Our Birth Story: Told From a Husband's Perspective

every time I read this - I get choked up.

Mommas, you know it's one thing to remember one of the best days of your life through the lens of your own memories. But my gosh - it's another thing to experience it all over again through the recollections of your husband, who was your partner, biggest support & ROCK through the most incredible bonding experience.

Nathan, thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to write down these precious moments - I will cherish them forever.

I love you.
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" I will never forget the feeling the day I first saw my sweet Rae on the ultrasound. The first time I saw and heard her heart beat was like the “shot heard around the world”, in that, every ounce of my existence suddenly became aware of her existence and I knew from that moment forward my life would never be the same. The magnitude of responsibility that lay ahead and the mental and emotional gravitational pull to her is something that is unexplainable but, I can say this, my heart felt in cadence with hers and my mind started racing to walking her down the aisle on her wedding day and how I would be an emotional wreck to give her away.

Fast forward 7 months…

We are back at the OBGYN to see our midwife, which has been our normal weekly routine for about 5 weeks. Lindsey is 2 days past her due date and I am sitting outside the fetal monitoring room where the door remains closed if other patients are in there, which I hate because I can’t see my baby momma and I feel helpless. Then, the door to the room opens and I see the nurse come out first with a look of haste on her face and Lindsey right behind her, eyes wide open. Lindsey says to me “I think my water broke!" The next moment was like drinking 10 cups of coffee within seconds, my heart felt like it was going to beat out of my chest and my hands were shaky. I had to do my best to contain my excitement because this is an everyday occurrence for these nurses, but for me, it was the start of an event that I knew would change my life forever! Well needless to say, I couldn’t contain my excitement. Part of me was ready for the nurse to say go to the hospital that little girl is on her way, but they didn’t; so I stood by anxious and nervous for the plan ahead. Lindsey and I left the OBGYN and headed toward the house.

Once we got home Lindsey, continued with her workout routine, and I am thinking, this woman is amazing! Her tenacity and dedication to a healthy pregnancy was admirable. Following her work out we decided to go to one of our favorite spots for lunch, The Donut Hole. We had to make this meal count; it was our last meal as the two of us and I knew I needed to pack in the calories because it was most likely going to be a long night. Throughout the course of the day, I am asking myself when these contractions are going to start - it’s nearly 2:00pm and nada…nothing. With a full belly we finished up lunch and headed home. I finally convinced her we should lay down and take a nap, since we needed as much rest as we could get for the arrival of our sweet girl, which to my surprise, she agreed to. I think we woke up around 4 something and still no real contractions, at this point I am beginning to think this girl is never coming. As Lindsey was getting up she received a phone call from her friend and I took that as an opportunity to go over my notes that I had taken from the litany of books we had read on pregnancy and the birth process. From my time in the military I have always heard the phrase “fail to prepare, prepare to fail” and I took that to heart, as this was our first child and we were going to be laboring at home. What was I thinking you might ask? Not sure! But I knew that if Lindsey and I were working together in this we would be fully prepared mentally and physically. My notes covered the 3 phases of the birth process in detail, outlined the symptoms of each, timing of contractions, how long each phase should be, what I should do in the event of an emergency and whatever information I felt pertinent to be the best husband throughout this process. Around 5:15, I can see Lindsey beginning to get uncomfortable while she was on the phone with her friend and she motions to me that she may be having a contraction. I quickly make my way to the bedroom and whip out my phone for the birth app to start timing her contractions. The first contraction was nearly 40 seconds long and according to my notes, this wasn’t supposed to happen until the second phase - all the while Lindsey is still talking on the phone not skipping a beat. The second contraction comes at 5 minutes, again first phase is supposed to be 20-30 mins apart; I thought to myself “am I missing something, I have to be doing this wrong?” At this point I had to literally force Lindsey off the phone so we, moreso I, could focus on what was happening. After the second contraction I texted Lindsey’s mom to give her an update and told her that things were progressing so she may want to start heading this way. Sure enough, Lindsey’s third contraction was about 5 mins apart and 40 seconds long. I was asking myself - what happened to the first phase! Then I told myself, “It doesn’t matter Nate, you are in the moment now”. I immediately jumped into action, rubbing Lindsey’s back, neck and legs like we had practiced so many times before (all Lindsey requests). Over the next three hours Lindsey’s contractions were faster, longer and more painful. Fortunately, Lindsey’s mom came over to lend a helping hand and we followed Lindsey around the house to the point where she had to tell us to give her some space. But like a moth drawn to a flame, I couldn’t leave my wife’s side. I stayed an arm’s length away to avoid any unintentional contact, but close enough to rescue my damsel in distress. I couldn’t believe how fast the contractions were coming and how long they were lasting, so I made the decision to load Lindsey up in the car when her contractions were 2:15 apart.


It took no time loading Lindsey and our pre-packed prepositioned bags up for the 40 minute journey to the hospital. Every step of the labor process the realization that this was actually going to happen was coming to fruition, I had run the driving scenario in my head many times before - what to do in the event the baby comes during the drive, where the bad traffic spots were, that we needed to call the hospital en-route. Fortunately, every light in Panama City Beach was green. But Lindsey’s position in the back seat was causing more pain during the contractions than standing had, so she kneeled down on the floor and rested her head on her moms’ shoulder while I was Dale Ernhart-ing my way through traffic. Lindsey kept saying she felt pressure on her pelvis and I thought for sure we were going to have that baby on the floor of the Tahoe. I was slightly freaking out on the inside but we made it to the hospital with no baby in hand. We pulled up to the front and I hoped out and got Lindsey and asked her if she wanted a wheel chair. I should have known better than to ask that question, her response was simply “no” and I realized that right before my eyes I was watching Lindsey morph into my very own superwoman - and superwoman has no need for a wheelchair. As we made our way up to the second floor, she paused every couple minutes to calmly fight through her contractions. We finally make our way up to Labor and Delivery and began to check-in. As we were checking in, of course, Lindsey is breathing her way through contractions and the nurse at the check in counter seemed to be in no hurry to get Lindsey checked in - all the while I am weathering the greatest internal storm I have ever fought. It reminded me of the sloths at the DMV in the movie “Zootopia”. In what seemed like forever but was only a few short minutes, we moved to our room where I was anxiously waiting for the nurse to come in and check to see how dilated she was and monitor Rae. To my amazement she was only 5cm which meant we had 5 more to go. No big deal, we got this!


Lindsey’s contractions were becoming more intense and her entire body was shaking with each passing contraction. By this point I was stuck to her like velcro, massaging her back and legs and using our 8 sec breathing technique loud enough for her to jump into cadence with my breathing. I knew how important it was going to be for Lindsey to stay hydrated and keep her sugar levels up during this physical, mental and emotional labor process, so in between contractions I offered her lots of water and apple juice and received guidance on the areas that needed massage attention. Lindsey was extremely active during labor…walking around, switching positions and standing - but once a contraction was setting in it took her full attention and all movement stopped. The way she focused on not fighting her contractions with her body and breathing through them was like she had done this 100 times before, it was incredible! The room we were in did not have a bathtub, which Lindsey wanted the option to labor in one to ease the stress on her body, and was roughly 2 hours later before we were moved to a room with a bathtub. It turned out the walk to the other room was exactly what Lindsey’s body needed to catapult her into the last phase of labor.

When we got into the room and Lindsey positioned herself on the bed, the nurse came back in and checked her dilation and she was now at 8cm… the nurses were as surprised as I was at how fast things were moving. It’s hard to describe how time passed during this process. On one hand it was slow and on the other hand time seemed to slip away (I am sure Lindsey’s side is a bit more intense). I was so focused on Lindsey and being proactive to her needs that my mind was not on the near birth of Rae but on the task at hand. Now that we had access to a tub, Lindsey wanted to try and relieve some of the pressure so we hopped in the bath but she found little relief. From the time she got out of the bath and made her way back into the room she had 2 or 3 contractions causing her to stop each time. I could tell the contractions were becoming more intense, her legs were beginning to tighten and give out as she battled through each contraction - she shifted her weight tirelessly to find relief but with little effect. Lindsey had returned back to the bed, with the back of the bed raised to keep her upright as she rested her elbows on the top with her knees were pressed into the bed. The contractions were coming hard and fast, so I ran over to my back pack and grabbed 3 scriptures verses on a note card I had written down to remind her of how awesome and powerful God is and that she needed to draw strength from Him. The position Lindsey was in on the bed was the most comfortable position for her during the contractions, but this position was causing Rae’s heart rate to drop significantly so she was forced to lie on her side bringing Rae’s heart rate back within acceptable limits. As she transitioned to her side, the pressure and pain increased. Up until now, Lindsey had truly embodied “suffer in silence,” but she still barely made a sound. The midwife and nurse were taken aback by how well Lindsey was handling and managing the pain and her body during labor. I was none the less amazed, my superwoman was before me!

The time was now at hand to bring sweet baby Rae into the world! Lindsey was on her side, the Midwife was in the catching position, the nurse was on her right side administering oxygen and I was on her left side holding her knee in the air and breathing with her as she began to push with each contraction. I kept reminding her that God had created her for this, to focus on meeting our sweet girl for the first time and to keep her eye on the prize - and she did just that. She pushed for 45 mins, never once taking her focus off of her purpose and the sweet life we were bringing into the world. As Rae made her debut, the cord was wrapped around her neck - which it turns out was the culprit for causing Rae’s heart rate to drop before. Rae was silent as she entered the world and was placed on Lindsey’s chest. The nurses scrambled to stimulate Rae, but something wasn’t right; her color was off and her breathing was labored. My heart was in my socks and I didn’t know what was happening, but the nurses were extremely professional and calm. The Midwife asked me if I would like to cut the cord during the controlled chaos and I thought to myself “how about you take care of my daughter and don’t worry about me..” But I rushed to cut the cord because I knew questions would only slow things down. They took Rae from Lindsey and placed her underneath a heat lamp and began using a machine to remove fluid from her lungs. The door to the room opened and a nurse came in carrying two huge red bags and headed straight for Rae. I didn’t know what was happening. I was trying to remain calm for Lindsey, but couldn’t take my eyes and my thoughts off Rae. Things seemed to calmed down, but since they had to place Rae on the machine, they were required to take her to the NICU. I followed her back and I was praying to God that he would take care of this situation, and He did just that! Once she arrived at the NICU a nurse came to her side quickly and rolled her to another machine. She observed her for a few minutes before placing any equipment on her (if any equipment was placed on her mandatory 24 hr in NICU). The nurse said that whatever was happening after she was born up until now - she didn't see any more signs of breathing or fluid issues. “She is free to go” - Praise God! My ghost-like appearance from the anxiety and uncertainty began to take on a more lifelike resemblance. I was beaming with excitement as I floated down the hallway to tell Lindsey the great news. We greatly anticipated the arrival of our third wheel (Jk) and Rae showed up about 20 mins later - we were united as a family of 3. I knew from that moment forward that my job as a husband and father, to tend and keep my garden (Genesis 2), was at hand.."

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I hope you enjoyed reading this half as much as I did.

If you'd like to read my personal natural birth story, click here & here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thoughts & Tips for Natural Birth: Part Two

Hey friends,

Last time, I wrote an introduction post with my personal thoughts on Natural Birth.
If you missed it, feel free to read part one HERE.

Today, I'm sharing with you part two, tips from my own personal experience.

Again..
I do NOT have all the answers.
I'm a first time mom, & therefore, NO expert.

However.
I BELIEVE in our bodies.
Because I know who made them.

I know what worked for me.
And I know what I plan to do the next time.
Because babies are like pringles & it's hard to just have one :)

So here you go..
& feel free to share if you think it'll help a mama to be!

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{in no particular order}

1. Make sure you TRUST your provider..

Not just "feeling comfortable" with them, but truly trusting that they understand & respect your plan & goals.

This might mean seeing SEVERAL people within a practice - and that's A-OK!

This is a special LIFE moment that you will want to feel supported & understood in.

Ask questions.

Trust your gut (as always).

Find your PERSON.

I will tell you from my own experience, that I saw an OB for almost the entire first half of my pregnancy with Raegan. He had helped me at the end of my miscarriage previously, so I definitely had a certain level of trust established with him. However, when I asked him some "interview" type questions regarding his C-section rate, his beliefs/philosophy on natural birth & a few other things - I left KNOWING that I needed to find someone who would without a doubt be my advocate. He wasn't bad by any means, but he wasn't my person.

That's when I started seeing midwives.

I found my favorite, whom I chose to see for nearly all of my remaining appointments.

I made an effort though to meet the other two midwives in the practice, incase one of them happened to be working overnight the day I gave birth.

Low & behold..

My midwife of choice was coming off her overnight shift from the previous evening the day my water broke at my appointment with her (THAT sure was an exciting & eventful day - start reading my birth story HERE).

Another midwife who I fortunately had already met & shared my birth plan with checked on me & "caught" Raegan.

I would have loved to see my primary provider, BUT everything ended up being totally fine - because I was familiar with her, she knew where I stood AND I had... a birth plan!

That brings me to #2..

2. Have a birth plan!!

Does that sound daunting to write out?

Good news!

It's not at all!

I actually used a template I found online {check it out HERE}.

It helped me stay on track & keep things very streamlined + organized.

Here's the deal.

You might catch some kick back if you mention this plan to others.

I know I sure did when I posted about mine on social media.

I didn't even share the details, because it's not really anyone's business.

Just the mention of it seemed to rouse opinions, for whatever reason.

I think some people have a hard time with the concept of planning something like birth.

But why the heck WOULDN'T you?

I mean gosh, we plan our meals & daily schedule.

Yeah, things change & we adjust.

Why don't we view birth the same way?

I digress..

Here's what people need to understand.

A birth plan doesn't just have your ideal "scenario A," documented.

It also doesn't mean you're naive or living in a dream world.

Although, YES, focus on what you hope for!

A birth plan means you have focused goals & personal wishes.

Which is AWESOME sauce.

A birth plan DOES also include "scenarios B & C."

For things that COULD arise - like an emergency C section, interventions, if the baby has any major issues, complications during afterbirth & so on.

Make multiple copies of your birth plan & be sure your partner {or doula/birth coach} is very familiar with it - they will more than likely have to be your voice at some point during the process while you're LAZER focused on the "task" at hand or totally engulfed in that precious new arrival.

If this seems like overkill, I promise you that it's not.

Finally, share one of those five copies upon your arrival with the staff members!

You can even have it sitting out in your room.

Unfortunately, some of the hospital staff may be annoyed as well with your birth plan or how prepared/knowledgable you are for your experience. I'm not sure exactly WHY this is the case, but it really DOES happen.

No fear. There's always something you can DO.

We buttered our nursing team up a bit - a team that was actually WONDERFUL!

I planned a goodie bag of items a couple of weeks before my due date. I got everything ready & the things I couldn't have sitting out, went on my "go list" of things to grab before we left the hospital.

{Yes, I was MEGA organized. I'll post another time about how I prepped!}

I brought some superfood packets they could shake up in water for a quick meal.

I had healthy homemade muffins in the freezer that Nate grabbed on our way out the door.

We came locked & loaded with two big bags of dove chocolates.

& we had about 6 starbucks gift cards sitting in our room to give to our nurses - we had two per day during our stay.

Maybe it's a little shameless bribery.

Or maybe it's a token of true appreciation.

Actually, it's both.

Whatever it is..

It works!

But girl.

The moral of this LONGGGGG tip is:

Have a birth plan.

No explanation needed for the naysayers.

This is YOUR experience.

Be prepared - for the best & "worst" case scenarios.

The birth of your baby is kindddddddd of a big deal.

3. Get familiar with your body & the process.

Being familiar with the physiological part of birth & knowing exactly what is going to happen or has to happen for that baby to come out, means fewer surprises {and therefore, fewer reasons to be anxious} during the process.

Knowledge is power.
And if you do your due diligence, you will know the mountain ahead of you.
And you will be prepared to conquer it.

My GOSH was this helpful..

I understood what my body was doing in the weeks leading up to giving birth - my hips loosening, seeing my mucous plug, etc.

Nate & I understood the stages of labor.
I actually had him read some with me & he took his own notes so he knew what to expect + how to help me (he was my birthing coach, BTW).

We both FULLY understood the birth process & what needed to happen afterwards.

Gal, you have MONTHS to prepare for that baby coming.
Don't just let the time pass & twiddle your thumbs at the end.
Empower yourself with knowledge.
I PROMISE you'll be so glad you did!!

4. Exude true CONFIDENCE.

You better be confident..

In the woman you are.
In the important role you play.
In the task you are fully equipped to accomplish.

CONSTANTLY remind yourself..

Your body was created to do this.
It is SO natural - don't for a second doubt your abilities.

Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time.
Before hospitals. Before modern prenatal care. Before lamaze classes.
Women were giving birth. Like bosses.
You're in great company.

God fearfully & wonderfully made you to be a child-bearing machine.

Take some time to read birth stories to get yourself excited!!

I personally LOVED that the first 100+ pages of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth was full of natural birth stories.
Not just picture-perfect stories, but REAL LIFE stories where midwives helped support mommas & GUIDE babies into the world.

5. Stay active!!

Most women don't realize that 30 minutes of daily activity is actually RECOMMENDED for expectant mothers!!

This activity can range anywhere from taking a walk to doing crossfit every day.

Let me explain this a bit.

What you did BEFORE you got pregnant - you can maintain, unless your provider recommends otherwise.

So.

If you were lightly or rarely active before, then how about 30 minutes of walking 5x a week.
If you were taking gym classes regularly, several days a week - don't stop.
If you were religiously crushing weights or cross fit - go for it, girl.

The heart rate rule that I'm sure you've all heard/read at one time or another is mostly out the window nowadays. Just make sure you BREATHE freely, can talk while you're exercise (usually a good indicator that your body isn't too stressed) & stay VERY hydrated. If you feel like you need to rest - rest. Be intuitive!

Once you're into your second & third trimesters, you will likely need to begin modifying various movements to be sure you are staying balanced & not overworking your core.

Questions?

Google it!
A WEALTH of information & resources are available!

& always feel free to chat with your physician.
But DON'T be scared to stay active.

I was finishing a bootcamp style program when we FIRST conceived Raegan.
Then, I did a kickboxing program the whole rest of my first trimester.
I'm not sure if anyone would ACTUALLY recommend that, BUT I felt very comfortable because I was purposefully VERY active before getting pregnancy.

(EQUALLY as important, but a whole other post..

Take those prenatal vitamins & eat healthy, ladies.
Pregnancy is NOT an excuse to indulge constantly.
There seems to be confusion in the extra calories needed.
You aren't eating for two humans, you really only need a few hundred extra daily calories!
And those extra calories don't need to be from cheeseburgers on the daily.

Now, if you're having terrible morning sickness & can only eat baked potatoes for a few weeks - then do what you gotta do to get something in your belly, gal. Otherwise, don't you dare just let it all go. You deserve better.. and so does that sweet baby inside of you. Go for 80/20 - have your whacky treats/cravings here & there, but try and stay disciplined 6 days a week! If you need tips, email lindseykollar@yahoo.com)

6. Begin stretching diligently.

(like a month before your due date at least)

I had a list of a few stretches I did every night, the month leading up to my due date, before bed & right before I practiced my breathing. Nate actually stretched WITH me to ensure that I did it. I know, He's the BEST.

These stretches helped certain things looses up & made me more flexible for birth!

Do them.

7. Practice breathing.

For reals.
Like this might be in the top two tips.

Set an alarm each night to practice your breathing techniques.
Then use a timer on your phone, close your eyes & focus.

Anddddd if your spouse is your partner/coach, they need to practice with you!

I used these techniques the ENTIRE time I was in labor!!

My midwife & nurse actually told Nate during the couple of hours before birth, that I had some of the most control they had ever seen.

Methodic breathing made ALL the difference, helping me working WITH my body.

8. Visualize your birth.

Calm down.

Although a foreign concept to most, this isn't weird at all.

Some of the most SUCCESSFUL people in the world make visualization & affirmations a part of their daily routine.

Because what you TRULY believe/focus on/think about does often impact your reality.

Just close you eyes & try for a moment.

Picture your labor.

Picture the birth of your precious baby.

{my momma hormones are making me almost cry just thinking about this again}

Here was a short example of mine:

I see a strong woman embracing labor - breathing WITH each contraction - opening & stretching freely as the baby moves down - pushing intuitively - staying focused & confident. Bringing a HEALTHY & aware baby into the world.

Being empowered & elated.

Accomplishing the greatest task of my life.

9. Have a coach.

Whether it be your significant other or a hired doula - get yourself a coach!

A coach is "simply" an individual PREPARED & knowledgable, who will support you & be your advocate.

You better trust them too, just as much as your provider.
Because they are going to go through more of your labor with you than your OB or midwife!

When considering your significant other as a coach or interviewing doulas, remember what you will want & need..

Someone who will stick with you when it's hard - who will remain focused & calm - who will remind you of the prize ahead - who will empower you!

Shout out to my husband, Nate, who was ALL of these things and more.
We planned for MONTHS to have a doula.
But as we entered the third trimester, we discussed doing it just the two of us.
We prepared together & Nate took his role very seriously.
He was AMAZING & I wouldn't have wanted it any other way!!
Love you, sweetie.

I'm going to beat a dead horse here.
Make sure your designated coach is aware of your birth plan & personal goals!
If you're saying "I know, I know." Good!

If you choose your significant to be your coach, be sure they do some reading/research.
Dog ear pages as you read, for them to check out later!

It's important for them to have a grasp on what's going on, rather than just trusting the information you may have shared.

To prepare for our experience, Nate read bits about what was going to happen to my body + the stages of labor (so he knew what to expect & what to tell me was coming up next) from each of the books I read myself.

Another way we were ready that's worth mentioning..

At the suggestion of our wonderful midwife, we had a code word that we created the day my water broke for the CHANCE that I changed my mind about medication or anything else during birth & wanted to deviate from my birth plan.

Nate & my midwife knew I could ONLY use that word when I was not in the middle of a contraction - so I wouldn't be compromising my goals for temporal discomfort or fatigue.

We didn't choose this word actually until AFTER my water broke, because we both knew the chances of using it were slim since we were both so determined.

BUT, we still had one, since you just never know & we were committed to being prepared!

10. Have liquids {& food} available.

During stage two, since I took the "express route" & basically skipped stage one, of labor at home, I ate a little watermelon for energy & a little sugar.

During stage three, the hardest part, I didn't want food at all.

So I drank a decent amount of water for hydration & apple juice for energy & sugar!

Shout out to my mom who made all of my beverage runs. Love you, momma!

My midwife had actually recommended clean snacks like Larabars & plain fruit or popsicles, which we had packed just in case.

Trust me - you need your strength & energy.

And if you're going natural, being able to eat & drink is a "perk" you'll want to take advantage of!

11. Labor in the position that's most comfortable.

For me, that was on my hands and knees on the floor or bed almost the entire time!!

I actually think this, combined with methodical breathing through contractions, quickened my progress & shortened labor!

For reference..
My water broke around 9:30am.
My intense labor began around 4 or 5pm.
We left for the hospital at 8:45pm.
I gave birth to my sweet Reagan at 1:51am the next morning.

I took a warm bath at the hospital for a little while (this is what I thought I'd most prefer), but it was really really intense & made me progress even more quickly than I was already.

So I got out & got back on my hands & knees. 

Everyone is different!

Be open minded.

Listen to your body.  

12. Rest.

I know that probably sounds CRAZY.

But I promise..

Rest BEFORE - in the weeks leading up to your due date.

{I know you're probably mega pregnant reading this & thinking does she REMEMBER what it was like trying to sleep being this pregnant?! Ha, yes I do. Try harder.}

And rest, if you can, during early labor to save your energy for when things get a bit "intense."

After my water broke, and after I did 45 minutes weight lifting, Nate & I went to lunch.
Boy was that fun trying not to leave puddles.. HA

Then, with a partial full belly of food, we came home & took a 30 minute nap together before my contractions (which were previously very regular braxton hicks - or so I thought) really started.

I KNOW that rest was important!

13. Control what you LISTEN to.

People.

Yikes.

People LOVE to talk about their experience.

Which is fine.

Except for when it's not.

And when you're a soon to be momma, preparing for birth.

You do NOT need to hear horror stories.

There's a time to openly share those.

But that intense season of prep right before your due date is not the time.

But people often don't have a filter.

So YOU have to filter things & control what you listen to.

Bless their hearts.

They might mean well.

But this is NOT helpful.

Take it from me - and LOTS of other women who are more versed in this field - it is WISE to begin to filter what you take in.

Because what you FOCUS on E X P A N D S.

So if someone starts to share a negative experience with you, consider saying something like "I'd love to hear more about your story sometime, but right now I'm really staying positive and trying to focus on my ideal experience for a positive mindset."

There ain't NOTHIN' wrong with that, gal.

Because mindset really does matter.

You're educated on what COULD happen.

You have a birth plan for A, B & C.

But you need to focus & visualize plan A..

Staying positive, optimistic, empowered, confident + focused!

14. Scripture!

I encourage you to have several scripture verses picked out that you can refer back to during pregnancy & then later during labor + delivery.

I personally kept {& still do keep} several of my favorites on index cards, taped to the side of my nightstand.

Verses about God's faithfulness, not being anxious or fearful & His peace.

Here are just a few of mine that you're willing to look up & use.

Philippians 4:6

Colossians 1:16,17

Psalms 29:11

Isaiah 26:3

Joshua 1:9

Nate wrote out some of BOTH our favorites on index cards that he kept with his

notes for labor.

He read a few of these to me between the final part of delivery, while I was pushing.

You could even make a play list full of praise music to keep on softly in the background!

There's nothing like being able to draw strength during such an intense time from truths & promises directly from the One who created you.

Talk about powerful!

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PHEW.

Is anyone still reading this?

I hope that was helpful in some way.

I could have kept typing, but I had to stop myself when I realized that my tips were growing from 5.. to 12.. & then 14.

If you want to chat more, feel free to find me on Facebook HERE & reach out!

Lastly!!

Many of you have asked what I read to prepare for our natural birth.

Books:

I LOVED "Hypnobirthing: the Monogan Method" (I didn't follow visualization process very much, BUT the breathing techniques I did to a T and there was SUCH great info about the process in that book).

Also, "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth," which I mentioned above, was also WONDERFUL!!

It had AWESOME, empowering stories for the first 100 pages that gave me loads of confidence in my body, followed by lots of good info afterwards!

As I read, I bookmarked certain chapters for my husband Nate to read.

If you reach out, I'm happy to share with you what those were.

Essentially, it was any of the chapters on what he could do to help me

& what we could both expect out of my body during the process.

Okay.

That's REALLY all for now.

If I think of several more things, maybe there will be a part three to this series!

HA

But listen, ladies..

DON'T you DARE doubt yourself or your body.

You are so incredibly capable!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful & incredible birth experience.

Please feel free to share it with me.

Blessings!