The Scripture That Carried Me Through an Unmedicated Birth

When I got pregnant with my second baby, I wasn’t planning on having an unmedicated birth. I gave birth to my first with an epidural, and overall it wasn’t a super long or difficult labor. My son was born at 38 weeks and 4 days weighing 6 lbs 4 oz. After he was born, he struggled to latch, lost almost a pound, and I was never able to successfully nurse him.

With my second pregnancy, I was determined to try breastfeeding again and do whatever I could ahead of time to prepare. I attended classes and met with my nutritionist to see if there was anything health-related that could have impacted the outcome with my son. During that process, I came across research about how epidurals can sometimes affect those first 24 hours with your baby, making babies extra sleepy, especially smaller babies, since some effects of the medication can be passed to them. Once I learned how crucial those first 24 hours can be for nursing, I realized I wanted to try for an unmedicated birth.

#

About three weeks before our daughter’s due date, I started looking into hypnobirthing exercises I had heard about. As a Christian, traditional hypnobirthing didn’t fully sit right with me because it focused so heavily on personal strength and willpower. Then a friend told me about Christian hypnobirthing and how much it had helped her during labor. I downloaded the app and started listening to it on my walks alongside the audiobook Faith-Filled Childbirth.

As I learned more about birth and the way God created women’s bodies to give birth, my perspective completely changed. The most impactful part of the hypnobirthing app for me was the encouraging Scripture track. I listened to it over and over again, and it brought me so much peace anytime I started to feel overwhelmed or anxious.

When my due date came and went, I continued listening to the Scripture track and Faith-Filled Childbirth, trying to trust the Lord with His timing.

Then on Sunday, April 26th, labor began at 5:30 a.m. with contractions, and my water broke just 15 minutes later. Things moved quickly after that. As I tracked contractions, I stayed calm, took a shower, turned on the Christian hypnobirthing app, and let my husband know labor was definitely starting.

By 7:45 a.m., contractions were about 3–4 minutes apart and becoming more intense, so we headed to the hospital.

When we arrived, I explained my desire to go without an epidural and was met by the most supportive nursing team. Labor progressed quickly, and contractions became very intense. I was able to move freely around the room and eventually found myself leaning over the bed to breathe through contractions.

As labor intensified and I entered transition, I started doubting whether I could really do it without an epidural. But every time another contraction came, my mind went back to the Scripture track I had listened to on repeat in the days leading up to labor. Over and over, I heard:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

In those moments, I knew the Lord would take care of me and provide everything I needed for the birth.

I stayed leaning over the bed as contractions continued, and before long I was fully dilated. Things were moving so quickly that it looked like my OB might not make it in time. Thankfully, there was a midwife on call who allowed me to stay in the position that felt most comfortable, and I ended up delivering my daughter standing up.

Everything happened so fast, and through every contraction, that same verse continued repeating in my mind:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

At 9:43 a.m., my daughter arrived. The midwife handed her to me, and I immediately became teary. Not only because I had done it, but because God had been so faithful through every moment of it.

Then, almost immediately, my daughter latched quickly and easily. Another incredible gift from the Lord.

In the weeks afterward, anytime I felt anxious about breastfeeding or worried whether my daughter was getting enough, I would go back and listen to the encouraging Scripture track again. It helped calm me, breathe, and remember that God is in control.

Now, almost two months later, I am exclusively breastfeeding my daughter.

My birth experience was so beautiful, and I truly believe it positively impacted my breastfeeding journey. I am incredibly grateful.

Mama: @jordynnebently