Birthing in the Right Brain

A great deal of time and energy in childbirth preparation is spent gathering information. In order to feel prepared and equipped to make informed decisions, we read books and blogs, scour the Internet for relevant articles and talk with family and friends about their birthing experience. This is all very beneficial and necessary work for any expectant mom to take on. 

And yet, at the same time, there is a deep need to go within.  Tuning in to your inner voice, your intuition, and your heart is vital to well-rounded, holistic childbirth preparation. So how do you do this?

First, let's look at how the human brain works.  The brain is made up of two halves (hemispheres), the Right and Left sides.  The Left side of the brain is the thinking, decision-making, logical, analytical side of the brain.  The Right side controls intuition, emotion and creativity.  When a woman is in labor, she is operating almost completely in her Right Brain, the intuitive side.  This is necessary.  The Left Side of the brain, the critical, analytical side, must shut off. Most of the preparations we make for childbirth are Left Brained activities (books, Baby Story, Childbirth Classes, etc.).  If a woman labors in her Right Brain,  then it only makes sense to practice being in the Right Brain during the preparation phase of childbirth.

I've created a list of 26 ways you can prepare for childbirth without thinking, or ways to nourish your Right Brain.  You can download it here.  Some involve art, some don't.  All will allow you time to shut off the Left Brain, and spend time in your Right Brain, getting ready for labor.  

Over the course of the following weeks, I'll expand on and detail each item right here.  Keep checking back!

photo credit: www.mariamuir.com