Preparing for the delivery

[Lani Earlybird]

Hey everyone, I wanted to start this new thread for all of us moms to share tips or suggestions that could help others who are preparing to have a baby. Before I had my son, especially in the last few months of pregnancy, I was eager to know as much as I could about what the delivery was going to be like, and I found a few things that helped me greatly. I'll list them here, and open the discussion for anyone who found techniques that worked for them for others to benefit from.

1. Exercise. I didn't do anything complicated or strenuous, but I did find it very helpful to go for a daily walk. This helped to keep me moving and active so that when the day came for me to do all the work, it didn't exhaust me as much as it could have if I was spending most of my time in bed (of course counsel with your doctor, because some women need extra bed-rest during pregnancy)
2. Raspberry leaf tea. This is supposed to tone and strengthen your uterus and cervix, so that when you start having contractions, each one is more effective, therefore shortening the time you would be in labor. I drank about a liter a day from the 5th month on, and while there is some debate on how effective it is, my labor was only 4 hours long, as opposed to the average of first-labors being between 10 to 20 hours.
3. Breathing exercises. At first I thought that I couldn't be bothered with it, but I'm glad my birth coach insisted on my learning and practicing (I used Lamaze breathing techniques, but there are others as well) this played a tremendous role in helping me to remain relaxed, focused and to actually enjoy the experience.
4. Focus on the end result. When you start to get worried about the pain, or start feeling the pain, think of that adorable little angel that you're going to hold, and how it's YOURS! Focus on that, and keep breathing!

Hope this was a help to those who are interested!

[nhockaday]

It's a good idea to prepare, but my best advice would be to be prepared for it not to go the way you envision. Everything I did to prepare myself was in vain.
And I would be careful with the raspberry leaf tea. It tones the cervix and is not supposed to be used until later in the pregnancy.

[Celeste]

On the advice of a midwife, I started drinking raspberry leaf tea towards the end of my eighth month and my labour was 5 hours which is meant to be short for the first child.

[Skylark]

Granted, things might go differently from what you envisioned, and it is good to be open to accept that ( good point, for sure!)

But also  A LOT depends on proper preparation, knowledge of your options (there are a lot you can do to ensure natural, good experience), good labor support and good choice of your providers!

I love the idea of this thread! Good information is very important!

I have some info packs I was putting together for my work, I will try to share some of the good tips for healthy pregnancy, natural labor and safe delivery -- not textbook standard articles, but rather good solid advice from midwives who have the most experience and best outcomes in the field of natural birth.

Lets all contribute! K2U for suggesting it.

PS In my personal experience, -- I was preparing myself for the best outcome ( was willing in my heart  though to accept and do my best in case of some unmanageble complications ( there is always a chance but with the good natural birth provider and solid preparation, the chances are truly nim)), and end up having a better birth experience then I imagined. Home. -- 5 hours after birth ( and my baby was posterior with hand next to the head position!)

Looking forward to supporting each other and new mommies!

[sarahjean]

We came to live in China while I was pregnant, knowing that I would give birth here. For that reason, I was unable to take prenatal classes. I did, however, use my own breathing technique of simply taking long, deep breaths through each contraction and focusing on nothing but breathing. As a result, my labour was fairly easy and not once in the whole 44 HOURS did I question my desire to have many children.

After three months we were pregnant with number two and in January, I will employ that technique (still here in China) once again!

[Isabeau]

Great idea!
I have had two babies, both without any epidural or pain medication. 

For the first I was induced (blood pressure problems). It was pretty tough. I've heard of some people electing to be induced because they want to.  If you don't HAVE to be induced, I would avoid it and let it happen naturally. 

Delivery number two was, comparatively, a breeze.  I could chat between contractions even before and while I was pushing.  The contractions still really hurt, but there was a break between them, and that was golden.  Nothing like the induction.  Very manageable without any pain meds.

Also, I read (or was told?) to talk myself through contractions.  I did that, and it seemed to help.  Just kept my eyes open and looked around and talked to myself (in my head) about what I saw -- "Okay, here's a contraction.  I see trees.  I feel the car turning on a curve in the road.  I see street lights."  And at the hospital "I hear the nurses talking.  I feel the cold air blowing on my forehead.  I see a picture on the wall of a baby in a flower pot (stupid Anne Geddes posters!).  Who puts their baby in a flower pot?" (yeah, that was a dialogue from my labour that I remember having with myself about the pictures on the wall.  For some reason it worked and got me through the contractions -- distracted me maybe??

Oh, and I was really hoping for a natural birth, without pain meds.  The best advice that I got was "when you get to the point that you don't think that you can stand it anymore, and you start begging yourself for the pain meds, you know that you're ready to push and it's almost done, so don't give up!"  It was true for me both times. 

Just my experience! 

[laughingwater]

I would highly recommend the book "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" to anyone who is preparing for having a baby.  Prior to reading this book I feared the pain that would accompany labor and reading this book for me changed my frame of mind from one of fearing the experience to looking forward to it as something to experience. When my labor did start I was so happy to have the process underway. The book is written by a midwife who does support natural childbirth, and even though I did choose to have an epidural I still felt so much better prepared and relaxed after reading the book.

[texaslady22]

I'm currently prepping for childbirth myself--we could have our 2nd baby any day now!!

My first was an emergency C-section with no labor at 34 weeks. I never had a contraction, I never dialated--we just had to get that baby out due to blood pressure issues.

This time around, I'm going for an all-natural VBAC at a birthh center. I'm excited because I'm 9 months pregnant--I've never been this pregnant. We know it could be any day now and we're thrilled beyond belief.

I don't have any advice (yet) but I'll post once I get through it.

[DannyandAmy]

Remember that the birthing process is not done by the mother alone, nor the baby alone. It is a combined effort by both the mother and baby. When you have a contraction, allow the baby to do his or her job to move forward (more downward), by focusing on your cervix and allowing it to open. HELP the baby, and the baby will help you. Do not 'run' from the inevitable; gracefully embrace this beautiful process of childbirth and both you and the baby will remain calm (and therefore safe). If you focus on this, it will be an easy childbirth and neither will have complications.

I recommend the book The Secret Life of the Unborn Child by Thomas Verny, M.D., with John Kelly. You will be shocked at the affect NOT remaining calm will have on your baby.

[nohayo]

A tens machine was a lifesaver for me with the pain! I didn't really think it would work that well  So I'd recommend buying / renting one...

Also hot compresses for my back and legs etc...

I swam a lot too throughout pregnancy and I think that really helped my body

[rizoo]

hi , 123hereicome
thanks for this topic and good information.  this is very important information for me and those who are getting ready to have birth.

[TristanR]

This was fun to read for me.  Here is my situation:
I'm getting ready to have my 6th child in a few weeks.  My 5 previous deliveries have been vaginal, no pain medication.  However, my body had an odd quirk - it does not sustain contractions.  Even when I have my water break naturally and walk into the hospital to meet my midwife already dilated to 7cm, I don't have contractions.  So I have also ended up being on pitocin each time.  Sigh.  Pitocin is not fun! 

Anyway, I am ever hopeful that my body will do the contractions on it's own this time, so we'll see!

[amath]

Hi all,

This is indeed a very good topic and i love the information i am getting. I hope that my preparation for my first child would be great    ..

Thanks all and hope i'll get more information through..

[mirra]

Few days before my term was complete, waters broke. And no contractions . With medicines there was contractions, but to avoid complications they did c section. I wanted to have water birth, but ended up as c section...

[Skylark]

How many days did you wait after the water broke for contractions to start? So sorry to hear it worked that way, but happy that everything worked out and you have your little one in your arms!!!! Congratulations!

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