Mountain Pose

Pregnancy and childbirth can be likened to various yoga poses. Much like the act of yoga, pregnancy and childbirth preparation begins with awareness and focus. I think this is the key to a positive first birth experience. Once pregnant, I think it's good to metaphorically begin the journey in mountain pose. Stand tall, shoulders back, stomach reaching back to the spine head and chin up, body firm and strong. This is the time to be steady and aware. Like a mountain--full of beauty and strength and awe-inspiring heights, make this your moment to stand out and become educated and more self-aware. As a mountain, learn from the trees, flowers, animals, tundra and rocks about how to survive and how you can aid in their own survival. These components are your books, friends, family, healthcare providers, and anything else that is there to be with you on your journey into motherhood. Decide to stand tall, be open to learning, and find the tools you need to create your positive birth experience. Only you have the potential to know the kind of birth you are seeking. Be open, too, to ambiguity in the dynamic birth process and allow yourself a plan B. This is the time, perhaps in your first trimester, to discover your thoughts and feelings of sexuality and birth, what kind of care provider you seek, and to understand what pain means for you and how you wish to handle childbirth. When you've done these things, you've become a mountain.