Thursday Thirteen: 13 Best Birth Books

1. Birthing from Within
   
2. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
3. The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth
   
4. The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
   
5. Heart & Hands: A Midwife's Guide to Pregnancy & Birth
   
6. The Birth Book
   
7. Gentle Birth Choices
   
8. The Natural Pregnancy Book
   
9. HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method
   
10. The VBAC Companion
    
11. Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful
    
12. The Doula Advantage
    
13. The Business of Being Born
    (actually a DVD, but it's such a good film that I've included it here)

BB: "I am a..."

"I am a birthing goddess!"

What a simple and empowering statement. Giving birth has always been seen as a mystical, yet everyday miracle. When we are pregnant, we are the co-creators of life - the closest we will ever be to divine on earth. Claim your power. Claim your birth. You are a birth goddess...

BB: "I am already..."

"I am already a good mother to my baby."

As a pregnant woman, you have already started to make decisions for you and your baby. Everything from choosing a care provider to what you had for breakfast this morning. As birth approaches, take a few minutes now and then to reflect on how far you've already come on your journey to motherhood. Trust those developing instincts. One decision at a time. You are already a good mother...

BB: "I choose a..."

"I choose a gentle way for my baby to enter the world."

No matter what kind of birth you envision, and no matter how you give birth, you can give your baby a gentle to start to life. Have the lights turned down. Ask people to speak in quiet voices. As soon as you can, cuddle your baby to your chest and whisper softly in her ear. "I'm so happy to finally see you. I get to be your mama. Welcome to your life..."

BB: "I create the..."

"I create the perfect milk for my unique baby."

Your body is amazing. Not only do you produce nourishing milk for your baby (or babies!), but that milk is ever changing, adapting to the needs of your infant. When your baby is having a growth spurt, she'll nurse more and you'll produce more milk. If he's sick, you'll make custom antibodies to help fight that particular illness. Yeah for yummy, yummy, mummy milk...

Birth is Priestess Work

"Giving birth is priestess work; it requires a woman to pass through a painful and dangerous initiation in which she journeys to the threshold between worlds and risks her own life to help another soul cross over."

Jalaja Bonheim
Aphrodite's Daughters

This is one of my favorite birthing quotes, because it equates birth as a spiritual journey and as an initiation. When women truly surrender to the birthing process during active labor and transition, they enter a trance-like state where nothing outside the process exists. It's amazing to witness, and absolutely empowering to experience! Birth is such a sacred moment. Not only is there the birth of a new baby, but also the birth of a mother.

BB "My baby knows..."

"My baby knows exactly when to be born."

It's never harder to wait than when you're nine months pregnant and your due date is approaching or has come and gone! But, your baby may not be finished with her time in the womb quite yet. It's warm, intimate and comfy in there. So try and keep yourself busy, sleep when you can and enjoy the last few days you have your baby all to yourself. Trust your baby...

BB "I love my..."

"I love my blossoming belly!"

Your belly cradles, protects and nurtures your growing babe - it's beautiful. There are so many ways to honor and celebrate your baby belly. Try taking a picture once a week, in the same pose. Gently massage your belly with a belly oil or lotion daily - it may not prevent stretch marks, but it feels great and does help with itchiness. Choose clothes that emphasize that luscious belly, and make you feel good. You are a fertility goddess...

BB "I am ready..."

"I am ready for my new path as a mother. I will embrace the change."

The passage from maiden to mother is one of the most tremendous changes in a woman's life. And going from a mother of one to two, three or more is just as important. Finding your own individual way on the path starts during pregnancy... there are so many directions and only one of them is uniquely yours. Trust your instincts, be open to new experiences, and eventually you'll find your way...

BB "I bless my..."

"I bless my belly, which cradles new life. I bless my baby, safe and warm within."

Everyday when I was pregnant with my youngest, this was my daily bellyblessing. You could say it as you greet the morning, or just before you go to bed. Or, if you're using a belly butter or oil ~ my favorite is Earth Mama Angel Baby's Earth Mama Body Butter ~ say the blessing as you rub your growing belly and give your baby a hug...

BB "I trust my..."

"I trust my inner voice. She is a worthy ally."

Mother's intuition develops during pregnancy. Your inner voice has always been there, yet somehow it changes and you are more able to feel and act upon what she is telling you. Listen to her, for she has the wisdom of your foremothers...

BB "As I nurture..."

"As I nurture new life, I nurture myself. I will take some time for me."

I know it's hard to find time for yourself. Sometimes the only time I have to myself is a few minutes in the washroom, and occasionally thanks to my toddler, not even then! But, even if it's only for a few minutes after you've climbed into bed, take a minute or two, breathe in deeply, breathe out the tension and just be...

Bellyblessings & Welcome!

Welcome to the brand new Birth Goddess Beads blog! 

We plan on blogging often on a variety of topics related to pregnancy, childbirth, babies and new mamahood. We will be posting a Daily Bellyblessing (BB) which you can use in a variety of ways...

• say it out loud
• write it down in a journal
• use as a focus during meditation or yoga
• write down on sticky notes & post wherever you need them
• use with blessingway beads

We will be opening our online store on January 8th, 2009 ~ this is old Midwife's Day, a day sacred to Eleithyia, the Greek goddess of childbirth. Until then, some of our jewelry and other items will be available soon in our Bellyblessings store on Etsy.

Bellyblessings to you!