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Lessons of Labor: What Giving
Birth Taught Me about Life
By Melinda Delisle

Women are designed for the creation of new life. But the process of giving birth is also designed to provide women with lessons we need to understand and embrace the challenges of life. This happens best when giving birth is allowed to progress naturally, without interference. Here are some of the lessons revealed to me while giving birth naturally to my two sons.

Natural, unmedicated birth lets a woman work with her body and fully experience the joy (and I do mean JOY) of bringing a new life into this world. Neonatal nurses have known for years that babies born to unmedicated mothers are more responsive and are more alert than babies born to mothers who were given labor drugs. Giving birth naturally, as long as there are no complications, is best for the baby. Natural birth is not painless, but the discomfort caused by a normal, natural birth can be handled. This is an important spiritual lesson: Doing what is best is more important than doing what is comfortable.
 
Like life, labor is incessant and increases in intensity until it is over. When I tried to deal with labor as a whole, I became overwhelmed and discouraged. When, as my coach prompted, I focused only on the current contraction, it was much easier to deal with its intensity. I learned that by being present in the moment anything is doable. It was only when my mind started adding the past and future to what was already happening that I got disheartened. The lesson here: “Be here now.” It's only the buildup of the past and the projection of the future that is stressful (you can do anything for ten minutes).
 
The method of natural childbirth I used uses relaxation as a key skill. I had learned how to relax effectively, which made labor almost comfortable at times. But occasionally I would tense up in response to something. Then, boy, did it hurt! Once my coach had helped me achieve deep relaxation again, I was fine. This lesson, which is just as applicable to everyday life as to labor, was clear: Relax! It makes everything easier (i.e.: the more you struggle, the harder it gets!).


I've referred to my coach throughout this article. I believe there is a reason parents come in pairs, and that we should work together. I was certainly glad that my husband-coach, Shawn, was dedicated to working with me through labor. Could I have given birth naturally without his help? Possibly, but I wouldn't want to try! Having him there with me the whole time made labor easier, more comfortable, and provided us with an incredible bonding experience. Since that time, we've also discovered that working together makes raising children much easier! I definitely learned: Sometimes you must rely on others.

Birthing article continued next page, click here!