Calm, Confident, Welcoming
Calm, Confident, Welcoming |
Phone Shari on 0407 775 783 Email shari@birthskills.com.au
Canberra Adelaide Perth Hobart |
BirthSkills
is both a
philosophy and a toolbox of techniques. It is important that you believe that
birth is the process of welcoming your child into the world. You only get this
opportunity once with each child and there are things you can do to make this
time as wonderful as possible. There
are skills involved in birthing your baby in a calm, positive and welcoming
way, skills that have, to a large degree, been lost to many women in modern
western society. Skills that in some cultures are passed from mother to daughter
or from sister to sister, from aunts and close friends.
In an era where elective caesarean is a relatively common option for
birthing, many women are handing over the management of their birthing to
obstetricians, doctors and other medical personnel. Fear of the unknown leads
to relinquishing control and with no-one at fault, women find themselves in
submissive and vulnerable birthing situations. Women
who are free of fear, who are well informed about the birthing process and
their options during the process, who are well supported by an informed
partner, who trust their bodies and nature and who are prepared with
techniques and skills for creating a positive birthing environment will not
find themselves handing over decisions regarding their body or their baby to
someone they hardly know. They will be calm, confident and in a good position
to make choices that will lead to a positive and welcoming birthing experience
for themselves and their baby. The
Philosophy Philosophy
might seem an unusual word to be using with regard to childbirth. The
dictionary definition is the secret of truth, the study of science of truths,
principles underlying all knowledge or a system of guidance in practical
affairs (Collins Concise, 1998). You
may have discovered, since becoming pregnant, that there really is secret
women’s business! If you are lucky enough, as I was, to find a group of
pregnant women who are open and willing to share their remedies for common
pregnancy complaints, for passing on helpful information from experienced
friends and relatives or from doctors, books or midwives, then you will
discover that the truth really is out there! You will also find that there are
many versions of the truth and you may need to be very careful in selecting
which version suits you best, but with some consideration or by following your
developing mother’s intuition you will find a ‘system of guidance’ for
yourself. Your
belief system is made up of your accepted truths or reality, things that on a
day-to-day basis you do not question. Beliefs guide us in making choices and
underlie our behaviour and actions. However, despite having such a strong
influence over you, beliefs do not necessarily require evidence or proof for
you to accept them. With the right prodding though, you are able to challenge
your own beliefs and make an informed decision about whether they really are
serving you well. The
BirthSkills
program is
evidence-based this means that all of the skills taught have been shown by
research to be useful and effective in pregnancy, birthing or for deep
relaxation. The
program is based on the belief that all women should have access to the skills
and knowledge that will enable them to birth their babies in a calm, confident
and welcoming manner. By teaching these skills to a generation of women who
are already empowered in other areas of their lives, who are competent at
their work, efficient, and in control, hopefully, future generations of women
will learn the skills of birthing from their mothers, sisters and friends and
their communities will support them in this endeavour. The
Program The
BirthSkills
program will
provide you will skills and suggested techniques to enable you to focus on
both the positive aspects of the birthing process and the end goal – healthy
mum, healthy baby. Using these techniques, including self-hypnosis, is not
an all or nothing type of thing. It is therefore not a matter of it
‘working’ or ‘not working’. When first learning to meditate or relax
deeply, many people have had the experience of thinking “this isn’t
working, I’m still thinking”. At the very least though you are thinking
about thinking, you are in the present and you are practicing the skill of
meditation or relaxation. Further, your body is still receiving the benefits
of your physical relaxation, a state which ideally precedes emotional
relaxation.
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Email shari@birthskills.com.au .
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