Dear Mom,
Thanks for bringing me to the light. The commonly used Spanish phrase for giving birth is ‘dar a luz,’ or give light to, and is beautifully fitting as it exemplifies the female body’s incredible progression through pregnancy, labor, and ultimately birth.
Moms, just in case you’ve forgotten how powerful, elastic, and incredibly fluid your bodies become during pregnancy, I‘ll remind you with a brief (though not complete!) recap of the power unleashed by women when bringing our children into this world.
• Your uterus is the strongest muscle/organ in the body with the capacity to grow 100 times its original size in order to hold a baby within!
• Your body relies on a potent ‘love hormone’ called oxytocin. It is produced when a woman is in labor, breastfeeding and yes, even during Orgasm. Encouraging and stimulating the onset of labor (and itself stimulated by the pains associated with labor), oxytocin provides a sense of ease and relaxation. In addition, this potent potion promotes and intensifies the bonding experience between you and your baby through a rush that can only be described as blissful: the ultimate ecstasy high.
• Oh, you’re so flexible! Throughout pregnancy and labor, your body becomes elastic through another influential hormone called elastin, which helps with the physiological process of pregnancy and labor, and aids the body in stretching further than it could have before. It allows the ligaments to expand and create room for the growing baby; and also provides ease for the opening of the birth canal.
• Oh, you’re so tough! You can tolerate the intense pain of labor (ever wonder why it’s called that?) drug-free! I know many women who’ve breathed through the pain for more than 36 hours!
• Depending on your size, you are able to birth a baby (about the size of a watermelon) out of an opening that was once about the size of a walnut!
• Your body increases its blood volume by 50 percent and the rate at which your heart pumps out blood with each beat goes up by 40 percent. You will also produce 20 percent additional red blood cells, which will carry more oxygen throughout your ever-changing and growing body.
• And if that isn’t enough to make you feel empowered, after the birth, you will produce enough milk to breastfeed and sustain a hungry babe for a minimum of one year! The worldwide average is about 5 years!!!!
Pregnancy and birth mark a mystical moment in the life of mothers. You are likely to become more attuned to the primordial bonds of sisterhood; to sense deep connections with ancestral spirits, and thus create strong bonds with the Universal Energy we call Life.
So Mom… I applaud you and thank you for taking the time and making the effort (whether you planned to or not) into this voyage. I trust it was as worthwhile for you as it is for me!
In Gratitude,
Monica
Happy Mother’s Day, Happy International Day of the Midwife!
While we connect May with Mother’s Day, many are unaware of the fact that on May 5 much of the world also celebrates the International Day of the Midwife. I thank and honor those women and men who so selflessly dedicate their wisdom, time and energy in assisting mothers during this momentous and life changing event.
I would especially like to thank my amazing sister Vanessa, Marianne, Nicole, Linda, and Sharon – dedicated mothers, midwives, and doulas who share their time, energy and wisdom to make the birth experience one of joy and beauty. Your courage inspires, empowers, and motivates women everywhere!
