Adela Stockton - Birth Space, Safe Place: Emotional Well-Being Through Pregnancy and Birth

• ~ Avoid touching your remedy tip one tablet into the cap of the bottle and tip directly into your mouth or pour the powder directly onto your babys tongue.
• ~ Suck one tablet under your tongue (do not swallow with water), repeat one dose only if the symptoms persist or reappear.
• ~ Take the tablet in clean mouth if possible, avoid eating or drinking for 15 minutes either side of taking your remedy (except in emergency).
• ~ Store your remedies in cool dark place away from strong smells.
• ~ Try to avoid taking/using any mint/menthol substance or coffee (including decaffeinated) while using homeopathic remedies.

You might wish to record this text onto a tape or CD so that you can listen to it at any time.

Find a comfortable position in a place where you know you will not be disturbed. Whether sitting or lying, make sure all your limbs are well supported so that you can completely let go.

Close your eyes and gently become aware of your breath coming and going within your body. Which part of your body does it fill and empty? Does your chest rise up on an in-breath, or your stomach? There is no need to slow down or deepen your breathing, just take care to always breathe in through your nose, although it is fine to breathe out through your nose or your mouth. Give yourself time to become familiar with your normal pattern of breathing.

When you are ready, you can begin to gently direct your breath around your body, encouraging your whole being to relax. Start by imagining you are drawing each in-breath down into your left leg, filling it with fresh air to the tips of your toes. And then, by using your out-breath, allowing your whole limb to empty and softly let go. Repeat this process a few times on the same leg, then slowly move around each of your limbs and other body parts, one by one, doing the same thing, filling and emptying, keeping your breath in a steady rhythm.

Now, feeling your whole body gently resting, soft and relaxed, you may like to go into a space or a place in your imagination thatis special to you, somewhere that you feel safe, secure and comfortable. It may be a real place or an imaginary one, somewhere you know well or that you have only seen in a picture or a film, or read about in a book.

Take your time to cast your minds eye around to see how your special place looks and feels today. What is the light like? Are there any prominent colours or shadows? What do you sense around you?

Can you feel anything against your skin? Perhaps a warm breeze, some soft wrappings, the suns rays? Can you hear any sounds? Maybe the waves on the shore, the wind in the trees, some birdsong or music?

Do any scents fill the air? Is there anyone with you? You may be quite happy to stay there alone or you may wish to imagine a significant other, person or pet, with you there today.

Over the next few moments, take some time whatever feels right for you to focus on your tiny baby in your womb and take the opportunity to share with him or her any thoughts that you need or would like to. Enjoy this quiet time together!

When you are ready, you can begin to prepare to step out of your special place today. Bring your awareness back to your breath again and take two or three deep breaths so as to draw the energy back into your body. Once you have left your safe space, bring your focus back to where you are in actual time and space before gently stretching your body and opening your eyes, and in your own time returning to the physical world. If you are lying down, remember to roll onto your side before sitting up slowly!

You might like to share your experience with your partner and consider ways in which you could both transfer aspects of your special place to your birth environment in order to help you to feel safe and relaxed during your labour.