Is It Time to Get Off the Fence? Choosing the Road Less Traveled
By Katrina Zaslavsky, Founder of Birth Goddess: A Positive Birth Revolution, Author of A Modern Woman’s Guide to a Natural Empowering Birth
When I have asked pregnant ladies the question, “Are you planning to go natural?” they often reply with, “I’m not sure yet” or “I will see how I feel when I get there.”
If it were up to me, there should be big red flags waving around madly whenever a woman utters these words. A bit like a warning sign. This sort of wishy washy, non-committal, sit on the fence approach always makes me cringe, even when it’s delivered with the flavor of not setting up any positive or hopeful expectations to avoid possible disappointment and chance of the BIG F…FAILURE.
How I dislike that word. It must create pretty ugly water crystals if that wonderful Dr. Emoto was still around (look him up if you have no idea what I am rambling on about). Even Oprah said in a recent interview “There is no failure, only lessons.” Now I LOVE that!
I personally believe the word ‘failure’ should be totally erased from our language when it comes to birthing, motherhood or anything else for that matter as it has no place here and only creates unnecessary pain and heartache for women. But that’s a whole other story.
But I digress, so back to the old fence sitting saga… Why the big red flags, you ask?
Quite simply, those who sit on the fence and leave their experience to chance are likely in for a bumpy ride.
If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that you can’t just sit on the fence and see what happens. Deciding what you would like upfront – a natural and drug free birth or a medical one- (and both are perfectly ok with me as long as you have made a properly informed decision that sits right with you) and committing to it, means you can begin making conscious preparations towards achieving your desired outcome.
Also we learn in all other aspects of our life that it’s a good thing to have positive expectations and we attract that which we focus our energy on, yet sometimes the most enlightened ladies tend to throw this wonderful advice out the window when it comes to birthing and let their fears take the driver’s seat instead! Eeeeeek!
So a word of warning…delivered with love and the best of intentions:
If you have not made a firm commitment to go drug-free and haven’t written it in your birth plan with something such as “please do not offer any medical pain relief” (even though you secretly want to go natural but perhaps haven’t had the courage to make a firm stand and say it out loud) then you may get to a point in the labor where you don’t know if you can do it anymore. That’s pretty normal; It’s not a walk in the park, hence the name ‘labor!’ At your most vulnerable point, you will likely be offered the drugs and in that weak moment it’s too easy to give in (and make choices you will later regret) unless you have made a very strong resolve beforehand.
When a tree has roots that go deep into the ground, they can’t be shaken all that easily by outside forces.
Something to think about!
Will you get off the fence and take the road less traveled? Do you know what you truly deeply want and do you have the courage to make a strong resolve that can’t be shaken? Will you dare to say it out loud?
So I am going to ask you the same question…..Are you planning to go natural?
Until next time, make a commitment and be like the tree!
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 medicalised 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)