Detox Your Fears for An Easier Birth
By Katrina Zaslavsky, Birth Goddess
I really believe toxins are to the body what fears are to a pregnant mind. You may not be aware of them or their effects, but left to breed and run rampant, they can cause problems in the long run.
Mental pollution comes in many forms. Hollywood images, the media, or our collective emergency mindset that can turn a natural miracle into a medical event, making it come true. Stop feeding the fears. Turn off the box. Put away the bad news. And please I beg you, stop listening to horror stories. Ask politely, “Is it a positive story?” Let them know, “Shhhh…baby is listening!” Perhaps you can agree to swap notes after the birth so they don’t impact your experience. You are the protector of your mental space and baby’s home. Nobody has the right to disturb your peace of mind. This is where motherhood begins.
Research shows labour is not just a mechanical process but an intricate interplay between the mind and body; a hormonal orchestra that is easily disturbed. By what, you may ask; by your own mind and emotions. This is where other mammals have the advantage. They rely on instincts and don’t let their heads get in the way. Fortunately for them, they don’t read newspapers; they don’t know they should be afraid. It turns out being primitive serves us better than being sophisticated.
Want a pain free birth? A fascinating theory I talk about in my new book A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth is Dr. Read’s Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome. Dr. Read says, “Pain in an otherwise uncomplicated labour arises from the sympathetic nervous system fueled by the emotion of fear.” By removing fear, tension is reduced and pain is eliminated or minimized. Put simply, eliminate the fear and pain is taken care of. Do you hold the belief that contractions equal pain? If so, you will make that a self-fulfilling prophecy. Give it a different name. I never used the word contractions or pain. All I spoke of were waves and intense pressure, and therefore that is all I had during my birthing experiences.
Learn the art of total body relaxation. Get yourself to such a state of inner calm that you no longer hold any fears regarding your birth and are only filled with anticipation of meeting your baby and becoming a mother.
Affirmation of the day: “I am excited about birthing my baby.” Your mind is the most powerful ally you have – use it!
Katrina Zaslavsky is an inspired author of “A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth” and international voice for women. A former public health professional turned Mum on a Mission, she is making positive waves across the globe as founder of Birth Goddess, committed to being a part of the “Positive Birth Revolution.”
“A breath of fresh air and a welcome addition to an otherwise overcrowded shelf full of fear-inducing, confidence-eroding horror stories that solely focus on medicalized birth.” -Birthwell Birthright
“It changed my entire mindset towards my birth and I account this book for the most beautiful, serene, calm birth that I could ever have imagined.” -Erin Malinder (mother)