Birth Fears Dispelled

 Birth Fears Dispelled


keywords: birth, fear, blood, pain, joy, elation, empowerment, contractions


 What would happen if you could vanquish your fear of the unknown? Knowledge of



what is normal and what is sickness, injury, or dangerous can dispel fear.

Joy


A conversation can provide joy in the journey to empowerment.


Contractions

Are like waves. You see contractions coming from far away. You can get ready for

 them.

 They can wash over you. You can ride waves or be crashed and dragged by them. 


Spilling Waves

 

Spilling Waves

 

Spilling waves are waves that are produced when the ocean floor has a gentle slope.

As the wave approaches the shore, it slowly releases energy, and the crest gradually spills forward down its face until it is all whitewater.

These waves take more time to break than any other wave. Surfers usually call these waves "mushy waves."

(from surfertoday.com)

Spilling waves are the a lot like the contractions that are happening at the beginning of labor when you're able to talk, eat lightly, walk around, and get comfortable easily. The energy from these contractions releases slowly and it "spills" gently as it dissipates, or lessens. This is how you know your labor is just beginning, and you need to think twice before getting too excited that your baby is coming soon!


Plunging Waves

 

Plunging Waves

 

Plunging waves are formed when the incoming swell hits a steep ocean floor or a sea bottom with sudden depth changes.

As a result, the wave's crest curls over and explodes on the trough. The air under the lip of the wave is compressed, and a crashing sound is often heard.

Plungers are more common in offshore wind conditions.


(from surfertoday.com)



Plunging waves are like the contractions that happen around 4 cm dilation. You are taking these a bit more seriously, you can't really ignore them. But, you may be able to rest by sitting down or laying down. 


Surging Waves

 

Surging Waves

 

Surging waves are produced when long-period swells arrive at coastlines with steep beach profiles.

The base of the wave moves fast and does not allow the crest to evolve. As a result, the wave almost doesn't break, and there is little whitewater.

Surging waves look friendly but can be quite deadly because of the backwash associated with them.

(from surfertoday.com)


Surging waves are comparable to 5-6 cm dilation. Things are getting serious now! This is the point in labor that you start to wonder aloud if you can do this!  This is when you want to head to your birth place, call the midwife to your house, or get settled quickly!  If you have a long way to travel, you may wish you were already there because it is difficult to relax while riding in the car with these contractions! Breathing low in your abdomen, completely relaxing between contractions, and having your doula on hand is a must!!



Collapsing Waves

 

Collapsing Waves

 

Collapsing waves are a blend between surging and plunging waves.

The crest never completely breaks, and the bottom face of the wave gets vertical and collapses, resulting in whitewater.

(from surfertoday.com)

Collapsing waves remind me of the time in labor when you are 7-10 cm dilated. This is where a woman comes into her own, channels her deepest strength, fear, elation, joy, empowerment and gives birth! The contractions are coming one after the other, there is little time to regroup between them, and your doula is your very best friend in the entire world!



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