I wrote in part 1 of this series that we have basic assumptions about pregnancy and childbirth that affect the birthing process. My Christian beliefs form a strong base for my beliefs about everything else. Today I'm writing about the implications of those beliefs. Next post will be about their application.
Pregnancy is not an illness - in fact, an amazing number of biological processes have to be working nearly perfectly in order for a full term pregnancy to be achieved! Pregnancy is a sign of relative health (and a lot of Grace)! Why then, are pregnant women treated and monitored as if they are on their death bed? The opposite is so often true! Pregnant women experience life and the beautiful energy of creation in a very tangible - and often empowering - way. (I promise to address the struggles and legitimate complications women face during pregnancy as well in the next part of the series. I in no way want to minimize the trials some women go through in this journey!)
Pain is purposeful - the *root cause* of pain is sin - the fall of man from God's perfect protection. However, we have a merciful, loving, creative Father who isn't thwarted by our disobedience and doesn't grow weary of giving us good things. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 God can, and often does, use unpleasant things to teach, grow, and change us. If we trust God, we have no need to fear pain in our lives, knowing that He is using it for our good. The pain of labor is evidence of the hard work our bodies go through to bring our children forth. It is important to resist our tendency to view pain only as a byproduct of injury or illness. Labor pains should be categorized in our minds with growing pains, teething, muscle building, and others. Even when pain *is* a result of a complication of labor, it is not without purpose. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." 2 Corinthians 4:17
I enjoyed this article about the consequences of fear in childbirth and how to replace it with faith.
God provides even in the midst of pain - He has created our body to produce powerful hormones during labor like oxytocin and endorphins to help aid and ease the delivery process. Oxytocin (also produced during sex and breastfeeding) stimulates the uterus and dilates the cervix as well as triggers our desire to nurture and protect our little ones. Endorphins act like natural morphine to relieve pain and help calm the laboring woman. Synthetic versions of these hormones (like pitocin - used to induce labor, and opiate pain killers) act differently than the real thing and often cause the body to stop producing the real hormones. This can have numerous negative psychological and physiological affects on laboring and post-pardum women. Read more detail in mothering.com article.
Parents should have the final say and responsibility over their children (even during pregnancy & labor) - God has given our children to us to provide for and "train up in the way they should go." (Proverbs 22:6) Those who care for pregnant families should respect the fact that it is the decision of the parents that should be heeded in the end. God has certainly also blessed us with wise men and women to guide us and we should examine the advice of doctors, midwives, family, friends, etc. and respectfully weigh it against what we know to be true about our bodies and our Creator, but parents should not feel pressure to obey all instruction offered them.
We are to love our children as Christ has loved us - intimately! This means protecting the parent-child relationship from unnecessary interferences. We should spend the time immediately after birth bonding with our new blessings if possible and should take measures to ensure that our babies feel nurtured and protected from the very beginning.
There are age-old ways to address all of the issues during labor and afterward that many of you are already aware of. I'll share specifically how we plan to flesh this out in Part 3. A little less philosophizing and a lot more practicality, I promise! :)
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1 comment:
Good stuff!
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