If you're celebrating Christmas, you're celebrating a home birth | Chicago Home Birth Muslim doula

As Muslims, we don't celebrate Christmas, but we love our prophet Eissa (Jesus) peace be upon him. If you're celebrating Christmas today, then you're celebrating a home birth. There's really no second guessing it. There is a lot I want to say about celebrating Christmas during these turbulent times, but I will save that for another time. For now, I really want to highlight home birth.

Actually, if I want to get *really technical* Maryam AS (Mary) had a free birth - an unassisted birth; when a woman gives birth without the presence of medical professionals. Maryam AS gave birth to our prophet Eissa (Jesus Peace be Upon Him) in seclusion, near a tree. We know it's a palm tree; in the Quran Allah ordered her to shake the tree branches so the date fruit can come down and she can nourish herself during labor and immediately after birth.

Two things we can conclude from this story: 1. Homebirth is a safe option for low risk pregnancies (that's the majority of women) and

2. Eating and drinking during labor has been happening since thousands of years. I'm not saying go out and eat a five course meal or anything too heavy while you're laboring (I'm 90% sure you won't even feel like eating anything at all!) but you should definitely not be starving yourself. Labor can be long and exhausting. It will require energy. Fuel your body with simple things like honey sticks, dates, toast. Simple foods.

Have you considered a home birth? What questions do you have that I can help you answer? Comment below and let’s start chatting!

About Salam Birth Services

Hey there, I'm Lana, the human behind Salam Birth Services! I'm a Chicago-based birth photographer, doula and childbirth educator covering mainly the Western, Northwestern and Southwestern suburbs, but feel free to reach out if you live outside those borders to enquire about my availability.

You can find me on Instagram , or you can get in touch here by sending a message!