Eight months ago, I joyfully learned that I was pregnant with my second child. The discovery of this long-prayed-for baby felt nothing short of poetic. I found out on the same holy day that I went into labor with my first child, and my husband and I conceived this little one on the anniversary of that very day. Truly, God writes the best stories.

When I learned the news, I could hardly contain my excitement. I created a little treasure hunt for my husband to discover the surprise when he came home from work. After he solved the clues, the three of us went to Ash Wednesday Mass, where I thanked God for the beautiful new blessing He was forming within me.

My last pregnancy and delivery went smoothly, but still I have a yearning to soak up knowledge to create better experiences and outcomes for myself. Moreso, I want to have a different labor and delivery experience. Therefore, I read new books this pregnancy, although I did not finish all of them. Here are the books I read via library rental (shoutout to Los Angeles Public Library):

• The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth by Genevieve Howland –  I did not finish reading. This would have been better to purchase since it’s a week by week read. She’s a crunchy mama which is not quite my philosophy, but I enjoyed reading her perspective and research.
• Having Your Baby For the Special Needs of Black Mothers To Be by Dr. Hilda Hutcherson – A worthwhile read, especially for a first time mother.
• Supernatural Childbirth by Jackie Mize – This book is filled with positive birth stories and scriptures for the reader to believe for pain-free childbirthing. 
• Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes – This is not your typical pregnancy book in that it suggest what you should do. She gives scientific information and discusses our cultural attitudes surrounding pregnancy.
• Hypnobirthing: The Breakthrough to Safer, Easier, More Comfortable Childbirth by Marie Mongan – I only got about halfway through this read since I got sick. Fascinating information about the female body and childbirth.
• Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin – My only purchase and it is well worth it (I can’t remember if it was available via rental when I wanted it?). This book is filled with positive birth stories and information on the female body and childbirth. 
• Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La Cuarentena by Pānquetzani – This book not only teaches you how to care for yourself (or a loved one) during postpartum, it also teaches you how to care for the baby (bath time, elimination communication, etc.). 

I am thankful to these female authors for nourishing my mind during pregnancy which equipped me with new information to understand my full options and make informed decisions. These books provided me with a new sense of purpose l for my pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experience. I asked myself, “what could pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum look like if anything were possible? What would I hope for if the options were limitless”?

In addition to reading books, I listened to podcasts and YouTube videos to prepare my mind and body. These include the following:

• Pain Free Birth by Karen Welton (YouTube & Podcast) – I listen for the positive birth stories.
• Diana In The Pink by Diana (YouTube) – She has pregnancy week-by-week videos which are informative in addition to other videos on women’s health.
• Birth Prep Academy by Stephanie (YouTube) – She has pregnancy week-by-week videos and other videos related to pregnancy.
• The Expecting and Empowered Podcast by Amy Keifer & Krystle Howald (Podcast) – Two sisters started this podcast to bridge the gap of information women receive during pregnancy and postpartum.
• What to Expect by Heidi Murkoff & Emma Bing (Podcast) – The author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting and her daughter talk about pregnancy, birth and postpartum.
• Evidence Based Birth by Rebecca Dekker (Podcast) – I refer to  her podcast and website when I’m seeking  evidence based information.
• The Hypnobirthing Podcast by Claire Fulton – Learn about hypnobirthing and hear positive birth stories.
• Birth With Power by Dr. Nicole Rankins – I listened to this podcast often during my first pregnancy. She’s an OBGYN who interviews mothers and medical professionals for all things birth.

The books and podcasts that impacted me the most this pregnancy are Supernatural Childbirth, Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Hypnobirthing, Thriving Postpartum and Pain Free Birth Podcast. Through these spaces, I saw a new path begin to emerge. I realized that birth doesn’t have to be painful – it can be ecstatic. I had never heard of pain-free birth before; it seems most women take comfort in sharing their difficult birth stories. Unfortunately, negativity spreads faster and more easily than positivity. With the proliferation of painful birth stories in the media, the way women often recount negative experiences, and the medicalization of pregnancy and birth as something pathological rather than physiological, is it any wonder that so many women fear childbirth? That fear, in turn, creates a painful birthing experience – and the cycle continues.

During my first pregnancy, I heard about Hypnobirthing as a natural technique for achieving an unmedicated labor and delivery. At first, I was turned off by the word “hypno” and the idea of using self-hypnosis, since hypnosis went against my personal values. However, while listening to The Hypnobirthing Podcast by Claire Fulton, I learned that humans naturally enter states of hypnosis throughout the day. It can happen when you drive home on autopilot and suddenly realize you’ve arrived, or when you lose track of time while deeply absorbed in a book.

That episode changed my perspective on Hypnobirthing and sparked my interest in learning more about its methods. I rented Marie Mongan’s Hypnobirthing book from the library and began to explore how mammals give birth. To do so, we must feel safe, have privacy, and remain in a relaxed state. Mongan based her technique on a doctor’s research but expanded it further, combining the power of the mind-body connection with visualization, relaxation, and positive affirmations.

Although I only made it halfway through the book, my biggest takeaway was that fear creates tension, which leads to pain – whereas gratitude fosters joy, which helps relieve it.

As I mentioned in my previous blog about my daughter’s birth, I want an unmedicated, vaginal childbirth. I know the importance of surrounding myself with positive birth stories. I first heard of Supernatural Childbirth during an episode of Pain Free Birth, and I was fascinated by Jackie Mize’s story. She was told she would never have children, yet she went on to have four – three of which were completely painless. She credits scriptural prayer as her source of strength and faith.

I enjoyed her book, but I struggled with one idea. Mize teaches that God meets us at the level of our faith. While I understand the intent behind that statement, I believe some women may not experience the birth they prayed for, and that doesn’t necessarily reflect the depth of their faith. That belief can unintentionally harm a woman’s confidence and spiritual trust. With everything I read, hear, or learn, my philosophy is to “chew the meat and spit out the bones.” In other words, I take what is useful and discard what isn’t. We won’t align 100% with every source of information we encounter, but that doesn’t mean it holds no value. Take what helps you and leave the rest behind.

Mize’s book sparked my deep dive into supernatural birthing stories. I found countless video testimonials on YouTube that inspired me and strengthened my faith to hope and pray for a joyful birthing experience.

Next, I read Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, which beautifully aligns with both Mize and Marie Mongan, though from a more physiological than spiritual perspective. Ina May Gaskin has been a midwife for decades and carries a wealth of wisdom about the female body during childbirth. My biggest takeaway from her work is that our bodies are not broken. They are perfectly designed to bring life into the world when given the space and time they need. Her book also introduced me to the idea that birth doesn’t have to be merely painless – it can even be orgasmic. I had never heard of the sexual, ecstatic dimension of childbirth before reading her book. Not every woman she interviewed had a pain-free birth, but each felt empowered by her unmedicated experience. My own unmedicated birth was empowering, and this time, I’m praying for and expecting an even more peaceful and joyful labor and delivery.

To help me prepare, I began taking an online course by Tara Menzies on Christian Hypnobirthing. I wanted affirmations that align with my faith. I love listening to scripture-based meditations, reading spiritual birth stories, and surrounding myself with messages that nurture both my spirit and my mind. I hope to complete the course before giving birth, but even if I don’t, I feel an unshakable calm within. I know God will never leave me nor forsake me. He is always by my side, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

As I count down the days until my baby’s arrival, I will continue the Christian Hypnobirthing course, listen to positive birth stories, review my list of labor, delivery, and postpartum (LDP) desires, visualize my LDP board, and ask for the intercession of Our Lady of La Leche. I recently discovered this beautiful Marian devotion; she is the patroness of fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing mothers. My sister gifted me a statue of the pregnant Virgin Mary, and I feel the Blessed Mother’s protection whenever I look at it.

I look forward to sharing an update once the baby decides to arrive. If you have any questions for me, please feel free to reach out. I’ll close with one of my favorite verses:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

— Deuteronomy 31:6