Mamaisma! A Definition

One year ago, I knew I was only going to be pregnant for about 3 more days. My mid-wife and I made a natural induction plan for the moment I hit 38 weeks.

We planned it because a pre-admissions appointment at the hospital had frightened me. The doctor on call wanted me to be admitted for daily ultrasounds and have the baby delivered the moment the lungs were mature. My first child had been just a touch under 10 pounds and had a huge head. Still, I delivered him vaginally without an epidural. In spite of the scare tactics, I felt rather more confident than the doctor about giving birth a second time. I call it Mamaisma, my faith in female strength. It’s like machismo, only female and based in reality rather than egoism.

f you are a heavily pregnant as you read this and prepare to have their very own Christmas baby, I want you to embrace Mamaisma. At this time of year, you need it. Hospitals are under-staffed and chances are that you will get less attention. So, you are going to have to pay attention to what your body is telling you and DEMAND treatment.

Now that I am a frumpy mummy, I can’t be cool, but I can be honest. Here is what you need to know:

- Make sure these ten things are in your birth bag.

- Don’t expend any effort trying to push before it’s really time. When it’s time, your body will automatically start pushing and you can either make your mind follow along or have your mind over-ridden by your own body.
- Make sure you know what will happen to your own body after the birth.

- Don’t even think of stepping on the scales until you are six weeks post partum.

- Plan to ask for help. You are capable of taking care of yourself and the baby. The house work, meals, and other tasks can be left to friends, grandparents, siblings and husbands. They can’t, though, read your mind. If you need them to fold laundry, you are going to have to ask because some people (most men) will never just figure it out.