Birth Faith

Archive for the ‘Natural Childbirth’ Category

A Moment

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, January 18th, 2012 | 5 Comments

We need not feel as though we’re somehow broken for not instantly switching from laborland to enraptured-with-my-baby-land. Each of us will process those big events in different ways. Some women are instantly enraptured, and I love watching those moments in their birth videos when they weep for joy as soon as their babies are in their arms. But if you need a moment, there’s nothing wrong with you. (Click over to read the full post.)

God takes the pain away?

By Buscando la luz on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012 | 5 Comments

Women’s minds and spirits are more open during pregnancy than perhaps at any other time. As I’ve pondered the power of spiritual meditation over the past few weeks, I have come to feel more and more strongly that it is precisely this type of preparation that most modern women are lacking as they approach childbirth. We read magazines and books about the logistics of pregnancy and childbirth, we may take classes on how to cope with labor through a variety of means, but it is rare to find books or resources for spiritual childbirth preparation. Spiritual meditation far surpasses relaxation and non-spiritual meditation in studies of pain, stress, and anxiety. What a powerful tool most of us are missing! (Click over to read the full post…)

The birth that changed the world

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 | 1 Comment

I love that one of the most celebrated events in earth’s history is a birth. I’ve posted before about what that miraculous event might have been like, based on Jewish laws and customs from Biblical times. Of course we don’t know exactly what happened when Mary gave mortal life to her Son. Sometimes laws and customs are laid aside when circumstances require. How wonderful it would have been to witness that birth! I fantasize about it often.

I love these new videos depicting the events surrounding Christ’s birth. One of my only laments is that we aren’t privileged to see Mary laboring or giving birth. Even so, there were lots of things I loved. Below you’ll find links to the videos and a few of the things I loved about them. Each one is only a few minutes long. If you like them, you can download them to share with your friends and family too. Enjoy!

Jam to Lamb

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011 | 2 Comments

Two years ago tomorrow, I got a life-changing email from a lovely woman named Felice Austin. It started like this…

Dear Lani,

I got your name and email from Martha. She said that you are a fellow birth loving mamma. My name is Felice Austin and I am writing a spiritual birth book titled The Gift of Giving Life…

Needless to say, it only took a few nanoseconds for me to know I most definitely wanted to be a part of this project. And two years later I can say with every bit of my heart and soul that I know God brought Felice Austin and me (and all of my TGOGL sisters) together.

The day after I came into contact with Felice, she wrote a blogpost I will never forget. To this day it is still one of my all-time favorite blogposts. I hope you will enjoy this re-post from her archive as much as I did two years ago. -Lani

Defining female empowerment

By Buscando la luz on Saturday, October 15th, 2011 | 2 Comments

Originally written in August of 2009. Re-posted today ’cause I’ve got feminism on the brain. Excerpt: What good does it do for any woman to say, in essence, “What matters to you is meaningless! My crusade is so much better than yours!” It reminds me of the similar sentiment that my work as a “stay-at-home” mother is menial or pointless, or that my career choice is somehow harming the progress of womankind. It is attitudes such as these that have led me to eschew the “feminist” label. (Click over to read the full post…)

Expectations

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, August 24th, 2011 | 8 Comments

Sometimes things just don’t happen the way we expected. In fact, this is true so often for me that I wonder why I even bother predicting how things will go! For example… (Click over for the full post.)

Reducing childbirth pain?

By Buscando la luz on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 | 3 Comments

It has never been easier getting from 0 to 9 centimeters as it was for me during my fourth birth. I couldn’t believe how comfortable I was at 7, 8, 9 centimeters. I’ve thought a lot about that fact over the past four months, wondering… what made the difference? I can really only speculate, but these changes might at least partially explain the reduction of labor pain I experienced… (click over to read the full post).

You are what you think

By Buscando la luz on Saturday, April 23rd, 2011 | 3 Comments

Our thoughts can create almost instantaneous physical reactions! How amazing is that?! And how frightening too. It all depends on what you are thinking about. (Click over to read the full post…)

Surrender, part 4

By Buscando la luz on Monday, March 28th, 2011 | 18 Comments

The final installment of my fourth baby’s birth (with some of the least revealing birth photos). There I was… nine centimeters… and my head was still firmly on this planet? I’d never experienced anything like this before. (Click over to read the full post…)

Surrender, part 3

By Buscando la luz on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 | 10 Comments

This birth may not have been what I had expected or hoped-for, but giving birth isn’t about me. Giving birth is about surrendering to the journey our babies need to make. And this was the journey my baby took… (Click over to read the full post.)

Surrender, part 2

By Buscando la luz on Saturday, March 12th, 2011 | 5 Comments

As I mentioned in part 1, much of the magic and spiritual richness of my daughter’s birth happened in the cushion of time surrounding the actual birth experience, particularly the weeks leading up to her birth. While all my other children came 5 to 10 days early, this baby chose to make her appearance 5 days “late.” As we waited, wondering when our baby would be born, we were once again called upon to “surrender.” (Click over to read the full post…)

Surrender, part 1

By Buscando la luz on Monday, March 7th, 2011 | 15 Comments

The first installment of my fourth baby’s “birth story.” In order to capture all that beauty, I feel like I need to tell this as a complete pregnancy and birth journey, starting months before I even became pregnant, with some experiences I hold sacred… (Click over to read the post)

It’s a start

By Buscando la luz on Saturday, March 5th, 2011 | 7 Comments

I’ve finally done it. I’ve finally written the first paragraph of my birth account. It felt almost like pulling teeth, but I did it. And here it is… (Click over to read more)

Go time

By Buscando la luz on Thursday, February 24th, 2011 | 5 Comments

Share Just got home from my midwives’ office. I’m basically 7 cm and totally effaced. Midwives are on their way. Should have a baby really soon!

Building a better bond

By Buscando la luz on Saturday, February 19th, 2011 | 13 Comments

As I’ve been preparing for the birth of our fourth child, I have been thinking a lot about that moment immediately following the birth, wondering how I will feel, and hoping I’ll finally be able to experience that sudden, ecstatic, euphoric, intense love for my child that I’ve never previously felt (at least not immediately). At the same time I don’t want to set myself up for disappointment by expecting or hoping for it too much. It’s a tough balance to figure out. (Click over to read the full post…)

Archive for the ‘Natural Childbirth’ Category

A Moment

God takes the pain away?

The birth that changed the world

Jam to Lamb

Defining female empowerment

Expectations

Reducing childbirth pain?

You are what you think

Surrender, part 4

Surrender, part 3

Surrender, part 2

Surrender, part 1

It’s a start

Go time

Building a better bond

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