Lifted Up by Childbirth Education: Lorena's Story

Written by Lorena Barrera de Mejía

Translated from Spanish by Anna Sauls de Reyes

Access to childbirth education should be the right of every pregnant woman in order to prepare herself for the work of birth and, in this way, to learn the things that happen in our body, especially when it is the first time. This becomes an opportunity to overcome many fears that can emerge during this stage.

From my first pregnancy with my son, Liam, I received education over the process of pregnancy and birth and it was an experience that I will never forget. Mainly because it was new for me as this is something that does not happen in our country with pregnant women. Many women prepare clothing for the baby and transportation for the moment they will leave their house but unfortunately, they are not prepared with the most important thing which is education for childbirth. These women have to face a totally new situation with anxiety and worry because they don’t have access to empowerment through which they can learn what happens in labor, the techniques they can do to help relax their body or how to look for positions which they feel can help the baby be born, or breathing techniques for contractions. Instead, on many occasions, women do not have the opportunity to be heard by the doctors who attend them and it seems that, at times, these doctors forget that the mother and the baby are the most important, more than the position and comfort of the doctor.

The team sent several childbirth education resources, had multiple FaceTime meetings to discuss the material, and the week before Lorena’s due date, one member was able to visit and give some hands-on relaxation technique practice

The education that I received helped me to believe in the ability and strength that God gives us to be able to bring life and give birth, learn about my own body and how it functions in that moment and even the rights we have to be well attended and respected during the entire process, in addition to being empowered to make my opinions valued and to have a natural and healthy birth.

In my second birth of my daughter, Ema Natalia, I was more conscious of the importance of being healthy because I have been taught to take care of myself and, moreover, I received printed material with information to consider. There were no complications during the pregnancy nor during birth.

Childbirth education gave Lorena the confidence she needed to birth and breastfeed both of her children. Unfortunately, that’s not the common story amongst mothers in El Salvador.

For a long time, I was praying that the birth would be safe and to be able to travel to the hospital with enough time and that’s just how it was. I was not nervous and even when I was in the process of dilation my husband and I went for a walk for several minutes, I practiced some exercises that I had learned which my husband was able to also help with, I was able to breathe in a way in which I felt safe and I remembered the scriptures that helped me and gave me strength to endure with patience. The moment of delivery was so quick and I was surprised because I listened to my body and when it was time to push my baby was born in a few minutes with no problem. I felt very prepared for this moment not only because I had already had a child before but also because of the education and support that I have received, both of which helped to identify the signs that indicate when the moment of birth was near.

The Mejia family. Lorena, Antonio, Liam and Ema. Continue to pray for them as they serve in ministry as a family of four!