Birthing & Zion -- Preparing for the Glorious Day

True to the encouraging words I have heard so many times from others over so many years, finally getting married and now expecting a child has been an incredible blessing, bringing positive changes and growth into my life.

Cheri and I are planning to have our child at home with the assistance of a midwife.  Being in our last trimester now, we have been taking weekly Bradley Method classes which focus on "husband coached child birth."

Preparing together to bring this new life into the world has been a great bonding experience for us, and has directed our hearts in love toward this pending first addition to our family. 

I have been awed at how studious and mindful my dear wife has been to read up on how to best prepare for childbirth, implementing the knowledge she is gaining by way of optimal healthy diet, commensurate exercising, emotional bonding, proper skin care, etc.

We enjoy the time spent together going on a daily walk, doing the butterfly stretch, doing the relaxation techniques, preparing the nightly women's tea, applying wheat germ oil on her belly and breasts prior to retiring to bed to prevent stretch marks, and reading a chapter together from a birthing book.

She started a couple of weeks ago reading children's stories aloud to the growing fetus.

If she had her way, we would already have a name picked out, one if it is a boy, and another if it is a girl.

We are gradually gearing up for this wonderful, spiritual, bonding, and natural process of bringing a child into this world.

The more we learn (and my education is but a small part of what Cheri has been acquiring on the subject), the more grateful and confident we are for the decision we made to have this child at home, with a midwife, and without drugs.

Doctors are to birthing what lifeguards are to swimming.  It is good they are there for threatening situations, but for the most part, a midwife and knowledgeable parents are more than ample to take care of this beautiful process.

Last Monday evening, during our Bradley class, I was struck with a thought while listening to one of the couples who is taking the class with us, whose pregnancy is considered "high risk" -- no thanks to doctors who administered Petosin (sp?) and created the subsequent trauma which then required a C-section.  They shared the story of the encounter they had with their doctor when they told him that they were looking into having a midwife-assisted natural birth.

The scare tactics employed and the authoritarian approach the doctor used reminded me so much of the same mentality I see in religion, particularly in Mormonism, which says, "follow the prophet," he knows what is best.  You don't know enough to trust your own judgement.

The doctor was not the least bit impressed with this couple that were considering taking a less allopathic approach.  He frowned on what he viewed as tremendous risk-taking.  Doctors are the ones who know, the ones you should trust, according to him.  They have been trained to take care of these things.  He did not like the idea of them taking responsibility and seeking to become sufficiently educated themselves so as to be able to choose a midwife who is more of a birth assistant than a "knock-em-out, drag-em-out" physician.

As this couple recounted the conversation they had, I was making the comparison in my mind to what I have observed in religion.

In the scriptures, the Lord compares the coming forth of Zion, the kingdom of God, to a manchild being born of a woman, who represents the church of Christ (by its core definition, which has to do with the heart, not its ecclesiastical definition, which has to do with an outward ordinance alone).  Prophecy speaks several times of the birthing pangs associated with this birthing.

So having learned so much lately about the difference between midwife-assisted childbirth and doctor administered delivery, I have been set to pondering upon the metaphorical lessons that might be contained in this difference as it pertains to the birthing of Zion.

In my mind, home birth is to hospital birth what home school is to public education.

Home birth is to hospital birth what home church is to structured religious attendance.

The more responsibility we take for our own salvation -- between us and the Lord -- the closer we resemble the godly nature.

The less responsibility we take for our own salvation -- putting it on the shoulders of other men, who are fallible -- the more we play into a controlling, dictatorial collusion.

One leads to freedom.  The other to captivity.

Bringing this back to the childbirth-Zionbirth analogy, this is why the scriptures speak so adamantly about the need to be alert, to be vigilant, to be watchful, to learn of the Lord, to feast upon his words, to dig deep so that we might establish our foundation upon the rock of Jesus Christ.

The more educated we become about the pending birth of Zion, the more prepared we become to pass through this transition that will soon come upon us, and the more glorious will be our experience.

No wonder the Lord uses such reprimanding tones when he speaks of the drunkenness of Ephraim, which people of God are supposed to be his vigilant watchmen.

The differences between a drugged up mother having a doctor pull a baby out of her, and a natural-birth mother bringing forth a sparkling alert child are like night and day -- both for the mother and for the child.

Awake, awake put on thy strength, O Zion!

How can Zion put on strength if the mother is drugged, overcome with deliriousness?

So the incessant cry to the Lord's people to stop depending so much upon "the prophet" and seek instead to each become a prophet unto the Lord, is an invitation to be fully prepared for a glorious delivery of Zion -- the best route by far for both mother and child.

That it may it be so is my humble prayer.

 

by Sterling D. Allan; Manti, Utah; October 6, 1999

See also:

  Feedback

From: Clara Howard <clara@clarasconsulting.com>
To: 'Sterling D. Allan' <sterlingda@GreaterThings.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 8:45 AM
Subject: RE: {888} Birthing & Zion

Dear Sterling,

The same aspect can be applied to our 'dependence' on the government for help, assistance, and guidance in living our lives.  When people know they have a crutch and are taught from childhood to lean on it, why should they do for themselves? Why should they learn trust themselves?  Welfare, social security, government aid, fema, government schools, you name it and there is someone out there to pick up the ball and carry it for you.

I was watching a program the other day on television entitled "Is America Still # 1?".  There is a country that is advancing faster than the United States and that is in Tiwan, with a "apethetic, do nothing government" and the people have learned to do for themselves.  They are now one of the richest countries in the world with a flat 15% tax and low crime rate. They are surpassing the US in productivity and achievement and the government is one of the 'richest' in the world now.  That should tell us
something.

'Well, I had better get to work.  Hope you and Cheri have a great day and whisper a word of welcome to that tiny soul joining you for me.

Love and prayers,

Always,
Clara

From: J**
To: Sterling D. Allan <sterlingda@GreaterThings.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 9:22 AM
Subject: Re: {888} Birthing & Zion

Well stated, Sterling

I listened to about half the conference and wondered if anyone did a content analysis.   I'd be most interested in how many times someone said "Follow the prophet" or something similar as opposed to how many times the concept of "Follow the Spirit" was stressed.  Does anyone do this to your knowledge?

J**

From: Laura S Shortridge <lsshortridge@juno.com>
To: sterlingda@GreaterThings.com <sterlingda@GreaterThings.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: {888} Birthing & Zion

Sterling-

This was an excellent post filled with much truth. You are correct in your analogies.

It's wonderful to hear that you and Cheri are doing things the way they are "suppose" to be done. I wish we had known what you know now when we were first starting our family 21 years ago. Our last five children were born "naturally" without drugs, although in birthing rooms at hospitals instead of at home, some with midwives assisting, others with doctors present (depending on what our insurance at the time required).

The most "spiritual" of all the births was assisted by a midwife. I am so excited for you and Cheri. You have a wonderful experience ahead of you... there is nothing like holding your new baby in your arms. It's indescribable. And with your insight and close relationship with God, you'll probably see the angels attending. I've felt them and heard them, but never actually seen them. I'm so thrilled for you both...

Love always,

Laura

From: me ***
To: Sterling D. Allan <sterlingda@GreaterThings.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 1:39 PM
Subject: Re: {888} Birthing & Zion

Amen and Amen. It is essential we all take our free agency to ourselves and not delegate it away. Babylon can be defined as delegating away it's free agency away to support priestcraft (control of the soul) doctorcraft (control of the body), lawyercraft (control of interaction with others and economics) and teachercraft (control of information). The four great pillars of Satan's compulsion / illusion.

All of these crafts cumulatively eliminate or sufficiently delegate away
free agency so as to make us unaccountable as we would suppose. I can scarcely imagine looking at God having willingly let go of my free agency to exercise compulsion over others. For now, all of these crafts are voluntary. For now, the unincorporated Church provides answers to all of them.

When someone wakes up to the compulsion and reaches for their God endowed free agency, the way to get it back is to declare God as your King and act accordingly.

I would like to send you some helycrism essential oils to help with child
birth pains <snip> . . .

Love & Healing
***

From: Craig Tholson <craig.tholson@intellink.net>
To: Greater Things <Greater_Things-owner@listbot.com>
Date: Wednesday, October 06, 1999 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: Birthing & Zion

Sterling,

My wife, Sue, and I had our last two children, now 3 & 4, with midwife and at home.    It was the only way to go.   Your analogy makes good spiritual sense.   Blessings be with both of you!

Craig

From: Weappel7@aol.com <Weappel7@aol.com>
To: Greater_Things-owner@listbot.com <Greater_Things-owner@listbot.com>
Date: Thursday, October 07, 1999 12:04 AM
Subject: Re: Birthing & Zion

Walt writes:
    Best wishes to you and Cheri on your impending arrival.  We always wanted to do home births but it has not been so, one through the front door and 6 c-section.

hehehehe I hope the Bradley method works well for you two.  My impression of Lamaze is a technique used to keep the husband busy, thinking he's doing something usefull, such as keeping out of the way!

    Walt

STERLING RESPONDED:

And Lamaze is a way to childbirth what "follow the prophet" classes are at BYU

TO WHICH WALT REPLIED:

From: Weappel7@aol.com <Weappel7@aol.com>
To: sterlingda@greaterthings.com <sterlingda@greaterthings.com>
Date: Thursday, October 07, 1999 7:08 PM
Subject: Re: Birthing & Zion

hehehehehehhe ;-)))) correctamundo comrade!!!

    Walt

From: RokOfOrion@aol.com <RokOfOrion@aol.com>
To: sterlingda@greaterthings.com <sterlingda@greaterthings.com>
Date: Thursday, October 07, 1999 11:34 PM
Subject: Home Birth

Carolynne had one c-section and a second doped up forceps birth.  We felt Eva should be born naturally.  We found a midwife, after 33 hours of labor Eva came out with a one foot chord.  As Carolynne was birthing her I felt totally like God.   I knew she could and would do it when she almost lost it.  It was such a wonderful creative experience, we slept together between contractions, I shall never forget it.  May your experience be greater?

Rokus

From: Beth Quick <ariel144@hotmail.com>
To: sterlingda@GreaterThings.com <sterlingda@GreaterThings.com>
Date: Thursday, October 07, 1999 11:38 PM
Subject: Birth

Thanks for thanking me. I'll pray for you and your wife and your baby. Oh what glorius blessings have been bestowed upon you! I'm a trained Doula (holistic birth guide/birth support professional). I don't do it for a living right now. I've also studied midwifery since I was 14 years old, for the last 15 years. I have tried to teach people about the spiritual aspects and spiritual implications of birth for years. It's an uphill battle.

I wanted to have my 4 1/2 year old son, Sage, at home. At the time my ex-husband was a severe diabetic, very sick, in the hospital and I was homeless and staying with his abusive parents. I had to go to the hospital and defend my self and my rights and my baby's rights around every corner.

The birth was a horror satory in some ways and also the most empowering event of my life. I wound up doing a lot to educate the hospital staff, many of whom thanked me upon my leaving. They said they needed someone like me to shake them up and make them realize what they were doing.

I now have to share custody of my son so I don't see him as often as I'd like. I wish I could have a baby right now but I don't even know where I am going to live. I keep reminding myself that Abraham and Sarah had to wait for a very long time. I try to have patience.

Sorry to be so sad on this list lately but I'm having a really hard time
right now.

I'm glad you guys are out there educating people. It's nice to not have to be the only one sometimes, if you know what I mean..... it's REALLY nice to not have to be the only one, ha ha. I have been the only one I know for so long and now, just the last few months my sister, who is married to a holistic chiropractic student, he graduates in one year, just got certified in the Bradley training.

She just had their first baby with a midwife. She tried to have a water birth but the baby came out before she could get back in the water (she had gotten out for a bit). She is also so frustrated with the women at church (she is still really active). So I guess more light is dawning ...... Hallelujah

Beth

From: jmaynard@altresfinancial.com <jmaynard@altresfinancial.com>
To: sterlingda@greaterthings.com <sterlingda@greaterthings.com>
Date: Friday, October 08, 1999 1:28 PM
Subject: Re: {888} Birthing & Zion

Dear Sterling,

I just wanted to thank you for the essay.  It's a gem for sure.

Jason

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