Hypnobirthing: Why Most Women Could Benefit From Meghan Markle's Birthing Plan
Modern technology has revolutionized how the world communicates, how we learn, and now, even how we give birth. With all of the holistic options available, it's worth it to at least check out some alternative methods before you automatically decide that the hospital is the best place to give birth to your bundle of joy.
Celebrities like Erykah Badu and now even Meghan Markle have gotten into the natural birthing game, and holistic medicine has certainly proved to be more than just a trend. Recently, Vanity Fair reported that sources close to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry revealed that the couple plans on having a natural birthing plan complete with hypnobirthing and a doula.
Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage
If you're anything like me, the first thing you thought when you heard that was: WTF is hypnobirthing?
Never fear, xoNecole is here to loosely break down that term and a few other alternative birthing methods to have in mind when it's time for your bun to come out of the oven. Say "goodbye" to cranky strangers and ugly hospital gowns with this list of alternative birthing methods:
Hypnobirthing
Vanity Fair reported that Meghan Markle's mother is enamored with all things holistic, so hypnobirthing was a perfect plan for the young royals. This method involves preparation earlier into the pregnancy, involving deep meditation, relaxation, and visualization. This method champions the idea that once a mother can eliminate the noise in her mind, the body will do its job and naturally give birth on its own.
The objective is to train your mind to shift to a completely meditative state despite enduring intense stress. Done correctly, hypnobirthing is said to decrease the need for medication during childbirth.
Acupuncture
Needles and childbirth? Sounds like torture, I know, but this new age spin on an age old method can work wonders when you're in labor. Also a practice that can be used while hypnobirthing, acupuncture and acupressure are ancient Chinese methods that use needles that are focused on specific pressure points to help direct the flow of energy in your body. Studies show that acupuncture is directly correlated with a decrease in the use of epidurals and can be used for pain management during intense contractions.
Waterbirthing
I know I'm not the only one who's seen a woman give birth in a tiny pool on Facebook and you have to admit, it's f*cking crazy, bro. Also known as hydrotherapy, water birthing can happen in a birthing center, at home, and even some hospitals offer this method now. The process happens when a mother is partially submerged in a warm, clean pool of water before and/or during childbirth. Water birthing is said to be a more gentle method for both mother and baby.
Hydrotherapy can reduce the amount of stress the mother endures and it can also provide a more organic transition from womb to world for the baby. Studies show that water births can decrease the likelihood of the use of epidural, and should always be performed with a midwife or healthcare professional present.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images