Here are my 3 different experiences using EFT at births.
1. I went to my first birth as a doula at St. Joseph’s hospital. This is the hospital where I had my first baby, an emergency cesarean at 34 weeks and he spent 12 days in the NICU. I hadn’t been back to the hospital since we brought him home, which was about 10 years before this specific birth.
I pulled into the hospital and suddenly all these emotions from my first birth came FLOODING back. I found myself sobbing and really emotionally overcome. I was supposed to be going to support a mom and I was freaking out! I didn’t want to bring my birth emotions into HER birth. So I started tapping and doing my EFT. Within a minute or two, I had calmed down and was able to go in and support this mom. Afterwards, when I went back to my car, I cried a bit more, but was SO much calmer about it. And it was ok then, because my job was over.
2. I was at a VBAC birth and the mom was doing great. Suddenly she was very scared about pushing (she was entering transformation) none of the normal things I do were helping, so I asked if she wanted to try some tapping. “It looks funny, but it can really help” I explained. She was happy to try. So we tapped for about 5 minutes and her fear melted away. She went on to push her baby out very easily about an hour later.
3. I was at a homebirth and the mom was tired and getting fearful of if she could “do this” I suggested EFT and she was open to tapping. She LOVED it. She actually wanted me to tap her and I would tap her between pressure waves and she would fall asleep. Then she would wake up for a pressure wave, then I would tap her back to sleep. It was amazing! She loved it. Even at the post partum visit she was talking about how much she loved it.
Now I want to introduce it to my doula clients before birth. Clear some issues before birth even starts! I will have to feel out who is open to it. Some maybe would only be open to it during birth if they felt stuck and needed another tool. But I think many would be open to it before. 🙂
Could you explain about this? Not sure what EFT is or what it entails!
Love the blog… Thanks for writing!
EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique. It is basically tapping on accupressure points, which helps you to release emotions, cravings, pain.
I got these links off my friend Sondra’s Blog
http://sondrarose.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75D56JICBRQ
http://emofree.com/
Great stories, Sheridan! I wish I could just sit in circle with you and the other tappin’ women and share more of these…
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