TheHolisticParent.ORG Preparing for Birth

Preparing For Birth

As natural as birthing a baby is, it does take some preparation. Preparing is fun though!
The most important thing to remember about birth is that your body can do it, and it is a
rite of passage. Women since the beginning of time have been giving birth in the same
way you will be. It is truly the most magical experience. So, what should you do to
prepare?

Read, Read, and More Read

An excellent way to educate yourself as you most certainly will want to be. You want to
know what the experience will be like, what awaits you. You want to know your options,
and you especially want to know what you don’t want to experience. If you just let the
experience happen, you risk being disappointed things didn’t go how you may have
been secretly wanting or possibly something worse could happen. Take charge and
educate yourself.

Write A Birth Plan

This is so important! You need a birth plan, a blueprint of your ideal birth. You need to
empower yourself. We have a whole section devoted to this in the Giving Birth part of
our website. Chec it out for more information.
Fears/Anxieties
It is sad, but in our culture, you will probably have some fears or anxieties tied to giving
birth. It is important to explore these to help alleviate your fears. You don’t have to be
fearful! Giving birth is one of the most wonderful things you will do in your life. Birth does
not have to be scary because it is amazing. Your body is so perfectly designed to give
birth. Yes your body! It’s beautifully perfect for birth. Educating yourself will help alleviate
some fears. Deciding how you want your birth to be will also help. Taking some
childbirth classes to prepare will help. This is also covered in detail in our Giving birth
section.

Childbirth Classes

Childbirth classes are really great especially if you’re a first timer. They can educate
you, prepare you, and empower you. Hospital sponsored childbirth classes are often a
disappointment. They don’t really teach you much, except how to be a compliant patient!

I took a Hypnobirthing course during my second pregnancy. It did help me. I learned
how to relax and let things happen naturally. I have to admit, I needed to practice it a
whole lot more. I don’t know how much I actually used it while I was in labor. Next
pregnancy, I would like to make it a point to practice the material more. I would
recommend it though.

Hypnobabies- From what research I have done, it seems hypnobabies gets a little
better reviews than hypnobirthing. I have heard it is more effective. You can also order
the program and do it at home. I think it is a bit cheaper as well. There is a difference
between the two programs or so I have heard, but I can’t list specifically what they are.

The Bradley Method- This method has been around for quite some time and comes
with great reviews. It focuses on how to be healthy during pregnancy such as nutrition
as well as preparation for the actual birth. The Bradley Method is also known as
husband coached childbirth with the focus being on empowering the husband to be
comfortable in the labor companion role as well.

Lamaze- This one seems almost everyone has heard of. I took this with my first
pregnancy from the hospital, and I didn’t use anything I learned while I was in labor.
People associate this method with the famous breathing, though in recent years, it has
expanded to encompass much more information. Some women do swear by this
method.

Optimal Fetal Positioning

It makes a difference what position the baby is in to be born. Now, babies do change
positions during labor. They have to turn and rotate through the birth canal. They can
also change positions at any point before labor. If the baby is posterior, meaning the
baby back is alongside your back, the baby will be born facing upward. This is often
called “sunny side up” or occiput posterior. The baby’s head is wider at this angle and
thus a bit more difficult to push out. This position can also result in painful “back labor”.
You want to try to avoid this if possible. Near the end few weeks of your pregnancy, don’t
sit reclined in a chair or on the couch too often. This increases the occurrence of this
position. Spend time sitting on an exercise ball and leaning forward. Practice being on
your hands and knees. These are great positions.
If you are induced, you run the risk of the baby not being in the optimal position because
you didn’t go into labor naturally. Sometimes, it is worth the wait for labor to begin on its
own instead of go through a more difficult labor.
If your baby is breech (feet or bottom coming first), doing a knee/chest position can help
baby turn. This is where you lay down and stick your rear end in the air. My midwife also
told me to put an ice pack on my upper abdomen when my baby was breech. There’s
evidence that babies do not like the cold on their head and will turn. My baby didn’t turn
back around when the ice pack was on there, but she did end up turning. Only about
5% of babies are breech when labor begins. The odds are in your favor.
If your baby is transverse, you cannot deliver vaginally. The good news is; this is rare.
Babies can flip from transverse to head down very easily. There are also therapies to
do if your baby is transverse. A chiropractor can help you there. Avoid prolonged areas
of reclining as this increases the likelihood of a transverse baby as well.

Inducing Naturally

If you’ve read our induction section under our Giving Birth tab, then you know I am not a
huge fan of inductions. I know the last few weeks are uncomfortable. I know you are
ready to meet your baby. I know it is hard to wait. Letting labor happen on its own
though is such a neat experience. It ensures the baby is ready to be born (in most
cases). It means the baby is more likely in a favorable position. It’s the day your baby
was divinely designed to be born. It empowers you to trust in your body. It can result in
an easier labor. There may be some times when you do need to induce, and the
natural approach will be a whole lot nicer of an experience.
Castor oil is popular. Some midwives stand behind it. Others don’t like it. It’s not the
nicest way to induce, however, because you run a great potential for your bowels to be
emptying out like crazy. Not a fun experience, especially during labor.
Evening primrose oil is a gentler option, but not nearly as effective. Basically, it softens
the cervix to get it ready for labor. Sex has the same effect because of the release of
prostaglandins.
I would say the best option is to use herbs to induce. Not always completely effective,
but nothing is.
My point here was not to instruct how to induce. If you choose to induce, make sure it is
for legitimate reasons. Ask for guidance from your care provider on this one as well.
Ultimately, if you can wait, do so. It is worth it.

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