Weighing up ‘Risk’

A mother makes safe choices. An evolutionary necessity.

You are not going to be doing anything that puts you or your baby at ‘risk’, the human race wouldn’t have got very far if women were inclined to make crazy decisions at the last minute that endangered herself or her young.
If you feel that a c-section is the safest thing for you then you are right. If you envisage labouring for the large part at home and choosing the hospital for the birth then that is the right choice for you. Similarly, women who feel that the safety of a room they have pre-prepared with their family around them is where they will birth most comfortably then this is right for you.
I have avoided the word ‘think’ in that sentence as I believe that the answers to a lot of questions asked in preparation for labour come from an intuitive silent place. A gut feeling, a knowing, that can not always be backed up by statistics (although if someone statistically minded put their mind to it I’m sure the proof would be there!) but has the benefit of being a holistic decision. The decision that you know is right with all of yourself.
If you are unfamiliar with locating this source of knowing, perhaps your breech is a good time to start accessing it.

Ideally make sure you’ll  not be interrupted by phones or visitors. Sit on a chair with your back straight and feet flat on the floor or lie down on your left side with carefully positioned cushions. It is helpful to stay awake during this process so choose the time of day for optimum attention!

Take some breaths imaginging that with each inbreath you are renewing your body and mind with fresh bright air and with each outbreath you rae letting go of any concerns and worries – perhaps watch them float away like clouds and trust that you need not think about them for the next few moments. This is time for you and your baby. Just breathing, giving life, giving time.

You could imagine roots growing down from the soles of your feet deep down into the earth, spreading our like the roots of a tree, connecting with the central core of the earth. If that core is a golden ball of light, the light will then come up the roots in to your body and you can picture it filling your body, keeping you grounded and safe. Scan through now and feel that golden light touching your feet and toes, your lower leg, knee, upper leg, pelvis, lower back, belly, your womb and baby nestled there. Follow the light to your centre, somewhere around your heart or solar plexus and let it pool there.

You can imagine a silver ball above the head, glistening with the light of inspiration. This is the place of your life path, individual to you, always available to connect with. Pull a strand of the silver light down, through the top of your head and let it light up each part of the body that it reaches – your scalp, the back of the head, forehead, smoothing any lines as the muscles relax, your face, eyes, jaw, neck, throat, let your shoulder blades lower and relax receiving the golden light and it flows along your upper arms, elbows, lower arms, wrists, hands and fingers. And then feel the silver light mingle with the golden light in your centre. A perfect balance of the nurturing earth and heavenly inspiration. Experience that balance for a moment.

From this central place you can take your attention back to your baby and check in with her or him – is there anything that comes to mind about how they are? Let your mind be soft and see if anything comes. Share any thoughts or feelings that you’d like to with the baby.

This is a good time to notice any fears that you have. Make a note of it for your attention later. Recognise that any places of ill ease as you sit in this quiet space are valuable signposts for areas that need your focus. Perhaps something that you thought you were worried about was a screen for a deeper concern underneath. By exploring a little now in this safe space, you are doing valuable clearing work along the path to  a safe and uninhibited birth. Sometimes the worry may disappear quickly and pop as you recognise it, sometimes you may need to let them go knowing that you can come back to them another time.

If  you find your mind wandering, gently bring it back to the golden light in your roots and silver light at your crown. Perhaps it helps to concentrate on each inbreath followed by an outbreath. This is a valuable way to centre yourself and stay in the safe moment of connecting with  your instinctive truth. Gently scanning through, aware of each part of your body, noticing things and moving on. Perhaps there are no sensations and that is absolutely fine too, its just how you are in this moment.

Gently bringing yourself back by noticing sounds outside the room and inside the room. Wiggling your fingers and toes feeling the chair you are sitting on. Write down anything you would like to as you come back to the here and now. If you find it difficult to come back, stamp your feet and get on with some everyday things. A glass of water is also a great way to come back.

01/10/2009. Preparation.