Your pelvis feels so loosey goosey that you’re afraid that when you get out of bed in the morning, you will land in a big pregnant heap on the floor, completely unable to support your weight any longer.
 
You pee every 12 minutes during the day and every 54 minutes during the night.
 
Everyone wants to tell you horror stories of their own births or tell you what you should and shouldn’t do for your birth.
 
You have hot flashes.
 
Getting dressed makes you short of breath.
 
Strangers try to make small talk and ask about your “due date.” You are not a library book.
 
You are always hungry but yet always full.
 
You cry over big things, small things, and sometimes nothing.
 
Fluids are leaking from places they usually don’t.
 
Your back hurts.
 
Your feet are swollen.
 
You have heartburn.
 
You don’t sleep.
 
I know, mama. I know. This pregnancy stuff can be HARD, especially at the end.  It is doubly hard at the end.
 
But you know what? You can do hard things. I believe in you. You are strong. You don’t need to be rescued from this pregnancy with an induction. You can get through this. Plan some fun things to distract yourself. Seriously, spoil yourself rotten….massages and pedicures and haircuts and shopping. Eat good food, drink lots of water, rest when you’re tired…take naps! Cherish these last days of wiggles and kicks and bumps and hiccups in your belly. You will be missing them soon. Trust. Trust your body’s design. Trust the process of birth. Fear has no place here...only joy, love, peace and trust. Know that waiting and letting your baby choose his/her birthdate really is the best for both of you. Know that both your body and your precious baby were fearfully and wonderfully made. Trust that there is a purpose to every part of this process...that it was designed by a God that loves you more than you can fathom. 
 
Hang in there, mama. Your sweet baby will be in your arms soon, I promise. You are amazing. You were made for motherhood. 

As I was scrolling through my facebook feed while my kids played outside after lunch today, I ran across this cartoon. It seems absurd, doesn’t it? Who in the world would think of trying to induce a chick hatching? But that scene right there is reality in our maternity care system and our culture, friends. And that leaves me wondering: Where has our faith gone?
 
When God took that rib from Adam and formed it into Eve, breathing His breath of life into her, she become the finishing touch to His beautiful masterpiece. When He created her, He intended for her and every woman after her, to be the vessels of all future new human life. He built within our bodies everything needed in the complex process of bringing forth new life. Does that give you goosebumps? It does me. Women, and only women have the great privilege and honor of taking part in creating life. God uses us to create a miracle. Again, goosebumps.
 
Now, look again at that little comic after reading that and let me ask you: Why do we trust the design of animals more than our own? Do we not think our Creator is capable enough to get this one thing right? Do we not believe that we are more important to Him than any other creature? Are we not told over and over again in the bible to trust God and to not be afraid?
 
There is great joy and freedom to be found when we know and understand our value, worth, and unique design on this earth and place our faith and trust fully in the Lord...in every area of our lives, including childbirth.
 
Dear Sisters, you were made for motherhood. 

For fun, I sat down and figured up my stats for several birth interventions today using every birth I have attended in the last 3+ years. And then I compared them to the national rate of that same intervention for the most recent year I could find. Doulas really do make a difference, folks. Just see for yourself.

♥Epidural
National: 61% (2008) (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_05.pdf)
Agape Birth Services: 22.7%
 
♥Labor Induction
National: 23% (2012) (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db155.htm)
Agape Birth Services: 9.1%
 
♥Episiotomy
National: 25% (2004) (http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2089343)
Agape Birth Services: 2.3%
 
♥Assisted Vaginal Birth (forceps or vacuum)
National: 5% (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672989/)
Agape Birth Services: 4.54%
 
♥Cesarean Birth
National: 32% (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/delivery.htm)
Agape Birth Services: 4.54%
 
♥VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)
National:60%-80%(http://www.uptodate.com/contents/vaginal-birth-after-cesarean-delivery-vbac-beyond-the-basics)
Agape Birth Services: 100%