Is it really possible to have an unmedicated birth be blissful?
🙌🏽 Yessssssss it sure is!!!! 🙌🏽
When you’re pregnant or maybe before you even become pregnant, you hear all these horror stories about how much childbirth hurts and that Sally down the street ripped to her butthole and Amy at the supermarket screamed at her husband that “he did this to her and she hated him.” Well, even if a person had a horrendous labor and birth experience that doesn’t mean you will.
If this has been your introduction to birth then you’re in for a pleasant surprise…
Birth 👏🏽 Does 👏🏽 NOT 👏🏽Have to be that way!
Whether this is your 1st or your 8th child, you can train your mind and body for a blissful experience.
Here are 10 things to work on to prepare for your baby’s labor and birth:
Hire a Doula
According to a 2017 Cochrane review, mothers who received continuous labor support from a partner, or doula were more likely to give birth vaginally, less likely to need forceps or c-section, had a faster labor, and were more satisfied with their birth experience 💁🏽♀️
Choose the right provider
This may feel daunting but you want to make sure your provider is on board with you having an unmedicated birth, if they seem pushy about you getting some type of pain relief then that could be a red flag 🚩 Make sure their c-section rate is low, and look for a provider that works directly with parents and will actually be the person at your birth. If your provider rotates with other doctors that will be on-call for births then you may not even get the provider you want.
Take a natural birth class
People who take a childbirth education class have a 95% chance of having a vaginal birth according to a study published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 👩🏽🏫
Classes using the Bradley method or hypnobirthing not only learn hands-on coping mechanisms but also mental strategies for handling the throws of labor
Write out a birth plan
A birth plan is helpful in writing down your preferences but it also kinda forces you to research what you want to be done to you or your baby. 📝
Some things to consider are:
-Who you want at the birth
-What type of coping strategies you want to try
-If you want delayed cord clamping
-Baby to get eye cream, or any pokes they offer
-If you want to keep your placenta and so much more…
Women who go into labor with a birth plan are 10% more likely to have a vaginal delivery!
Labor at home
If you are giving birth in the hospital, it is in your best interest to stay at home as long as possible. When laboring at home there is less chance for interventions (Pitocin, epidural, continuous fetal monitoring, cervix checks & IV placement)
When laboring at home it is best to eat, drink, rest and relax as much as you can because labor could be a marathon not a sprint. 🏃🏽♀️💨 Of course, there are women who have precipitous labors but just plan for the marathon so your body is well nourished and prepared to labor as long as it takes to get baby born.
Embrace the Contractions (waves)
When you fear something, that fear creates tension. In labor tension is one of the worst things to have.
If you want your body to contract effectively you have to remember that they only last for 1 minute at a time and you can do anything for 1 minute!! 🕰️
Another way to embrace them is to visualize them as being waves that you’re riding 🌊
Remember, these waves have a purpose, they are bringing your baby closer to being in your arms! 🤱🏽
Exercise Regularly
Like I said, prepare for a marathon. You may not be running 26.2 miles but it might feel like it by the time you’re done! Being physically fit can help you withstand labor as well as help you recover faster in your fourth trimester. Aim for doing something daily and that doesn’t mean you have to do a balls to the walls workout. 🏋🏽♀️Spending just 30 minutes doing something like walking, swimming and yoga can help with flexibility and endurance.🏊🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🚶🏽♀️
Make sure you listen to your body when attempting any activity.
Utilize Natural Pain Management Techniques
You can try some or all of these suggestions!
-Move around, squat, rock, sway by yourself or while holding onto a person/partner
-Water therapy by taking a bath or just standing or sitting under the water in the shower
-Massage
-Acupressure
-Getting adjusted by a Webster-certified chiropractor
-Warm/cold compresses
-Tens unit machine
-Meditation or Hypnosis
-Breathwork
-Essential oils applied directly to your skin or aromatherapy with a diffuser running in the room
-Using a birth or peanut ball
-Changing positions
-Emptying your bladder every 30 minutes, the toilet has been coined as the “dilation station” try it, I dare you! 🚽
Environment Matters
Make sure the area you’re laboring in is quiet and dark. This can help you feel less pressure because you don’t have a spotlight on you so to speak.🤫🕯️
Keeping photos of things that make you happy and calm can help. Try a picture of a beach, or if you have other kids maybe you have a picture they drew that lights you up.
Birth affirmations are a great tool to utilize as well, they can be as simple as “You can do this” to something like “my body was made to do this and my baby will be born exactly when he/she is ready”
Cover all the clocks
This final tip might be exactly what you need. Don’t obsess over timing your contractions or seeing how long you’ve been in labor. This may make you anxious and your body and baby will feel that anxiety, it may be tempting but just don’t! Live in the moment, even though it might feel like you’ll be in labor forever, I promise you won’t!
Of course birth can be sooo unpredictable but as long as you prepare your mind, body and soul then you’ll do amazing things and be on your way to that blissful birth experience… 😁
It might not be easy but you can do hard things, I believe in you!! 🦸🏽♀️👶🏽
