When I was pregnant with my second baby, Henry, I knew that I wanted my birth to be different than my first (You can read about both of my birth experiences in my Epidural VS Unmedicated birth series). I wanted to feel in control, and empowered by my birth experience, and ultimately thats how I felt during and after Henry's birth. It was also an incredibly fast birth (less than an hour from beginning of active labor until birth), which was something that I had really been hoping for. There were many things that I did differently during my pregnancy with Henry to prep for his birth that I think were incredibly helpful. I want to share what I think was useful for anyone else who may want a natural birth or just wants to prep for birth in general. Think of it like a marathon- you wouldn't go into it without some training and preparation, right? Right. Now let's get down to it. Here's what I think was helpful:
Hypnobirthing Hypnobirthing was incredibly useful for me during not only my birth, but throughout my pregnancy. Hypnobirthing is a method for managing pain and anxiety during childbirth that involves breathing techniques and visualization. Garrett and I took a five week course with a local hypnobirthing instructor, and we really enjoyed it. It was a great opportunity for us to have weekly kid free time (for those five weeks at least!), and to bond and prepare for baby. The techniques that we learned in hypnobirthing class were priceless. I listened to my relaxation tracks nightly, while practicing my breathing and I was truly amazed at how calm I was able to stay while in labor- I can honestly say that the majority of my labor with Henry wasn't painful and I think that's due to how relaxed I was able to stay - my body was just able to do it's thing, and progress quickly with minimal pain! Hypnobirthing was also helpful during my pregnancy. Like my first pregnancy, I struggled with a bout of anxiety about halfway through and I was able to use the techniques I learned in hypnobirthing to naturally calm myself. Hiring a Doula As it turns out, our hypnobirthing instructor, Janice was also a doula, and we really enjoyed getting to know her during our classes. She was so knowledgable and calm, we knew we wanted her on our team during the birth. So we booked her for the birth, and I'm so glad we did. She was available for me throughout the pregnancy with any questions I had, helped with my birth plan, and was available as D-day approached and I experienced false labor multiple times. She even came over for a one on one guided relaxation session once I had passed my EDD, and tension was high for me. Funny story, Henry came so fast, that she wasn't even able to make it to the hospital before he was born (neither did my midwife! The Dr. on call at the hospital had to deliver), but she was there as my advocate after the birth while I was being stitched up, and beyond that checking in on me postpartum. According to Evidencebasedbirth.com, women who have a doula are 39% less likely to need a cesarean. That's huge, and that statistic alone makes it worthwhile in my mind to consider hiring a doula. Prenatal Yoga As I mentioned above, about midway through the pregnancy I dealt with a bout of anxiety that was really intense. I knew that I needed to find ways to calm myself, and practice self care. I decided to start a prenatal yoga class, and I am SO glad that I did. The class itself was time for myself to nourish my body and quiet my mind, but I was also able to use the poses that I learned in class daily to help prepare my body for birth. Holding some of the poses could get hard and uncomfortable, but the idea is to become OK with discomfort and learn to breathe through it. The concept of allowing the discomfort was so key in my birth prep, and really helped me to stay calm when the time came. I would highly recommend finding a prenatal yoga class in your area if you're able to. I looked forward to the class each week as time for myself and to connect with other Mamas, and having a knowledgable instructor was so helpful. Chiropractic Care I've seen a chiropractor at various points throughout my life, but during this pregnancy I decided to make chiropractic care a regular thing, and I'm so glad that I did. Chiropractic care will help keep your spine in alignment which can really be helpful for a smooth birth, and regular adjustments are also helpful for the lower back and sciatic pain that a lot of women experience during pregnancy. Avoiding Foods that I'm Sensitive to I've come to realize over the past couple of years that there are some foods that I simply don't do well with. Early on in my pregnancy when I was dealing with some nausea, I started eating things that I normally avoid like gluten and sugar, and I eventually started experiencing symptoms like migraines and anxiety. Once I really cut those foods back out, the symptoms backed off. Many women use pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever they want, and I totally understand that- you may be uncomfortable, tired, and you're growing a new life- you deserve whatever you want! But I believe that pregnancy is probably the worst time to let eating habits go. Look at it as self care. Giving your body the nutrients it needs, and avoiding the foods that you don't do well with are ways you can practice self love, and keep your body functioning well for labor. Helpful Resources Below are some resources that were helpful to me during my pregnancy: Websites: - EvidenceBasedBirth.com - MamaNatural.com - WellnessMama.com Books: - Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by, Ina May Gaskin - Birthing from Within by Pam England - The Mama Natural Week by Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by, Genevieve Howland - Hypnobirthing, The Mongan Method by, Marie Mongan Others: - Peaceful Birthing (Doula and hypnobirthing classes) - Earthside Yoga (Prenatal yoga) What are some helpful things you did during pregnancy to prep for labor? Let me know in the comments below!
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Rebecca JamiesonI'm the Mama of two boys, and wife to a good man. I'm on a mission to make healthy living more attainable for families. Archives
December 2019
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