Halloween Fun, Activities and Pumpkin Carving
We are well into Autumn now and Halloween will soon be here! Many local attractions have already started their Halloween activities and pumpkins are ready to buy. Autumn is a season of transformation, which mirrors the changes of your pregnant body, as you prepare for your new baby. Did you know that pumpkins are associated with fertility and represent the potential for growth and the promise of new life, just as your pregnancy does? Some people like to make pregnancy announcements, by carving a pumpkin into the shape of a foetus or baby.
As much as the Halloween season can be lots of fun, with activities, events and things to decorate the house, don’t forget to focus on your birth, your pregnancy, you and your baby too. Halloween is a very short period of time and before you know it, the Halloween decorations are being replaced with Christmas decorations. Your birth experience, however, is an event that will last for a lifetime! Yes, your labour may only last for 1 day, however the memory of your birth experience will last forever. A wonderful American midwife, the most famous midwife in the world, (Ina May Gaskin), once said "Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life."
Why is birth preparation so important?
Birth preparation is so important for so many reasons.
It reduces anxiety and fear
Helps you to make informed decisions
Enhances partner support
Teaches you how to manage pain and discomfort
Builds confidence
Helps you to make a birth plan
Reduces the risk of complications
Prepares the body emotionally and physically
Prepares you for the postpartum transition
There are various ways in which you can prepare for birth, from hiring a doula, doing an antenatal course and doing a hypnobirthing course. Each type of birth preparation can support you in different ways and understanding what each one offers, is important to help you to make the decisions that are right for you. So, next time that you sit down to make a list of Halloween decorations that you need to buy, stop, and think about the type of birth preparation that is going to help you to have a positive birth experience. A doorstep full of pumpkins won’t give you a positive birth experience, but good birth prep will!
During pregnancy, it’s really easy to focus on meeting your baby, but it’s equally important to cherish the journey. Birth preparation guides you through this transformative process, ensuring you are informed, confident, and ready for the incredible moment when you welcome your baby into the world. Investing in birth preparation is an investment in a positive, empowering birth experience.
This year, why not invest in you, your pregnancy, and your birth. Next year, you can go big for Halloween and celebrate your baby’s first Halloween. They will look so cute, in that pumpkin costume!
To learn more about different types of birth preparation, check out my website. I offer antenatal support, birth doula support, postnatal doula support and hypnobirthing courses. If you’d like to have a chat about any of my packages, get in touch. I’d love to hear from you and support you with your birth preparation.
Julia xx
P.S. Happy Halloween!!