Trusting God's Skill as Design Engineer

I was watching a Discovery Health show about birth with Audrey this morning, just a brief scene that caught our attention... a woman in an operating room, preparing for a cesarean delivery... The epidural was unsuccessful, so the woman was given anesthesia to sleep while they delivered her baby. I guess partly my attention was drawn because the drugs I received before Claire's emergency c-section didn't work for me, so I was put under. I felt so much internal, mental shock from the experience, I was glad for the break! (indeed, the natural health sides of my personality are kicking this one that accepted what happened and somehow trusted the process)

As Audrey and I watched the show, we were astonished at how long the delivery took. The voice over was saying that the baby was delivered breech, the cord was wrapped around his neck, and they were nicely surprised at how quickly he let out a big healthy cry.

I cried watching this birth. Not the usual tears of joy that fill my eyes at the miracle of birth, but because after so many years of watching shows like this I suddenly realized how painful birth MUST be for babies. - Surely, I've considered the idea before, but I couldn't remember. Audrey mentioned her assumption that babies cry at birth because the environment is so different than the cozy womb. I explained to her that a baby seems to endure intense pushing and squeezing in every area of his/her body, and that I am surprised at how many of us survived it! Audrey suggested that perhaps c-section would be less painful for the baby, and I agreed, but that birth should normally be a natural process.

A Spiritual thinker, it made me wonder about God's design of the human being. In my view, we come into this new world experiencing intense pain. Moments later, hopefully we are feeling a similar coziness of our former environment, laying in the fetal position, held by someone who loves us.

I have made no secret to those close to me that I would love to give birth to at least one more child. Yes, I feel selfish and unworthy, but it has remained a desire since I was pregnant with Claire, separated from her father and praying for the right man to enter my life.

After watching this show, I was filled with certain new ideas that if birth is so painful for the child, why should anymore be born? - Crazy, right? No, I am not jumping on board with the eugenics or anyone advocating population control (no offense to friends who may think along these lines - I don't know who you are, by the way.) - Instead, I turned spiritual, trusting God as Our Creator, to have known better than I, the reasons why birth must be painful.

I certainly could hear in my mind the notions of "Life is pain", "Life isn't fair", and others. I also understood the metaphors as worthy... if it's not a challenge, it's not usually attractive. Pain is always educational, and from this learning we can grow. So, I concluded that it was ok with me that God designed us to first experience pain, and then love. - Of course, the growing fetus can experience our physical loving even before birth, so my final conclusion is that birth is just part of the process that begins with Love, which is God.

As I was writing this note, I was trying to remember what comedians I've heard joking about the horrendous process of birth and so off to youtube I went. I was guided (thanks God!;) ) to a totally different video, one I've seen on a friend's page in months past, but I hadn't before now taken the time to really pay attention and actually watch the entire clip: it was an ABC interview about "orgasmic birth". The idea is still fresh for me, and I can understand how at first it may be offensive for some. I watched and listened with an open mind to understand better and ended up thanking God again, for how magically our female bodies are formed. Orgasm is possible during birth since the exact organs are being touched by the baby that are being touched during sexual intercourse. This occurred to me as a "Wow - I never thought of that before" and then "Duh". I was caught by tears of joy and praise for the loving husbands who kissed and massaged their wives during the process of labor.

Pain is perception. Medical experts usually use the term "uncomfortable", and we all can laugh. What I love learning about natural health is the idea of transforming our sensations of pain into something bearable, indeed even pleasurable, as an orgasmic birth is for many women.

Emotional pain can also be transformed by the spark of inspiration. I woke to an idea one night, several years ago, that everything is good, because what we consider to be bad always presents an opportunity for learning, growing or shifting our direction.

I look forward to more learning and practicing and eventually teaching yoga to others, as I find this a very healing artform for the human body, whether in a group or when we are alone. Breathing, stretching, massaging our own skin is so very important, and something I neglect too often.

If I am blessed with another pregnancy, I will remain aware of the spiritual connection I share with the life coming through me. As well, I will pray that the process of birth is not too painful for either of us. Being in the place of prayer always connects us to peace and God's love - which heals all wounds.

Namaste' my sweet friends.