Greetings!

What if?

Last week I arrived at my gym just as a grocery delivery truck was beginning to back up to the IGA. I stood out of the way and watched, as the driver maneouvered his enormous truck into the narrow alley, squeezing between a building and a fence. As I watched I began to wonder what it would be like driving a truck that size through the busy streets and alleys of Toronto. I found myself thinking what I thought the driver might be asking himself: What if I can't navigate into this small space? What if there is a pedestrian in the way? What if a dog runs into my path?

His task seemed pretty daunting at this point but then it occurred to me that these particular thoughts would indeed make the driver's job stressful. Obviously for a driver to remain calm through his day he would need to be thinking something different and I began to create a whole new set of 'what ifs': What if I fit the truck perfectly through this small passage? What if I am fully aware of everyone and everything around me? What if I have all the skills necessary to navigate through the streets and alleys of Toronto safely and calmly?

Of course by the time I entered the gym my mind was already looking for parallels to birth. So much of what we encounter about birth puts those unfortunate 'what ifs' front and centre. Ultrasound results (and caregivers and friends) may lead a woman to ask: what if her baby is too big for her to birth?  A thoughtless remark from a family member may cause a woman to ask: what if she is not capable of birthing without pain medication? A vaginal exam at 40 weeks showing no change to the cervix may cause a woman (or someone else) to ask: what if her body doesn't know how to start labour? And all of these 'what ifs' can create the fear that leads to physical tension that interferes with a smooth and easy birth.

What are the 'what ifs' that you are carrying? Are you ready and willing to let the unhelpful ones go, and to take back your power from those who are undermining you? Are you ready to replace negative 'what ifs' with ones that will help you create a positive mindset and a wonderful birth? 

Consider asking questions like these: What if I grow the perfect size baby for me to birth? What if I have all the relaxation, visualization and breathing  techniques I need to create a calm and manageable birth? What if my body begins labour at exactly the right time for both me and my baby? What if I birth perfectly, just the way nature intended? (I like to imagine some of you shrugging off a caregiver's cautions with phrases like the above.)

And what if for every insensitive comment you received you responded with a confident contradiction? The next time someone cautions you that something negative could happen, take a deep breath, drop your shoulders, give them your most serene smile and respond with something like: Or what if I trust my powerful body and bring my baby calmly, confidently and naturally into the world?

And then notice how good that statement feels. And imagine how wonderful it is for you and for your baby to experience such peace and certainty.

In fact, turning neagtive thoughts on their head can be fun. Tuning your thoughts to the positive is the Law of Attraction - what we think, feel and act upon is what we attract into our lives.

My ultimate goal? What if I inspired all my clients to think this way?

Jennifer

HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator

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Many couples have time to bake a cake in labour before heading to the hospital or birthing. Think of it as a birthday cake. (Some people give it a cream cheese frosting, like carrot cake.) According to Ami McKay, traditionally the scent of cinnamon and cloves is thought to ease labour. And it contains molasses as a source of iron. My daughter loves this cake.

2 1/2 cups  flour                                3 eggs
2 tsp baking powder                         1/2 cup oil
1 tsp baking soda                              1/2 cup orange juice
2 tsp cinnamon                                  1/4 cup molasses
1/2 tsp cloves                                    1 1/3 c sugar
1 1/2 c grated apple, no skin          1 tsp almond extract
                                                             (optional)

Sift dry ingredients. Add apple.

In another bowl, beat eggs. Add oil, juice, molasses and sugar.

Add wet to dry ingredients. Mix well. Add almond extract.

Pour into greased muffin tins, 9 x 13 pan or 2 loaf pans.

Bake at 350 F for 35-45 minutes.

Optional: raisins, dates, nuts

A great snack for your support people and midwives!!