Publicity Inspiring Birth Stories Expect to be Published Narratives of Faith Overcoming Fears Forest Hills News, Dallas, Texas When Kalena Cook, who is 5'2", gave natural birth to an 8 lb. 4 oz. baby boy at age 39, most expressed surprise. "You gave birth naturally, on purpose? Without an epidural!? Why?" Her own story, BirthQuest: Choosing a Whole Birth Approach provides interesting answers based on in-depth research. "I wanted to avoid a cesarean. I wanted to give our newborn a drug-free start. I wanted to experience a satisfying birth which proves helpful in postpartum recovery." So, a few friends asked, "Tell me what you did and what's birth like?" She encouraged healthy women with normal pregnancies, "You can do it. Creating new life is the most awesome thing you'll ever do. Get informed and make choices that support birth as a normal biological process. Begin with shopping for the right doctor or midwife. Take Bradley or Birthing From Within classes." And the friends all did. The journey began when Dr."Wrong" pronounced that Kalena must get an amniocentesis test because she was over 35. She then read, A Good Birth, A Safe Birth. "I learned that an amnio is invasive, dangerous and not 100% accurate. "With angst, she prayed for a sign, a rosebud, that all was well. A card came from her aunt. On the cover was a beautiful red rose with a perfect little rosebud. On faith, she declined the amnio and intuitively switched to an enlightened practice that includes midwives. Susan Akin, a certified nurse-midwife, who said, "You'll do fine," became a Birth Angel. Turning Scared into Sacred So what's influencing other women to take a proactive approach to their births? Why are some choosing natural birth in this day of epidurals, inducements and routine surgery? How do they face their fears? What did they do to prepare for birth mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually? Which comfort measures helped them most? What would they advise first-time expectant moms? As an award-winning communications professional, Kalena saw the need for positive stories with powerful answers. Trusting that birth is normal brings peace and helps prepare our souls. She conducted over 36 personal interviews that contain powerful testimonials to a new birth wave. The stories will become a published book, Natural Birth Secrets: Inspiring Strategies for How to Get the Birth of Your Life and 7 Steps for the Best Start for Your Baby in a Hospital, Birth Center or at Home. From waterbirth, hypnobirth, and VBACs to breech birth, twins and medicated first births then second natural ones, in hospitals, birth centers and at home, the women are cross-culturally mainstream. They're educated. Four doctors are included, three of whom are obstetricians that chose not only drug-free but out-of-hospital births. Dr. Margaret Christensen contributes to the book with this excerpt: "Storytelling is among the most ancient forms of healing and as women living today, we need to hear more stories about the strength, power and sacredness of our bodies and the normalcy of the birth process. As an obstetrician, I am well aware of the complications and need for medical interventions, which can be lifesaving when used appropriately. I am proud of my training, and of the fantastic advances of modern medicine. Unfortunately in our culture, we have been taught stories of fear and negativity surrounding the functions of our bodies as women, especially of birth. Our medical system supports this negative view. I was never taught about the wonder of experiencing the tremendous power and strength of my body, of the incredible sense of joy from completing such an arduous task, of the access to transcendent states of consciousness during labor, of the profound spiritual transformation possible in the process, of the lifelong well of courage available when one consciously chooses to face pain, fear, and the unknown in laboring and birthing new life. I was only taught that birth is a disaster until proven otherwise, best medicated, medicalized, managed and controlled. However, Western medicine is finally coming to validate scientifically what midwives and many women have understood for centuries. That all physical processes, including birth, as well as diseases have psychological, emotional and spiritual components that must be addressed and are likely to improve outcomes when a woman and her family is supported in a holistic manner." Forest Hills residents include Linda Ortman, who had a medicalized first birth with complications and birthed her second child with a midwife. Barb Michaels, a registered nurse, found a doctor who did hypnosis in the 60's for a drug-free childbirth. Barb was a doula for her daughter's natural births in Seattle. Michelle Witcher will tell you her second birth was "exhilarating." She had an unplanned natural birth 54 minutes after admittance. Dr. Melissa Crochet, OB/Gyn, chose the Birth & Women's Center on Swiss Avenue. Dr. Larry Diana, an anesthesiologist, provided current studies and an epidural needle, photographed by Neil Farris for the book. Professionals include anthropologist Robbie Davis Floyd, author of Birth as an American Rite of Passage as well as Sheila Kitzinger, a British author of many books like Pregnancy and Childbirth. Birthing a Book Here's a capsule of the publishing process. After the interviews and transcripts, Kalena hired a team: a storyteller, a writing coach, and an editor to help get her story ready to present. A proposal includes an overview and market analysis of competing books. Proposals shall be sent to targeted agents and/or publishers. "Many have offered suggestions, so I keep going." Kalena attended the conferences of the American Society of Writers and Journalists (ASJA) in New York and the Writers League of Texas in Austin and met agents. She also took steps to become media ready for radio and t.v. "We either expect an offer or we'll self-publish. I can do this. It's like birth... breathing, over-coming fears and believing in a higher purpose." "Instead of success or failure, birth or following your dreams is all about facing our fears and acting on them. Confidence empowers us for the next step in life. Parenting is by far a much longer and more challenging process." Kalena Cook wrote Packaging Nature, a look at the whole foods industry for her Master's Thesis. She continues studies as a Master Herbalist and intends to become a recognized educator in the field of Holistic Healing. Cook is a Member of the Writers League of Texas and The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS).