and give birth instinctively.I didn’t experience any back pain or tension throughout my pregnancy. I always had good sleep. The only thing that used to wake me up was the need to go to the toilet.
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Intention: Believe me, the power of intention is miraculous.
Set your intention for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Believe in it with all your power, live it, visualize it, and it will just happen.Limit your exposure to negative birth stories. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? A C-section? It’s okay—even with that, you can still enjoy your birth and accept what comes along. But prepare yourself ahead of time. Just don’t expect a C-section or a tough delivery because you heard it from someone; you would just be attracting the same story and energy. Each has her path, but you can do whatever you can and let go of the things you no longer control. Acceptance and peace.