Joy in Birthing

It is amazing how important what we hear and listen to are for our well-being. When it comes to choosing something to listen to, to prepare ourselves for the birth, I am partial to hypnotherapy, guided meditation, and affirmation tapes. I like the relaxation that comes with closing my eyes and listening to them. I like the positive statements found in them and the relaxation techniques they teach. I have several tapes and usually go to sleep with my headphones on, listening either to how to improve my life, or how to relax each and every part of my body. And yes, I also listen to my own hypnotherapy CDs. I figure it has to work for me if I want it to work for you. I also love music all kinds of music. Since I have decided to stop watching television I make use of my stereo by either listening to music, books on tape or the some interesting radio shows.

Now that we’ve talked about what we choose to listen to, we must take a look at what not to listen to, or not pay attention to. Stay away from worrying friends. You know, the ones that are always stressed about something and that like to tell you about all the bad things that are happening, rehashing all the negative stories they hear all the time. It is not only music or the media that can attack your sense of well-being. It is, most importantly, friends and family members. If you are thinking, “How can I not talk to Aunt Martha while I am pregnant, even though when I do, I feel depressed and worried?” Well, it is time to create new boundaries with the Aunt Marthas of the world. If you cannot avoid seeing that kind of friend or relative, tell them that you no longer want to hear the “woe is me” stories, and tell them that you are doing it for the baby. Exercise your right to speak when it is the truth, it is necessary, and you are doing so in a loving way.

Dr. David B. Chamberlain, in his article Early Parenting, tells us, “Prenates memorize the voices of their mothers and fathers in utero while learning the basic features of their native language, the ‘mother’ tongue, as we say. Spectrographic analysis of voice and cry sounds as early as 26 weeks of gestation show how far babies of this age have already progressed in adopting the voice characteristics of the mother. In a recent experiment, mothers repeated a children’s rhyme daily for four weeks from week 33 to 37 in utero. Tested at 37 weeks while still inside, the babies reacted with a change of heartbeat to the familiar rhyme, but not to the unfamiliar rhyme. The womb turns out to be a stimulating place and is, in many ways, a school.” Once again, we are told by studies what mothers have instinctually known for centuries: singing lullabies to their babies during pregnancy will create a primordial memory in the child that will continue throughout his life. When I was pregnant with both my children, I created a song and incorporated their name in it. When I held them in my arms and sang their songs to them, Natascia and Azzurro responded immediately by calming down, smiling, and going to sleep.