On Thursday, May 9 I will be a panelist at the FREE Prenatal & Postnatal Seminar for Moms at 5 Koshas Yoga and Wellness in Wausau. In preparation for this event, I will be writing a few posts about things that worked for me during these times: prenatal, labor, and postpartum.
This list is not meant to be all-encompassing. Rather, it is a short list of the advice I found most useful during my two pregnancies. Congratulations on this wonderful chapter of your life, and please remember to consult your health care provider before making any medical decisions!
Congratulations on this wonderful chapter of your life!
1. It can be Hard to Know When to go to the Hospital
You are supposed to go to the hospital (or wherever you’re birthing) when contractions are 4 minutes apart, last for 1 minute, and have been going on for at least 1 hour. But there are a lot of other stipulations. A few of them are if your water breaks and if you’re unable to talk through contractions. If you’re unsure if you should go to the hospital, just call your hospital’s nurse line, or your midwife.
During my first labor we went in to the hospital when contractions were 4 minutes apart, were lasting for 1 minute, and had been going on for 1 hour. Unfortunately, I wasn’t far enough along, and got sent back home for a few hours. During my second labor my water broke, which meant I had to go in right away. No difficult decisions that time around!
If you’re unsure if you should go to the hospital, just call your hospital’s nurse line, or your midwife.
2. Bring Copies of your Birth Plan to the Hospital
Make sure whoever is delivering your baby has a copy of your birth plan. Have your support person give a copy to every person in the room. Tape one to the door or attach it to the whiteboard with a magnet. Whatever your strategy, make sure you’ve informed your birth team of your goals.
It’s great to have a birth plan, but it’s equally important to have a backup plan. What will you do if you want to go all natural, and after a difficult and unproductive labor you are told you need a c-section? You will still have choices, so it’s a good idea to look at those options.
It’s great to have a birth plan, but it’s equally important to have a backup plan.
3. You Will Need Coping Strategies
During early labor it’s helpful to find distractions. Tidy up around the house, watch your favorite show, take a shower, do any last minute packing, take a walk, etc.
When labor gets more difficult, it may be helpful to have a mantra; I can do this, I am strong, My baby is coming, etc. It is equally important to make sure your support person or partner has some ideas of ways to give you verbal praise, such as, “You are doing great! Nice calm breaths.”
Your support person/people can help by providing you with sounds, scents (lavender or another relaxing scent), guided visualization, movement suggestions (tub, birthing ball, holding partner and swaying, etc.), and massage that relax, distract, or motivate you as needed.
During my first labor I had painful back labor. One remedy to back labor is counter-pressure so my husband was kind enough to press on my back during all of my contractions towards the end of my labor. I also had a mantra. “You are strong.” During my second labor my water broke before my contractions started, which seemed to make labor very intense. There were multiple times where I felt like I couldn’t keep going. One thing that gave me consolation was the memory of my Bradley Method birth instructor telling us that when you feel like you just can’t do it any longer that this feeling is a sign the you will be pushing soon.
You are strong.
4. Childbirth is such a Special Experience
Remember that after all of the months of carrying your baby, and after the hours of labor, you will have a baby in your arms. Your labor is the story of how your baby came into this world. Embrace your story and snuggle your baby. There is no greater joy!
Stay tuned for my postnatal advice later this week!