When I first picked up Giuditta Tornetta’s book Painless Childbirth, I must admit that I was skeptical. What was she proposing? Was this just another “method” that would hold women to a standard that might leave them feeling guilty or disempowered when they could not attain it? And should women even want a painless childbirth? Haven’t we learned that pain is part of the natural process—even a manageable part that releases all those love hormones, helps us bond with our babies and moves us into motherhood? However, as one of those women who DID experience painless childbirth, I was also intrigued. How could she possibly explain or try to teach what I knew was unteachable.

To my pleasant surprise, she does it: First, by declaring that painless childbirth is a right and then by explaining just what that entails. Tornetta interweaves relationships among nine chakras, or energy fields, with nine basic human rights and the nine months of gestation. Each chapter focuses briefly on one month of fetal development, the main ruling of one particular chakra and how they each relate to a particular fundamental human right. For example, she notes that in the second gestational month, the baby’s arms and fingers are formed “to touch the ‘other,’” the quality of the second chakra is “emotions toward the ‘other,’” and the basic human right is to feel and to want. Throughout that chapter she focuses on feelings—about the pregnancy and birth, about the woman’s own birth, about the impact those feelings have on her experience—and one wants—the right to want and how to go about expressing and getting that want fulfilled, especially regarding birth hopes and plans.

Each chapter begins with a paragraph-long affirmation using such terms as “I am confidant…,” “I declare my right to…,” “I am grateful for…” These would be wonderful used as cards to select each day of the pregnancy or posted on the walls of a laboring woman’s room. After discussing the development, chakra, human right relationship, she then fleshes out the chapter with basic coping mechanisms and user-friendly tools to help break the barriers of insecurities and complaints (physical and emotional) that come up during pregnancy and labor. In addition birth stories are scattered throughout the book.
My favorite part was the chapter on love—the exhortations to love yourself and your partner (with practical exercises to help), to love how you look (with a discussion of nutrition and weight gain) and to use love as a healing tool (again, with simple walk-through aids). I felt that this chapter alone would go a long way in helping pregnant women work through their fears surrounding birth and new motherhood.
So, the “painless” part. Tornetta expresses this best herself when she says, “To achieve a painless childbirth, you must experience pain—not necessarily physical pain, but the pain of change, of letting go of old habits, beliefs, resentments, behaviors and attitudes.” And, no, this is not another “method” book, but an inspirational guide through the journey that is pregnancy, labor and birth.

Reviewer Elise Hansen has been involved in women’s health care for over 25 years, has naturally birthed four children (including a footling breech), is a proofreader for Midwifery Today, academic copyeditor, a Spanish-language medical interpreter and is currently practicing as a homebirth midwife in Oregon. She still has implicit trust in gentle, non-interventive birth.

As we birth our babies, we also give birth to ourselves as mothers. Giuditta’s gentle guidance and spiritual nourishment will give confidence and joy on the exquisite journey to motherhood.

Sarah Bucley MD, author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: A Doctor’s Guide to Natural Childbirth and Gentle Early Parenting Choices.  foreword by Ina May Gaskin

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I own your book-enjoyed it very much not only as a doula but I read it while pregnant! Thank you Simone Magaletta-Snyder

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I did have a fabulous painless birth, thanks in part to the inspiration in your book!! Sylvia

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Painless Childbirth has helped me make sense and bring light to the many transitions I’ve experienced through out my pregnancy. Thank you for sharing your incredible insight to childbirth. The women of the world are stronger for it. I want to take Painless Childbirth to the women AND men in my life and say, “See? It’s all so clear, right here on these pages, how our lives unfold! Read it!! Heal your mommy and daddy wounds. It could improving our knowing of who we are and how we relate to each other!!!” M

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Today my youngest little girl turns 1. And I have been reminiscing about her wonderful birth. I read your book and used your meditation CD throughout my pregnancy and I can’t thank you enough.

After the birth of my first child didn’t go as planned I dreamed of having the amazing birth I had originally envisioned for my next child. And that, I did. There are truly no words to express how miraculous my second birth was…I am so thankful to have found someone who spoke the same language as me and believed in what I believed was possible. Just knowing that there were other like-minded people gave me the confidence to trust my body and my baby and give over control. By giving over control I gained all the control and had a perfect birth.

I tell people all the time; if I could have another baby just to have the experience of giving birth again, I would. In a heartbeat. I loved every contraction, I loved every single push, I loved catching my baby in the water, I loved every second of labour and delivery. There is nothing closer to perfection than a painless childbirth. And I am grateful to have you as part of my life through written and (recorded) spoken word.

And, if I can add one further comment to the mix of conversation around painless childbirth. I was talking with my husband about it and he was noting how much easier it made his birthing experience. The first time he was riddled with stress, anxiety and exhaustion. The second he was laughing and talking to the midwives and doula as I was pushing. We were home hours later making eggs for our in-laws and signing papers with our real estate agent to buy our first home. We both had an energy that was non-existent the first time around. Lisa H. Ontario Canada

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Hello, Giuditta,
I’ve started to read your book” Painless childbirth. It is amazing!  Thanks a lot for sharing your experience, emotions and knowledge! I am a doula in certification process, and this book was very important for me! Some of words there were exist in my mind before ! Thanks a lot! Love You!
Marisha,Varna, Bulgaria

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Chiaramente ho letto questo libro in inglese, ma vorrei tanto fosse in italiano perche’ qui abbiamo proprio bisogno di libri di questo genere. Painless mi ha aiutato tantissimo non solo con la mia gravidanza, il libro esplora antichi insegnamenti e concetti moderni di nascita natural, senza droghe, senza interventi medici. La preparazione e’ sia informativa per quanto riguarda il parto naturale ed indolore (con l’uso della ipnosi) ma e’ anche disegnata ad incoraggiare l’introspezione nei nuovi genitori, e ad illuminare le consequenze positive e negative del essere durante la gestazione e parto.
La gravidanza è una delle prove più impegnative nella vita di una donna, per la metamorfosi fisica e psicologica che questo evento porta con sè: le modificazioni sono così radicali da non poter essere paragonate a nessun altro periodo di passaggio della vita femminile, come l’adolescenza o la menopausa. Ciò che spesso sfugge, però, è che anche il bambino che deve nascere, “affronta” insieme alla madre questi cambiamenti. A tal proposito, lo studio dello sviluppo intrauterino sembra ormai diventato una necessità. Il bambino nel ventre materno è immerso in un bagno di stimolazioni, quelle provenienti dal battito cardiaco, dal flusso sanguigno, dal respiro, dai ritmi sonno-veglia, dalla stessa voce materna, ed è in grado di percepirle attraverso le vibrazioni del liquido amniotico. Egli entra in contatto, mediante i suoi organi di senso, con l’ambiente materno e quindi con gli stessi stati emotivi e psicologici sperimentati dalla madre. Oggi l’influenza che la mamma ha sul feto è un fatto comprovato. I pensieri e i sentimenti della mamma esercitano un effetto benefico o malefico sul bambino che tiene in grembo, e questa interazione sembra lasciare un’impronta sulla psiche del feto, condizionando per sempre il suo modo di essere e di reagire. Ogni persona che si avvicina all’evento deliziosamente descritto come ‘dare alla luce ad un bimbo,’ porta con se un preciso bagaglio socio-culturale, emotivo, e psicologico che colora non solo il parto ma anche la formazione in ventre della nuova vita. La gravidanza è un periodo magico, molto complesso e dinamico, in cui si scoprono nuovi sentimenti, si elaborano regole e abitudini nuove.

Allo stesso tempo il bimbo che cresce nel ventre della mamma in questi nove mesi, si sviluppa fisicamente, intelletualmente ed emotivamente, a secondo del’ infomazione ricevuta dalla matrix (o madre)

I just wanted to thank you again for the help that I found in your book, as well as your offers of assistance by email. Attached is a picture at the birth of our daughter, Kindle Rose, which did take place blissfully at our home in water. She was born December 7 and I am just so grateful for the preparation and help I received from people like you. We are all crying in the picture, but to me that is part of its beauty

Happy Holidays,
Michelle

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My husband and I are expecting our first baby and I am currently at 11 weeks. I was searching for info online about giving births with the dolphins in Hawaii, and natural birthing and such when I came across your book Painless Childbirth by chance. I read over a lot of reviews and your website and decided I wanted to give it a try. My husband bought it for me before I even had a chance! I am only 1/3 into the book and I had to tell you it truly is a Godsend. I can relate to the things you says so deeply it sometimes makes me cry(tears of joy that is:). Its so refreshing to know that I am not alone in the ways I feel about the birthing experience. My parents were never into conventional medicine and I have really followed them down that path. My sisters on the other hand went the whole epidural, inducing, fertility drugs, etc. route. I have seen a few births and heard MANY stories from my friends and families about their experiences and they have all terrified me. Especially my very close friend who just had a baby on Monday. I just really agree with you on being concious and ready and wanting the experience that makes it less “painful”.

I want to thank you for sharing your experiences and staying so true to yourself and spirituality. You have really given me some great tools already. I am so exctied to read the rest of the book! My husband plans to read it also and since hes an only child and doesn’t have much experience with newborns and births, I really think this will help him to understand it in a non medical world kinda way.

I had my first appointment with a nurse at the hospital and it was crystal clear that was not the route for me. It made me so uncomfortable, everything was so technical and a warning and just made me sick. I was thinking wheres the joy in this? So my husband and I are in the process of moving back to Maui and I fully plan to get a midwife there and hope to have our baby at home in a birthing tub.  So thank you again. I really wish I had an opportunity to meet you just once at least. Take Care!

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Wish I had read this sooner,  Sumithra Gopalan

This fantastic book showed me what an amazing gift motherhood is. Mama has to be strong and healthy to help baby grow strong and healthy. I found, while carrying Sara, that there were tons of things that other books never told me about – until I landed on this one. This book is a Process – I had to read each page twice over to allow the deep introspective messages to sink-in. Filled with wisdom on the different levels at which true healing is needed, it focusses our attention to them allowing us the freedom to heal those areas in our own unique ways without thrusting the author’s opinion on how it needs to be done. It guides Mama through 9 very important aspects that define a person. The book also contains several true-life anecdotes on other pregnant women which helps us empathize and find a common ground and not feel like we are going this alone. Our bodies were created to accomodate an intense experience as delivering a baby – why then should it be deemed painful when the body has been designed to accomodate it unless of course, fear has an influence on our psyche that delivery has to naturally be painful. This book helped me in delivering my baby angel without fear of pain and in total freedom which has made all the difference. I have come a long way as a mom from having read this book. This is a must-read for all pregnant moms. My only wish is that I had laid my hands on it sooner.

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Painless Childbirth: An Empowering Journey Through Pregnancy and Childbirth, August 12, 2009

By	Theodora S. Harvey – See all my reviews

Painless Childbirth: An Empowering Journey Through Pregnancy and Childbirth is a wonderful book for all expectant mothers whether or not they plan to have their baby naturally or with the help of an epidural. This beautifully written book prepares you emotionally, physically and spiritually to have your baby and the birth experience you want. Exercises are included to help mothers move through any blocks. I was blessed to have Giuditta, the author, as my doula. With the help of her wisdom and experience, found in her book, I was able to have an amazing, painless home birth. Well almost painless.

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Wonderful Book. A Must Read!, June 17, 2009

By	Nicole (Venice, CA) – See all my reviews

Every once in a while, we get a glimpse of an impending paradigm shift; something so extraordinary it changes the future and makes us rethink the past.

Tornetta provides just that in her marvelous book about childbirth. Tornetta is convinced women have been disempowered by a medical culture that says women need machines, they need monitoring, and they need to be told what to do, often by a man, who will never have to give birth. Her book offers a detailed, step-by step approach for women to empower themselves. To have the birth they want and to be the parents they dreamed of.

Without judgement, Tornetta provides insight on how we can carry limited beliefs from out childhood forward, and helps women to identify and clear up old problem. Beyond birth and parenting, it puts women on track to achieve the life they want.

Bravo!

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Empowering and deep, June 13, 2009

By	Diana Hinek “Didi” (Los Angeles, CA USA) – See all my reviews

I had the pleasure and fortune to read “Painless Childbirth” during the pregnancy of my first baby. The book is easy to read and yet very rich and knowledgeable.
I loved the structure of the ten chapters which correspond each to a chakra and the stage of the development of the baby. Giuditta adds her personal stories and real life experience as a doula, showing that painless childbirth is not only possible but especially a right. The human right we all have as mothers and as babies.
When I started my journey as a future mom there were so many questions and doubt about how things were going to happen at birth and once I read the book I felt stronger and emotionally supported. Moreover, the book is the evidence of what a wonderful doula and person Giuditta is.
I recommend “Painless Childbirth” to anyone, moms and dads to be, who wants to consciously partake to a more natural, empowering and yet possible birth.
Also a perfect baby shower gift!

“Pregnancy is a beautiful balance of life, love and spirit and Giuditta reflects that perfectly in her gentle book. What a lovely way to prepare for your new life ahead.”

-Harvey Karp, MD, FAAP, creator of the book/DVD The Happiest Baby on the Block

“Giuditta, We are in Bowling Green, KY and I found your website online. I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful Painless Childbirth CD. It was a godsend during my 42 hour un-medicated natural labor. My husband and I listened to the CD on a loop for the last 10 hours of labor during the most intense part. The CD was able to relax and keep me focused. I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy, Noah Patrick, on May 8th at 2:11pm. He was 7lbs, 13ozs and 21 in long. I attached a few pictures of him. Thanks again! I really felt like you were there with us in the delivery room helping to coach me along. My husband, baby Noah and I love you! His color was wonderful at birth – he looked the same the day of birth as the next day and the next. He was also holding his head up on his own for several seconds the night he was born thanks to the fact we didn’t have any drugs.”
-Alisha of Bowling Green, KY

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TO BUY OUR CD CLICK HERE NOW

“Joyful Birth is a wonderful childbirth preparation CD that creates a deep and delightful state of relaxation, comfort and confidence. It allows expectant moms to release their bodies to serenity and affirm to themselves their own inner power and peace, their ability to give birth, and their readiness to become a mother. Soft, gentle background music becomes part of the soothing energy of this guided journey into self, bringing an easy expectation for a beautiful and joyful birthing experience. I highly recommend it! {{Hugs}}
-Childbirth Educator By Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI

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“Dear Giuditta, I had to write and tell you how much I appreciate your Joy in Birthing CD. I listened to your CD almost every night before bed and practiced your techniques. As you know, I went home to Texas to have my second child and be with my family. I still felt your presence even though you were not with me during the delivery. I had to be induced with Pitocin due to some complications. Your words gave me the courage and strength to endure nine hours of labor without an epidural. I gave birth to a healthy, 8-pound, 10-ounce boy! Jon and I thank you for guiding us again!”
-Love, Kelley

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“Dear Giuditta, It was good talking with you today. I want to let you know how wonderful your “Joyful Birth-Self-Hypnosis for a Painless and Joyful Childbirth” is. I played it during the labor of my last two clients and they were able to completely relax. Actually, I was able to rest myself !!! Your voice, your suggestions and the beautiful music really help create a peaceful atmosphere around the mother and her partner. After the birth, both mothers told me how much the visualizations helped them to cope with the contractions even when the CD was not actually playing. In short, “Joyful Birth” worked very well as a great relaxation tool !!!”
- Caroline Tirran, Certified Birth Doula

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“I have a good news to share with you- I am 25 weeks pregnant with my second child! Your CD is of immense help. I listen to it regularly, and enjoy reading your newsletters too.”
– From India

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Last year at this time, I was amidst a very intense journey. I had someone by my side (besides my husband) who was the most helpful, supportive, loving, doula I could have imagined . Thank you to Giuditta Tornetta, who will always remain a huge part of my child’s birth!

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I’ve participated in three different mommy & me types of classes, from the super touchy/feely to conventional. My main objectives were to find kindred spirits & guidance around child development. Regarding the latter, it felt like I already knew most of the information that resonated, and realize it primarily came from you. So, thank you for providing us with such a good, practical foundation on which to build our care for Eden.

Also, fyi, we’ve continued to supplement Eden’s formula with donated breast milk, primarily from one mama. Of course, we’re incredibly grateful to have that gift and want to express our appreciation again for rallying your community to help us at the beginning of this particular part of the adventure.

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I personally had a ROCK STAR Doula, Giuditta Tornetta , who also happens to be a genius  lactation consultant, hypnotherapist, author of Pailness Childbirth AND mind-blowing chef — whom I’ll do a separate review on, forthcoming.

To put it plainly, having a Doula changed my life – as well as that of my daughter’s, even before she arrived.  Not exaggerating there.  The experience of having a Doula changed my pregnancy, my birth experience, my perspective on advocating for my own medical care and that of my family, my views on work life balance, my perception of myself as a woman, and as a mother. L.S. read the whole review

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“Dear Ditta, I know I thanked you a thousand times in person during the times we spent together, but I had to write so others can know what a priceless service you provide. Before meeting you, my idea of a doula was a stranger who simply helped you to “breathe” during contractions. You proved me wrong. You made yourself so comfortable in my home that you felt like a sister, a mother and aunt all in one. Your skills and talents helped me faced the fears I had about childbirth and the reality of laboring. I was and still am amazed at the fact that hypnosis worked so well in helping me cope with the contractions. Whenever I tell my friends about you, the hypnotherapy is the highlight of my conversation. I really could go on and on about you as a doula and about the warmth you bring to your work. You are truly a priceless gem. My precious Kumari and I thank you so much for helping to bring her safely into the world.”  -Paulette and Kumari

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“When my water broke a month before my due date, the hospital staff immediately wanted to put me on Pitocin. I signed myself out against medical advice, went home and called Giuditta. Giuditta helped my labor to progress safely and naturally with the simplest and most pleasant of techniques, a nice long walk. During the walk, she spoke with my husband and me about what we could expect throughout labor. She helped us to keep our spirits light and hopeful with her gentle and good humored presence. Giuditta stayed with us throughout the day, showing us videos about labor and baby care. She helped my husband find ways to support me with massage and counter pressure. She gave us a CD of helpful meditations and encouraged us to take a nap to get fortified for the night ahead. As my labor progressed, she had me spend some time in the shower, letting the hot water relax me. Giuditta was with us constantly at the hospital, consistently being affirming, encouraging and kind to my husband and me. She helped us to make our own decisions about which medical interventions we wanted, and encouraged us to advocate for ourselves with the hospital staff. Although in the end, I chose to have an analgesic for the pain, Giuditta’s support prevented me from fearfully accepting Pitocin, an epidural and an episiotomy, none of which I needed. My recovery was quick and easy. Looking back, I realize my husband was even more nervous and scared about childbirth than I was, and would not have been much support for me. Giuditta did not replace him, but helped guide both of us through the miracle of bringing our baby girl into the world with good humor and strong faith in my body’s ability. Should we be blessed with a second child, I will start working with Giuditta earlier so that I can benefit from her self-hypnosis CDs and her wonderful, positive spirit.” -J & J Brennan and baby Patience

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“I was able to have a natural birth without any drugs or medical interventions due to the help and training provided us by Doula Giuditta. She was here with me at home when I went into heavy labor at 7:30am, worked with me at home until we went to the hospital at 9:30. Our baby was born with the UCLA midwives at 11:41 am, all within only 4 hours! Afterward, I was able to walk myself to the recovery room while pushing the cart with my baby. We can’t recommend Doula Giuditta highly enough. The experience was amazingly wonderful, much like that written about in Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth. Feel free to contact us through Giuditta for more information. Warmest regards, thanks and peace.”
-Liza & Bill Taylor

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“Dear Giuditta, thank you for getting me through a Pitocin induced, but epidural free delivery. My husband and I had imagined going into labor at home, strolling on the beach, dining on a leisurely meal and then heading to the hospital to have our first child. We were very surprised and scared to find out that I would have to be induced after going in for a routine doctor’s appointment. Your level head and sound advice kept us calm as the induction started. Most importantly, you made us believe I could get through labor without an epidural, in spite of the stronger contractions that come with induction. Your emotional and physical support as labor progressed made all the difference in bringing our little son into the world without the side effects of pain medications. You will always be in our hearts. Thank you!”
-Karen, Todd, and Carl

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“Thank you so much for your help at the birth of our daughter, Ngaire. Your knowledge and practical advice helped so much leading up to the birth and looking after Ngaire afterwards. With your help, the labor and delivery went really smoothly and was a wonderful experience. I really appreciate all you did for us. I remember after the birth, when they were weighing and measuring Ngaire, you were sitting at the foot of the bed, head propped in your hands, just beaming. I thought “Here’s a woman with job satisfaction.”

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“In our case, we did not need a midwife. With twins, it was necessary to have a cesarean birth. Doula Giuditta helped us create a birth plan, get the babies latched on properly, advocated for and supported our desires in the hospital, and helped us tremendously after the birth with many things we needed to learn about babies. She spent so many nights just caring not only for our two beautiful daughters, but for mommy as well. She is so good with breastfeeding.”

Susan’s Birth

My doula, Giuditta, arrived at just the right moment. We needed her. The contractions were getting really strong and we were having a little bit of a hard time finding a position that would work for me. My doula got me to slow my breathing down during my contractions so that I could manage them better. We tried my sister’s hold for a few contractions. [Susan had helped her sister a year ago have

a natural, drug-free birth, and was very much attached to using the same position her sister had used. She wanted me and her husband to hold her by the rib cage, so that she could surrender all her weight onto us and go limp.] After a few times, my doula suggested that I try to lie down on the bed and relax. I was really worried about doing that. The contractions were intense enough that I just didn’t believe I would be able to survive that way, but my doula said I should give it a try. I needed to rest. I wasn’t sure. I felt scared. I was worried that the pain would be more intense if I was lying flat on my side, not able to move. But she said that I was going to exhaust myself by standing through the contractions. She encouraged me to try resting on the bed, and even napping a bit. I didn’t believe that it was even possible for me to be able to nap between contractions, but she was right. I lay down and relaxed every muscle in my body that I could. This slowed down how quickly the contractions were coming. I actually dozed off quite a few times between each contraction.

Ken was behind me on the bed, touching my back, falling asleep with me and then waking up to breathe with me when a contraction gathered. This felt great. Giuditta sat in a chair in front of me and talked to me, calming me and getting me to focus when a contraction would come. The contractions were really strong. Really strong. I have never felt something like this before. I lay there, limp and loose, and told myself that I could do this. That I could be limp and loose. That I was opening inside, opening forour baby to come. As the contractions became really strong, my doula would grab my hand and tell me to focus on it, and she’d breathe with me and Ken. At some point, I felt my entire body shaking. Giuditta asked me if I felt the baby moving. Indeed, I could feel the baby’s movement. I felt relieved because then I knew she was OK. I could actually feel her moving down, dropping further into my pelvis.

When I began feeling some rectal discomfort, I knew it was time to go to the hospital. I got concerned about how I would manage the change. Right after a contraction, I got up and walked downstairs to the backseat of Ken’s car. Luckily, once again, I made it to lying down without having a contraction. The surges were super strong and intense at this point. I couldn’t believe that they could get more intense, but they did! The ride to the hospital was hard, but not impossible. We must have started driving around 11:30 p.m. because I know we arrived around midnight. On the way, I prayed, “Let go, let go, let go.”

Giuditta whispered, “Let God, let God, let God.” I walked into the emergency room entrance. I was really beside myself. I wasn’t really there. I hung onto my doula while she talked to people. I didn’t look at anyone or anything. It wasn’t that I was upset or anything, I literally just had the focus on one thing: what was happening inside of me. The tremendous earthquakes shaking my core. Moving my center. It took all my focus. I heard everything that was going on around me, but my sight went. I didn’t really take in the hospital. I had been worried about the clinical atmosphere of the hospital. I shouldn’t have been. I was consumed by my internal world. Nothing exterior made a dent on my inner events. There was all this commotion about my getting into a wheelchair. I had been warned about this. There was no way I was going to sit down. I guess I was being really loud about my contractions and moaning a lot.

The way we managed the contractions all the way through was to be very vocal. Sometimes, Ken and I would say yes, yes, yes, sometimes ahhhhhh, ahhhhhh, aaaaahhhhhh. My doula would always try to get me to extend the sound, make it a real release and use it to calm down.

When contractions would come, they consumed my very being and the world outside stopped, except for my hearing. I could hear most everything. I responded to people talking to me. Though I couldn’t focus and see in a regular way, I could hear them. We made it upstairs and into the triage, and I begged to be allowed to lie down. I quickly pulled off my underwear and pants and just dropped them on the floor and climbed on the bed. The contractions were even more intense since we’d had all that activity. Giuditta reminded me of that. She added that they should settle down again as I rested. I lay on my left side. They put monitors on me and I was happy and relieved to hear the baby’s strong, healthy heartbeat. We kept moaning through my contractions.

The nurse wanted to check how dilated I was. I was scared that after all we had gone through, I would only be at five centimeters and then I knew I’d be a goner. I’d have to get medication. I just couldn’t hack another five hours like this. The nurse said I was eight centimeters! Amazing. They told me I was going to be given a delivery room. Those last contractions were the most intense of all. Giuditta and Ken kept telling me I could do it. I wasn’t so sure anymore. I’ve never felt anything like that. All I know is labor is the most intense experience I have ever had, the most intense physically and emotionally. I wish I could describe what it felt like. I certainly had to cry out. I couldn’t be quiet. I could stay pretty much limp and loose, minus the shaking, which actually relieved the intensity of the contractions somehow. Aaaaaaahhhhhhh. I did it. I did it every time. I was out of my head, out of my body. The nurse checked me again and said I was nearly fully dilated, I just had a little lip on one side around the baby’s head. I pushed a bit and she checked again and I was fully dilated. As the doctor had not yet arrived, my doula asked the nurse if the midwife was there. She was. She came in a moment. They prepared me to push, telling me what I’d need to do. I had never worked so hard in my life. It felt like I was trying to move a mountain. The spaces between were such sweet relief.

Giuditta kept telling me to enjoy the peace between each contraction. That really helped me sink into them. Enjoy them. Relish them. That helped me focus on the downtime rather than what was coming next. We would wait quietly. I would go limp and loose. I would feel very relaxed. I was told at one point they even heard me snore in between pushes. I would feel a contraction building. We would start. Each time I felt disappointed that she hadn’t come out yet, everyone would encourage me to stay in the moment. Twice, my doula took my hand down to feel the baby’s head. The first time, I could feel her head a few inches back in my vagina. The second time was when she was crowning. It felt so strange, all that pressure down there. The ring of fire, I guess it’s called. It felt like the ring of intense pressure. So full, so tight, so taut, so needing to come out of me. I think I got her out in less than twenty minutes. It was such a relief to get her out. She was put right on my chest. I heard them talking about Ken cutting the cord. I was blitzed out of my mind and so relieved. I’m very proud of myself now. It was such an intense experience. Slowly, it has sunk in that we are now three. That my belly is empty of baby. That what I did was a fabulous, wonderful thing to be proud of. We got the lucky sevens. Birth date: 7/7/07. In Delivery Room 7. And she was 7 pounds, 7 ounces! The one thing that helped me most throughout the entire labor and delivery was my affirmation: “Thank you, God, for helping me feel worthy and capable of making important decisions.” I kept repeating it to myself over and over again, I guess until I truly believed it.”

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I love working with you Guiditta, you bring so much love and strength into our home through your wisdom and through your meals.  I’m overwhelmed with gratitude, thank you for making the transition to motherhood feel so seamless and so very blessed.  C and J and little T.