Book Review: Beyond The Birth Plan by Rhea Dempsey
Written by Perth doula Nur Atheerah
Every woman deserves the birth that they want.
Every woman deserves to have a healthy baby and a safe birth.
Every woman deserves to be treated with care, respected and encouraged by her birth team.
But not every woman come out of birth, receiving what they had planned for.
So how can you, a pregnant Mother get the birth you want, have a healthy outcome for both baby and you whilst surrounded by a safe space?
The answer is preparation not just physically but mentally and emotionally. Education to make informed choices is key to having an autonomy of your birth. In Beyond The Birth Plan, mental and emotional preparation is important to include in the preparation for your birth.
Beyond The Birth Plan was written by childbirth educator and counsellor Rhea Dempsey who has witness thousands of babies been born and supported their Mothers. In her book, Rhea discussed a couple of events that she had witness come up for a woman in a physiological birth. A physiological birth is when a woman spontaneously goes into labour and have an undisturbed birth. They are called the evolutionary regression and ego dissolution.
Think about how you got pregnant in the first place. The environment you were in. The feelings that came up. Was it warm lighting and a quiet space? The emotions that came up, was it excitement, joy and connection? Did you feel safe with your husband? These are all what you need to birth your baby too.
Rhea explained that when a labouring Mother feels emotionally safe, knowing the people that supports her trusts in her capability and her body, she will go into an evolutionary regression. This is when your consciousness moves from the left thinking brain into your instinctive right brain. Evolutionary regression raises pain tolerance. There is a link between oxytocin and endorphins in labour. Naturally occurring oxytocin may be painful, but it’s what we call functional pain. The powerful contractions when reached peak intensity will trigger the release of endorphins which are our own body’s natural pain killers.
In a physiological birth event, with every contraction, there will be ease before it surges again. Contractions are just like the oceans tide, it builds, it crests, and it will recede. This then facilitates an ego dissolution process. Ego dissolution is described as “ a deep state of flow that strips away your ego and opens you into an expanded sense of being”. Through evolutionary regression and ego dissolution, a woman could experience a state of self-transcendent, the kind of experience many spiritual seekers are reaching out for.
Here are some ideas on how to prepare your birth:
- Choose your birth support team well. They are people who you not only trust but believe in you.
- Shop around for the right care provider. If you can have a privately practicing midwife, that’s fantastic. If you would like to go through private, find one that is transparent with you and able to answer any questions you may ask and one that respects your decisions whatever it may be.
- If you are going through the public system and you feel like you need more support, hire a doula- interview a few before you find one that fits.
- Think where to have your baby. Whether it’s the hospital, at a birthing center or at home, that space must be a space you feel safe in.
- Prepare birth plans 1, 2 and 3. One for vaginal birth. Two in case you go through an induction. The third birth plan is for emergency caesarean. Preparing birth plans allows your mind to go through different scenarios that may occur in birth. It is another way to stay informed. Print multiple copies and share with everyone who will be at your birth.
- Go for an independent childbirth education. Online or face to face.
- Go to the hospital childbirth classes. There is no such thing as too little knowledge.
- Work through any fears, anxiety, concerns that comes up in your pregnancy. Talk to your husband, that friend who is always willing to lend an ear, a life coach or therapist. Don’t keep it in.
- Some other ways to express yourself apart from talk therapy are journaling, creative expression through painting, drawing, doodling, and pottery making.
- Walking and swimming.
- Making sure you eat enough protein.
These are just some of my tips to share with you, Mama. Do what you can but know that knowledge is power. Seeking knowledge is within your control. Birth is a dance between control and knowing when to surrender. Birth is beautiful however you birth your baby as long as you are respected, informed and feel cared for. Prepare yourself well and know that your mind is a powerful place.
My name is Nur Atheerah, I am an emerging doula who is completing my training at the Doula Training Academy. I am also a certified life coach, and I look forward in supporting women mentally and emotionally in preparation for her birth and her role as Mother.
If you would like to purchase the book for yourself, go to Rhea Dempsey’s website:
https://rheadempsey.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan/
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Hawwa Journey
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0401 308 690
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