This past weekend, Felice came to AZ, and we got together a few times to work on the project. Nothing's quite so blissful as immersing yourself in birth chatter and birth stories for a whole weekend--at least for birth junkies like us!
Love this wonderful woman!
We're still gathering stories, so please send more! Which brings me to our interesting predicament. We've been looking for stories of spiritual experiences relating to infertility, baby-related dreams, pregnancy, miscarriage, morning sickness, still birth, birth, and postpartum. We want all kinds of stories from all kinds of women, i.e. we aren't just looking for "natural" birth stuff. But nearly all of the stories we have received have been unmedicated births, mostly home births. We don't want to be exclusive or appear to be exclusive. So we really want epidural and cesarean birth stories too. But no one is sending them.So, my question is... why aren't we getting stories from women who have had epidurals or cesareans? I feel certain that there are stories out there--women who were spiritually guided to choose or accept an epidural or cesarean because of their circumstances. Right? Where are these women? (Rixa's recent epidural post and comments really got me thinking.)
Since most of the stories we have received are home births, birth center births, and unmedicated hospital births, it's been hard not to wonder whether it's even possible to have a spiritual birth experience with an epidural. But I recently chatted with an old friend who told me her first daughter's medicated birth was a very spiritual experience, so I know there are stories out there. I want them to be represented in our book. So where are they?
16 comments:
Hey! I missed out on the party. No fair...I'm sure it was so much fun.
Where would you like stories submitted? I just must have missed it.
You can just email them to me at askbusca at gmail.com!
I just got one in an email. Yay!
Yay! I am glad you got one. I will send mine in soon.
Thanks for the email address.
I'm so happy to find your blog! I have a blog about Muslims and birth. There are a few birth stories on there. And info on Islam and birth. It's great to see others of different faiths focusing on the same thing. Alas, no stories with epidurals though;( Can't wait to see the book.
i'll send this to my friend jaclyn and see if she wants to contribute!
I feel that my first birth (via planned c-section) was a very spiritual experience. Not sure if my story is exactly what you're looking for, but I will try to email it to you if I get a chance. Thanks for trying to include a variety of experiences in the book. Sometimes it does seem like only home birth moms can get that truly spiritual birth experience. I hope that's not true.
Dathamary, please do send your story! I look forward to reading it!
I never got around to writing the story up, but I would love to send you mine, is it too late! Thank you for the commented on my blog too! You are SO Sweet!
ps. has Sarah Elliot contacted you? Amber has her number, she's going to have to have a natural birth in a few weeks, and she wasn't planning on it...I thought of you!!
What do you mean by "Spiritual birth experience" exactly.
Good question, Beccalynn! I guess just any experiences where you see God's power, receive God's guidance, or feel God's love. Does that help?
I can write up Hayden's birth story (epidural and Stadol, couldn't nurse her for weeks because of misinformation) and the difference that Vincent's birth made (though, it was such a fight).
Also, are you submitting your own birth story? It might be interesting to post the story I wrote for you. To see it from multiple POVs. I can also add more to the end about the emotions and feelings that I blissfully received after witnessing a birth.
Also, though it'd be another birth from the doula's perspective, I'm pretty sure another client of mine would be okay with me submitting her story (the one you read with the natural birth, to pitocin, to epidural, and then a csection after a couple of days). I had to limit my characters for DONA, but the mother called on God and faith a lot. We prayed between some contractions, and when she needed comfort after being told about going in for surgery, I know she called on Him. I can ask her to submit something herself, too
Hi, interesting post. I had an epidural during my labour and it was the best decision I could have made. I remain prfoundly touched by the whole experience and fle tit to be deeply spiritual. I was not scared or worried, just calm and in control and filled with such an amazing feeling, I KNEW I could do it. The ease from the hours of pain from the epidural is what gave me this so I would so go for one again.
:-)
I know I am sometimes hesitant to share my story with mothers that do unmedicated or home births because I assume they think that my choice to have an epidural is wrong. I guess I judge them by assuming they are judging me.
I had spiritual experiences with all three of my pregnancies/births. I had an epidural all three times and was induced twice. I can't see how you can give birth, in any way, without having a spiritual experience. I can think of very few things that could bring you closer to God.
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