BLACK : THE HEALTH MAGAZINE Vol3 | Page 8

My first encounter with the emotion upheaval which childbirth would bring to me occurred as I lay in bed during the final phases of my active labor. I was present. I was calm. And then, my body erupted into a sudden, turbulent episode of shaking. My teeth were chattering, my body was tremoring and I had no clue of the cause. I later learned that the shaking I experienced is a common occurrence for some women and may be due to hormonal changes and/or anxiety. Though the cause for the episode is uncertain, I do know that it was a manifestation of the verity that I could not control this journey. The truth was that no matter how much preparation, planning, and positive affirmations I utilized, there would be aspects of my venture into motherhood that I would not be ab