Made For This: Birthing Essentials From a Former Labor and Delivery Nurse and Mother of Two

by Emily Greseth RN

Highly recommended for all pregnant mamas wanting to birth well. This book will give you the emotional strength and practical support it takes to detach from previously held anxieties and insecurities surrounding birth. As a former labor and delivery nurse and mother of two, I have witnessed hundreds of births and know firsthand the anxieties and lack of tangible education around birthing well. All expectant mothers are invited to embark on a holistic journey to find her inner strength with tangible steps and sisterly advice. This guided journey includes their mind, body, and spirit to achieve a more joyous birth. Excerpt ~ "Most of us are conditioned to fear, to some degree, the pain of childbirth. Maybe your well-intentioned mother or school sex educator used fear of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth as a tactic to get you to abstain in high school. Movie scenes and TV shows generally depict labor and birth in a dramatic and often alarming light. Also, our culture seems to value one-upping each other in storytelling. This has influenced the tendency of women we know to brag about their labor suffering to elicit sympathy or at least impress their listener. The worst stories are those that get shared most often and deeply inflict a level of anxiety or fear towards childbirth, even subconsciously. Unfortunately, most women have heard less-than-pleasant birth stories and approach labor as something to suffer through or possibly avoid all together. Labor becomes something we approach with fear and timidity, than than approaching it with confidence that our bodies are strong and made for this. Our bodies know exactly what they’re doing. Many women who fear labor decide before ever feeling their first contraction that they will request an epidural as soon as possible to avoid the anticipated suffering. I was one of these women as I approached the birth of my first son. I understand the fear of extreme vulnerability. There is the vulnerability of laboring in front of loved ones. And, because I delivered both my boys on the labor and delivery unit I worked on, I also experienced the vulnerability of laboring in full view of my coworkers. I definitely didn’t want to be a screamer or awful and rude. I knew that labor could bring about a woman’s rawness, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to be so exposed. Even though I had seen several beautiful and calm births, I had also seen many not-so-serene ones. I didn’t know then that a calm birth is something that can be prepared for. I assumed the women who experienced calm births just got lucky." If you're ready to trade in your anxieties and insecurities surrounding childbirth for a deep sense of confidence and connection with your body, this book is for YOU.

73 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 26, 2019

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some pregnancy/birth/baby books feel loaded with pressure. Others are like a breath of fresh air. This one is the latter kind! Informative yet chill.

[Jazzming Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and loved the authors journey from being so closed minded and "sticking to the book" of birthing to enjoying natural birth and all the mental/spiritual ways you can bring a baby into this world. I've always known a natural nontraditional birthing experience would be what I wanted but the fear of birthing was always there, especially as a marginalized person. 'Made for This' reminded me to release that fear. It reminded me just how prepared my body instinctively is to bring life into this world. There are amazing mantras, prayers & other helpful guides to give you a peaceful mindset to have the most satisfying birth you can

[Jenae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that, rather than pushing for “natural” birth, the author instead advocated for doing what lands right with you ♥️ I also love that she is a former LnD nurse