Preparing for Birth
Teas for your uterus? Exercises and stretches? Picking out essential oils to create just the right vibe in your birth space?
There are a number of things you can do to try and set the stage for a fast, easy, and positive birth.
Knowledge is power, of course! And feeling like you have some semblance of control can be incredibly reassuring.
But sometimes, feeling like you have to do all of the things to have a perfect birth ends up creating extra anxiety.
It can be overwhelming, but there are ways that you can simplify this process!
So what are the essentials that’ll have the most impact? Here’s what you can do to ready your body and mind to give birth without driving yourself crazy.
Educate yourself
Knowledge is key for making informed decisions during pregnancy and childbirth. But there is such a thing as too much!
Try taking a childbirth class! Local hospitals, your OBGYN, or even independent educators will hosts them.
The goal of these classes is learn the basics of the labor process, including how to know when it’s time to get to the hospital or birthing center, or call your midwife.
It’s also helpful to learn about the different kinds of interventions that are often offered during labor, so that you can learn the risks/benefits and make informed decisions.
If you want to dig deeper into certain things, like pain management options, talk with your doctor or midwife.
Choose your care team and birth place
Birth is a transformative experience, sometimes becoming messy and complicated. Ensuring that you’re surrounded by people you trust and are somewhere you feel comfortable is extremely important.
In fact, research shows that where a woman gives birth has more impact on her birth outcome than her actual health conditions! Allow yourself time to explore your options.
Many more pregnant women are choosing to work with a midwife. These practitioners may be able to offer a more personalized and empowering birth experience.
There’s also some evidence that midwife-led care leads to better outcomes and greater satisfaction with the birth experience than other (physician-led) models of care.
Even if you already have a relationship with an obstetrician or midwife, you may want to consider hiring a doula! Doulas are non-medical support people, trained in emotional and physical supportive roles to help in the birth space.
Having continuous labor support in the room during labor is the only intervention that research has shown improves health and satisfaction outcomes! In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests including a doula in your care for continuous support and improved outcomes.
Make it a point to move
Moderate daily exercise can help you feel your best throughout your pregnancy and labor. So what should you be doing? Walking is one of the best workouts out there — and you can do it right up until baby’s birthday! It can help get your body in shape and improve stress.
That’s not all. Research recently concluded that regular walking while pregnant can reduce the risk for complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and low birth weight!
As for dedicated prenatal workout classes? They’re not a must, but a weekly class can be worthwhile if you can manage the time.
These classes can also be a great way to meet other moms-to-be!
Mindfulness and Prayer
Mindfulness meditation can help moms manage anxiety and fears, as well as reduce symptoms of prenatal and postpartum depression!
You don’t need to spend hours doing it. I love the Headspace app! Start with 5 minutes a day, and if you enjoy it, build up from there if you’d like.
As a Christian, I believe in the power of prayer. Ask for patience, peace, and strength during the pregnancy and birth journey!
Don’t focus on what other moms did
Maybe your friend swore that acupuncture and chiropractic care were the keys to her speedy labor.
Talk to a group of new moms or go online and you’ll find no shortage of remedies to jump start your labor or make it go faster. But the success of most natural induction methods isn’t necessarily backed by science. They may work! But they also may not do much of anything. Keep that in mind!
That’s not to say they’re not worth trying. But don’t feel like you’re doing pregnancy or labor wrong if you don’t read up on every holistic remedy for labor and birth!
It’s okay if you want to try a natural remedy (In fact, I love holistic medicine in tandem with modern medicine). Just run it by your midwife or doctor first!
Finally, remember that the labor and delivery journey is just the beginning of your experience. There’s a whole chapter even after birth. Don’t get too caught up that you stress yourself out. You’re doing a great job, mama.
