A Birth Story

Beyond the Stretch
By Andrea G.

My birth was nothing like I thought it would be yet exactly like I envisioned it to be. Labor started well
before I knew it had, my water broke just as we were getting into bed for the night so I knew there was
a good chance we’d be meeting our little one soon, little did I know, it would be much sooner than I
thought. I have a deep trust in my body and it’s ability to birth my baby. The mind is often where the
distrust can come from so I spent 9 months mentally preparing myself by reading about home births,
repeating positive birth affirmations and visualizing my birth. When I was woke by a contraction a few
hours later I knew it was time and I felt ready. Within about 30 minutes the contractions became much
more intense and closer together, that is about the time I convinced my husband to get the pool ready.
I moved from the bed to the shower the warm water felt good while I rocked back and forth in goddess
squat, but when I’d get a contraction I would describe it as “bearing down” but from all my reading I
knew that “bearing down” was the pushing phase of birth. I next moved to the toilet and quickly knew
that I was in fact, bearing down! I had my husband call the midwife who only stayed on the phone long
enough to know that she was going to be late! Still in a little disbelief that my labor could be progressing
so quickly, as it was only about three hours from the first contraction that woke me, I had my husband
feel the babies position and he calmly suggested I get in the pool. I think we both knew the baby was
coming soon but neither of us wanted to say it out loud! Once I got in the pool I had one contraction and
then a rest, it was like suddenly I could relax, like I hadn’t been working hard the past few hours. Next
contraction I could feel her head coming but then would go back, just one contraction later her head
fully birthed. I took a nice deep inhale and then exhaled as her body swam out into the pool. My
husband swept her up and handed her to me. She snuggled on my chest, me in his arms. We started
talking and she looked up at us with her big eyes, she knew us!

As many people will tell you pregnancy is a wonderful and magical time, and they are not wrong;
however, there are some things that can make pregnancy more enjoyable. Yoga is one of those things.
Not all yoga or prenatal yoga classes are created equally though. Listening to your body is always the
first and most important thing, but if you feel well, we are capable of quite a bit while we’re pregnant.
This really shouldn’t be a surprise, we’re women, we create, carry, birth, and nourish!

I did yoga prior to becoming pregnant but the first trimester pretty much took me out of the game when
it came to physical activity (or anything for that matter). Once the nausea subsided in the second
trimester, I was ready to get back into my yoga practice, but what was okay to do while pregnant? I
ended up going to a prenatal yoga class and, though it was relaxing, it was quite boring. I thought, well I
might be pregnant but surely my body can do more than this! That is when I found Full Circle Yoga KC
and the wonderful Jenny. She took us through a vinyasa flow, sure there were a few modifications for
moms who were further along or any who medically needed to modify, but otherwise it was a flow like I
did before becoming pregnant. I was happy and amazed to see that I could safely do pretty much all the
same asanas (postures).

What I loved most about Jenny’s class was how she structured it in a similar way to the birthing process.
We’d start out slow, warming up our bodies, gradually moving into a vinyasa, and then hold some
strength poses for a longer period to imitate a contraction. Jenny was always reminding us to move our
bodies with what felt right to us and breathing slow and deep into any discomfort.

There were two phrases that Jenny would regularly say in class that became a mantra to several of us;
While holding a deep squat for a minute (average time of a contraction) Jenny would say, “you can do
anything for 60 seconds,” and often when talking about our upcoming birth she would remind us that,
“you can do anything for 24 hours,” which is the average length of birth for a first time mom. Though
while in labor I definitely told my husband, “I cannot do this for 24 hours!!” these mantra’s, the
reminder of breath, the strength, and endurance I gained in yoga and knowing that so many women
have birthed before me got me through each and every contraction and allowed my baby girl to move
through me and into this world. (And the good news is that when I let my husband know I couldn’t last
24 hours, I unknowingly was already in active labor and only had 4 hours to go).

Outside of the physical benefits that yoga provided my ever-changing body, the space Jenny created for
us felt good. Sure, anyone can do prenatal yoga at home but at Full Circle Yoga KC we had a safe place to
move, breathe, ask questions, and truly be present with our little one growing inside of us. Most
pregnant women know that people love to offer advice, unsolicited or not, and as someone who has
now had a child I feel confident in saying…..we forget a lot of things. So, when you’re pregnant and you
feel a certain way or wonder if something is normal or not there is nothing better than being in a room
with women who are not only currently pregnant but several are at the same point in pregnancy as you.
Sometimes learning that they feel the same way can lift a worry or ease your mind.

I’m one to listen to my body and use my intuition. I talked to my baby daily and set the intention for the
birth I wanted. Prenatal yoga was a bonus along my journey. I think all pregnant women can gain
something from it whether stretching, moral support or a quiet place.

Namaste

Full Circle Yoga KC is a Kansas City yoga studio that specializes in embracing the full cycle of life.   Classes include Prenatal Yoga and Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) Yoga , Mama and Movers Yoga, for those entering the beautiful journey of pregnancy and the transition into motherhood.  Full Circle Yoga KC also offers several other Family-Centered Classes and workshops for parents.