Christmas Gift Exchange Game: "The Nativity"
Posted: 12/16/2011 07:51:00 KKonrad
[Download A Printable Version]
The OklahomaBirthNetwork hosted our annual Holiday Potluck Dinner for our professional members on November 29, 2011. We played this fun gift exchange game. Members were asked to bring a birth related white elephant gift (book or something they though they would use, but haven't and would like to pass on).
Christmas Gift Exchange Game: "The Nativity"
Written By : Kathryn M.L. Konrad, MS, RNC-OB, LCCE, FACCE
Directions: Each participant starts with a gift in hand. Participants stand (or sit) |
 |
The Story:
This is a story of a birth- a Christmas birth. The Christmas birth of Marion and
Jeff's baby. Marion and Jeff expected their first child around New Year's. They
planned and plotted the "perfect" birth. They wanted everything to be just
RIGHT. They choose the RIGHT doula and the RIGHT midwife. They went to the
RIGHT chiropractor, attended the RIGHT childbirth classes and the RIGHT prenatal
yoga classes. They knew everything would be just RIGHT for their baby and their
birth.
Marion LEFT her 39 week prenatal appointment feeling just RIGHT. She felt great.
She and Jeff were to appear in their church nativity that evening. They were so
proud to play Mary and Joseph. What could be more fun? They were thrilled
they were the RIGHT family to participate.
Marion and Jeff got ready for their nativity appearance. While Mary was dressing,
she felt so excited and nervous. Her back ached a bit, but this was pregnancy,
RIGHT?
As Marion leaned over the manger to place the baby Jesus, she thought she felt a
contraction! No, this can't be RIGHT. She wasn't due for another week or so,
there was so much LEFT to do! But then she remembered what the RIGHT
childbirth educator told her, prelabor warm ups were normal. Marion breathed a
sigh of relief- her childbirth educator, prenatal yoga instructor, doula and midwife
told her about these contractions. Marion was relieved. This was normal. She
turned LEFT to look at Jeff. He was busy chasing the runaway donkey on the LEFT.
Marion and Jeff continued to prepare the nativity. They moved the animals to the
LEFT side, the RIGHT side and finally LEFT them in their pens. Marion squatted,
bent, walked and was very active. She kept having prelabor warm ups, but this
was RIGHT, this was normal. She didn't even tell Jeff. Why worry him? There
was so much LEFT to do.
As people started to arrive for the nativity, Marion noticed the prelabor warm ups
were getting closer. They seemed stronger. She looked forward to putting her
feet up later that evening. She was certainly glad she brought her birthing ball to
hide under the straw to sit on! It felt just RIGHT. She settled in on her birthing
ball, humming Christmas carols, feeling all was RIGHT with the world. Jeff took at
a sly look LEFT to Marion. She seemed different today. She was glowing. He told
her so, that she LEFT him breathless. At that, Marion seemed breathless too. He
asked, "is everything all RIGHT?"
Marion said, "oh, yes, just some prelabor warm ups. Nothing that isn't just
RIGHT." Jeff was reassured.
But as the evening wore on, Marion seemed to have the prelabor warm ups with
more frequency. She walked to the RIGHT and to the LEFT. When no one was at
the Nativity, she rocked on her hands and knees and did some stretches. WOW.
These prelabor warm ups were getting serious. But everything seemed just
RIGHT. No reason LEFT to worry.
As the nativity continued, visitors commented on the glowing Mary and the
patient Joseph. Why they almost looked like the real Mary and Joseph in labor!
What a picture! The 3 wise women seemed like doulas and the angel the
midwife. Everyone LEFT the nativity saying how realistic it was.
Suddenly, Marion's water released. What were they to do! They couldn't leave
the nativity! Who would perform their roles? Marion and Jeff decided to stay
and finish the nativity. Early labor could take so long, it didn't seem RIGHT to
leave.
Marion continued to rock to the RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT. She was on the ball,
squatting and moving. She continued to sing Christmas carols. She felt this
was just RIGHT, laboring in the nativity.
Just as the angel finished her last song, Marion felt like she needed to push.
The urge LEFT her determined. She looked LEFT at Jeff and said, "the baby is
coming RIGHT now!" He was LEFT speechless.
The angel noted Marion's look of determinedness and knew she was RIGHT.
The baby was coming RIGHT now. Marion squatted with determination and
with one push, gave birth RIGHT in the nativity! The angel caught the baby and
placed her gently on Marion's chest. Marion and Jeff were LEFT overjoyed! What
a gift! What a miracle!
The baby went RIGHT to the breast. Marion and Jeff were LEFT relieved and excited
about their Christmas birth. The audience LEFT saying what a realistic nativity! It was
so real, it even included the birth!
(Now you may open the gift you are holding.)
This document is in Portable Document Format (PDF), you will need a copy of the newest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these documents. If the file does not open correctly, click here to download a FREE version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
