Cervical Ripening & Preparing for Birth through our Relationship with Ourselves
The time leading up to a woman giving birth can be many things. One thing it is without fail is a time when we have to face our ability to surrender. That ranges from our relationship with our bodies, as we learn to welcome all the many changes that come with pregnancy, to our life as we know it!
During pregnancy, all sorts of emotions can arise. As well as excitement and joy, there can also be moments of trepidation and overwhelm, and these unexpected emotions can come as a surprise, especially if the fertility journey comes with its challenges and it took a while to get there. The spectrum of our internal dialogue can have a wide range. From fear of repeating patterns from our parents to worries of ‘will I manage’?, ‘what if I lose myself’? as well as ‘Will I fall back in my career after taking time off’? Anything and everything can come to the surface during this time. Some women have never had to be supported by or have fully depended on another, even their partner, as was my fear. As they plan their maternity leave, this can cause anxiety anywhere from finances and expectations of household chores to emotional and sexual availability as a new balance is created within the dynamics of the relationship. All of this, while feeling pressure to only be happy and positive about our blessings, can cause us to hide our worries and insecurities. This can be a big part of a woman's journey into motherhood.
My experience with motherhood and my relationship with my son have always reflected my strengths and weaknesses. It has brought to the surface all my fears and blocks, as well as my inspirations and drive, whether I like it or not! It has allowed me the opportunity to learn and grow much more than I have ever done before. If I had known what lay ahead, I would have given myself permission to feel and explore all of the emotions and fears right from the very start. Using them as signposts for potential growth.
As we know, change can be scary and unsettling. Being pregnant and becoming a mother is full of change. The first change we might encounter is with our bodies. Being female, most of us have grown up in a world conditioned to make us feel the need to control our bodies and how we look. When we find out we are pregnant, we have to learn to let go of the pressure and control we sometimes put on our bodies and allow in all the unknown changes that lie ahead. Then we give birth, another form of surrendering and letting go. This might come from within the physical body, but don't be fooled; it starts with a softening of the mind and a trust that your body knows exactly what to do and will guide you. Finally, once our baby is here, we have to learn to surrender our life as we know it. We begin to develop and trust our inner maternal instincts, as well as learn to let go of the idea of how we ‘expected’ motherhood to be. Through trial and error, we begin to learn what feels right, as opposed to what the book said or what our friends did that worked so well for them but not for us.
Motherhood is a beautiful and cathartic collaboration that begins early in the womb, when we first find out we are pregnant. We have come to the realisation that our lives are about to change forever in a way we cannot predict. But it teaches us to trust, and we start to listen, and we develop our instinct—that subtle whisper that niggles away and won't quieten until we act on its demand—and we then start to grow and build our confidence as a mother. We begin to expand and explore our ability to work things out, and we slowly get to know the needs and wants of our little one. As we settle into motherhood, we develop and create a quiet and confident space within, as we learn to connect and get to know this new version of ourselves. And with this new trust in our capacity to manage the changes, we soften, and we get to enjoy the deep, heart-opening eternal bond that can sometimes feel bigger than life itself.
Cervical ripening is the acupuncture treatment that begins the slow and gentle thinning, softening, and ripening of the cervix to help prepare the body in the few weeks leading up to the beginning stages of labor. It is also a private space that is created to allow time for the mother to check in on how she is feeling mentally, physically, and emotionally as she nears her due date. When preparing for birth, each woman will have different needs. Some just need to carve out personal time away from their busy lives so they can rest and allow the treatment to work on preparing the body without any other agenda. Others need a safe space and time alone for them to reflect and vocalize any fears that might arise.
Here are just a few examples of how acupuncture helps in the final stages of pregnancy. It is usually recommended for expectant mothers to have a weekly treatment for 3 to 4 weeks leading up to the baby's due date.
Softening and ripening the cervix
Optimizing the position of the baby
Aiding and encouraging the baby to descend and 'engage'
Relaxing the body and encouraging softness will allow the body to open.
Relieving hip/lower back/pubic pain
Calming the nervous system
Addressing fears and blocks around birth and/or motherhood
Taking back power from past negative birth experiences
Help with induction if the due date has passed
And much, much more!