Natural Birth Mela Sat 18 April // Read this// Fascinating for those who do not know about it

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Suraag Lambrou

Thursday, April 16, 2009 12:38 AM

 

Fwd: Natural Birth Mela Sat 18 April

 

My daughter Sufia was born at 4.27 am on the 9 January 2004 at our home in Johannesburg, South Africa which was at the top a hill with a stunning view of Johannesburg. Just a few days before we were enjoying a warm jacuzzi entertained by a symphony of thunder accompanied by a dazzling display of lightening. For me, her birthing process was a wonderful journey i shared with my wife Zia. I was lucky to not only observe the birth of my baby, but to also play a part in it. Fortunately both Zia and I were keen on having Sufia in the most natural, most supportive environment so that she may have a wonderful soft entry into the world after being in the safety of the womb so we decided on having a home birth, and we intended to have a water birth. As a father to be i was integral in the organizing and meeting of our midwife Sharon, On meeting her, both Zia and i were confident that she would be the one to guide us and help to deliver Sufia. I rented a pool and had to prepare a whole lot of things for the birth of my little princess. On the morning of 8th Jan i called our midwife to tell her we suspected zia was in labour; she came out to the house and checked up to find that there was still much time to go before zia would be ready to birth Sufia.In the early evening we danced and whirled gently under the moonlight, at midnight when we were certain that Zia was in labour, We spent some silent time in the moonlight midst the trees in the garden and did a little prayer.I had assembled the pool and filled it with warm water, we had to keep the temperature at 34c. We played soft music, lit candles and incense that filled the room with a light fragrant aroma creating the right ambience to welcome her. Zia said it felt like a temple, and indeed it was a birthing temple that we created to receive the new one. The room was also to be kept at 34c so that coming into this world was not a shock in temperature for our new born.There was definite excitement pervading my body, i had been to childbirth classes to learn how to support my wife through the birthing process. I feel proud, warm and delighted as I think back to this special time.Zia went into labour and got into the pool which was installed in our bedroom, It seemed the natural choice for her to give birth in water since she is kind of a mermaid, having been a scuba dive instructor for 7 years and her loving being in the water. And the water supports the mother and it is much more comfortable for the mother to be in the water, however after so many hours of pushing and breathing, Sufia wasn’t coming out. I have a new found respect for Zia from that day when i witnessed her giving birth, seeing her go through all the effort, in awe at how the body releases its own analgesics (pain killers), its own steroids, my wife was brave and her body supported her miraculously, i as a man dont think i could sustain the pain for so long, the stamina she had that night was truly inspiring. In her own words Zia relates her experience: “Four hours of hard work. The contractions, the pain, relaxing the body, allowing it to open up, relaxing into the pain. Sometimes pushing, sometimes waiting, sometimes just being. Time stretched. I felt exhausted. Sharon got me out of the pool and with Suraag’s support made me squat, to allow gravity to assist. I remember pushing and pushing and nothing happening. I couldn’t hold myself up anymore I just wanted to get back to floating in the pool. I had to get in and out of it a few times. By now the body’s natural endorphins had kicked in full time. I felt the strain of pushing but thanks to the endorphins I didn’t feel so much pain in my body or pelvic area or even in the perineum tissues.â€Sufia still didn’t come, so Sharon suggested that Zia come out of the water and try squatting whilst i held her from behind in my arms, i tell you our bodies really are superb, to squat holding Zia was a Herculean task, my thighs were burning, my arms and shoulders were aching, and still i held her, eventually, it felt like ages, Sufia crowned and a few minutes later popped out so fast that Sharon had to catch her like she would catch a rugby ball in the heat of a game.My little girl, "Little Lambrou" was born, she was so beautiful, so small, so delicate and amazingly so clean, when the placenta was delivered a few minutes later, i had the honor of cutting the umbilical cord as Zia held Sufia to her bosom. We all got into the warm water and Zia handed Sufia to me, our first swim together.“My baby came out all clean, no blood or anything on her body. She seemed peaceful and calm, no crying, no signs of distress. Her eyes were open and she held her gaze. I was lost in that one moment with her. It could have lasted forever. This was the beginning of a new love affair.†Zia Lambrou My life as dad had just begun; i emptied the pool and packed it away, jumped into bed and fell asleep a proud father, next to my family. My experience of having my daughter in a natural way, a natural birth without medication, in a nurturing environment welcoming my daughter into this world in as soft a landing as possible is my wish for all babies. For all babies to be born in love, in care, in a nurturing loving environment and for all husbands to support their wives and to witness the miracle of birth of both their child and the birth of a mother and the becoming of a father.Birth India is having a Natural Birth Mela On Saturday 18 April and I highly recommend that you suggest to your friends , family and colleagues that are pregnant, or thinking of becoming pregnant, to take time out this Saturday to explore Natural Birth, it will be time well spent.Much LoveSuraag