The Joy Of Giving Birth: It’s Not Just Pain
Giving birth comes with a long-awaited surprise, the one you have prepared for – perhaps for a lifetime.
Of course, your newfound motherhood will not erase all pain during childbirth, but the immense satisfaction of welcoming your baby into the world for the first time is deeper than anything you will ever feel.
There is little or nothing in life that can be compared to childbirth. No feeling in the world is greater than that. Not to receive an award, to graduate and get the diploma you fought for or to marry the love of your life.
But just as you will soon experience the magical moment when you bring a living being into the world, your flesh and blood, you have to deal with many hours of suffering, where the clock seems to stop with the pains.
Giving birth to a baby is a jumble of conflicting emotions. The joy of childbirth and the pain go hand in hand.
If the birth was not so painful, perhaps our first encounter with our babies would not be as significant.
After all, our clearest memories are of the moments when we moved our boundaries, whether they were happiness, sorrow, or pain. No one remembers simple times, for the moments our brain valued highly are those that left a mark with their intensity.
If that were the case, perhaps the birth would not be as worthwhile. Our child would come into the world without ceremony, like fruit falling from a tree.
The birth, the exact moment when the woman’s pregnancy comes to an end and a new person’s life begins, is a moment of boundless joy.
It is an intoxication of doctors, midwives, medicine and procedures (if required). That’s all the expectant mother has been preparing for during the last 40 weeks.
It is a moment of nervousness, desperation and ecstasy shared by the mother and the family who are impatiently waiting. It is almost always the mother who gets the surprise first. But when the baby is on its way, the rest of the family will wait with their hearts in their throats. Everyone is waiting for a doctor or midwife to say what they all want to hear.
These short but sweet words release a torrent of emotions. The father is patted on the back, the grandparents celebrate along with aunts and uncles. Everyone welcomes the new family member and the joy of having children is obvious to everyone, especially to the mother.
Childbirth is a scary event for women. First-time mothers are haunted by uncertainty. Comments from other women do not do much to calm the nerves.
Those who have already gone through it know what they have to turn to. Depending on their experiences the first time, they may feel calmer – or safer.
But whether it’s the first time or not, whether she’s had a good birth or hours of pain, all mothers can probably agree on something.
The moment you see your child take their first breath and scream for the first time, you will only have eyes for it. All your fears, nerves and all your stress disappear.
The relief you feel when your baby is born is indescribable. Suddenly you relax and let this indescribable mixture of surprise, wonder and happiness flood you.
