Spiritual Birth: From C-Section to Trusting YHWH During Home Birth with Michael Twomey | TRM Podcast Ep. 8
The Radiant Mission Podcast | Episode 8
Host: Rebecca Twomey @theradiantmission
Guest: Michael Twomey
Thank you for listening to The Radiant Mission podcast! We are on a mission to encourage and inspire you on your walk with Christ and as you journey through life.
In Episode 08, we discuss spiritual birth and how birth is an opportunity to learn about our Creator, come together as a couple, and more.
NOTE: possible trigger warning as we will discuss c-sections, birth trauma, and medical procedures.
In This Episode on Spiritual Birth: From C-Section to Trusting the Lord During Our Home Birth with Special Guest, Michael Twomey:
- Context for This Episode
- While the topic is birth, the concepts we discuss about spiritual warfare, marriage, and trusting the Lord apply beyond birth as an event
- During pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, it is important for fathers to participate. It will bring the relationship closer.
- Medical Backstory
- Copper Toxicity from Copper IUD—discovered Taking Charge of Your Fertility and the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)
- Had morning sickness—taking B6 and B12 helped tremendously
- Didn’t know what I didn’t know about birth
- Didn’t know I could “shop” for a better or more aligned OB
- Rhogam caused severe allergic reaction: caused severe itching during pregnancy then had an anaphylactic reaction after second dose
- Seek the Lord to guide us to the right resources for healing when we experience issues and to teach us about our bodies
- Explore and learn about how our bodies work and what natural foods and herbs can help to heal us
- Do not let your dog lick peppermint!
- Became impatient to have my first—tried old wives’ tales to encourage labor
- Lesson: the baby will come when the baby will come, attempting to force your hand in the Lord’s work might come at a cost
- There is no “natural” induction, it’s not natural when the baby and your body did not make the decision to begin the birthing process
- Learn about birth before you’re in your birthing time
- Dependency on the medical system vs. learning about birth from our Creator
- The trap of getting stuck in what you’ve seen in movies/on TV/heard stories about
- We pick our pain: what’s worse—the “pain” of childbirth or the physical and mental pain of birth trauma?
- Birth trauma from the “cascade of interventions”
- Preparing spiritually and mentally for birth
- “I’m just gonna wing it”
- I had a birth plan, but that wasn’t enough. I did not prepare spiritually or mentally
- First birth had my dilation checked (did not know I could decline or that this was not a good indication of progress)—I was told I was 1.5cm, however as noted in Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth, women can reverse dilation when in frightening or uncomfortable situations
- Learning moment for men: you are the closest one to mama bear. There are others that have a role but as a support system, there is no one who can do more than you (no one knows her better than you).
- If you want mama bear to have a quick, happy labor, being present with her will help accomplish that!
- Example: husband supported labor at home was 3 hours and 17 minutes vs. non-husband supported labor at the hospital = 5 hours of hospital labor followed by 5 hours in surgery followed by 4 days in the hospital.
- “Don’t annoy mama bear during birth”
- A woman’s body needs certain hormones to progress labor—specifically oxytocin. Screens (phone/tv) can reduce oxytocin, where intimacy like hugging and kissing increase it. Being present is what matters.
- Pitocin is synthetic oxytocin and it is not the same as natural oxytocin (that can be produced from hugging/kissing/being loved by your kids/husband/family!)
- Create an environment that allows oxytocin to flow
- When a woman goes into labor, the hormone, oxytocin, stimulates her uterus to contract. Melatonin, which is also a hormone, works in tandem with oxytocin, enhancing and regulating contractions.
- C-Section with First Birth
- Had an epidural and was disconnected from my body
- Was given Pitocin without consent
- Everyone was a stranger—not comfortable in this environment
- Feeling violated by the physician
- Pushed into a c-section as a result of this violation
- The doctor called the shots
- Rolled into surgery which resulted in hysterotomy extensions and cut bladder
- 5+ hours in surgery
- Long road to recovery and a catheter
- Told by original OB “at least you have your baby”
- Rough time, deterred from having another baby for a period of time, physically did not feel the same after
- Needed the Lord to teach me how to forgive and move on from birth trauma
- Had an epidural and was disconnected from my body
Bible Verses Mentioned:
Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Matthew 6:14-15
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Resources Mentioned:
- The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother by Heng Ou
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
- Beef Liver Capsules, Ancestral Supplements
- The Healing Birth Podcast: The Spiritual Battleground for Birth
- Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap
- Dandelion Root – Capsules
- Dandelion Root – Tea
- Dandelion Root – Tincture
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