8 things you can start doing now, to prepare for your natural birth.
Our grandmothers gave birth naturally because they had to, and our mothers just rave about the epidural, wondering why the hell you wouldn’t want to get one. Benefits of an unmedicated birth often contribute to better postpartum recovery, shorter labors, less chance of tearing, higher rate of successful breastfeeding, and overall an empowering experience for many mothers. Let’s talk about what you can do to start preparing yourself- mind and body, to give birth with minimal intervention as possible.
8. Choose your birth team wisely.
It’s your birth and you should do it how you want. Having a birth team that supports your decisions is a great way to ensure that even in the trying moments, you will be met with love and support.
7. See a chiropractor
There are many chiropractors that specialize in mothers and babies specifically, and they’re exactly who you want to seek care with. Regular adjustments during pregnancy can help relieve hip and back pain. In your third trimester, adjustments help to keep the pelvic aligned and open, which is helpful for when a baby needs to pass through.
ALSO: You can take your infant to be adjusted after birth. The nervous system greatly benefits from chiropractic care and aids with digestive issues, breastfeeding/latch problems, and help to keep their immune system strong.
This was my 6 week old being adjusted by Dr. Jen Givens of Ignite Family Chiropractic
6. Stay physically active
Go for a walk, stretch, run if you feel up to it. Staying physically active during pregnancy attributes to your physical endurance and will help your body withstand the physical demands of labor.
5. Learn about birth and the process
Sign up for an awesome child birth class, like Birth With Knowledge with Lora Fiala, a local Evidence Based Birth educator in Phoenix. The power of understanding what your body is going through, is what helps you not to fear it.
4. Do your kegels
squeeze real tight, and let loose. Stimulating and engaging the muscles in your pelvic floor helps support your uterus, bladder and bowels. During the pushing phase, this will come in handy to have the control of being able to relax your pelvic muscles enough to let your baby pass through. Tense muscles are counter-productive to the process.
3. Get a birth ball
Sitting on a birth ball keeps your posture optimal for a baby's positioning and to engage into the pelvis for labor. This is a great tool for labor as well, and can be utilized in many ways. Making sure that you have the correct birth or yoga ball size is important. When sitting, your thighs should be parallel to the ground. If your birth ball is just a little too big, you can let some air out to allow your body to sink in slightly. Roll your hips around. Do figure 8s. Get a little bouncy.
Curtain String lights - Amazon
2. Prepare your birth space
You should feel calm, relaxed and safe while you labor. Even if you are planning to give birth in a hospital, you should bring things with you that help make you feel comfortable. This could be affirmations that you hang on the wall in front of you for something to focus on, or a birth playlist on your phone that brings you peace. If you are giving birth at home, you are able to really prepare. String lights are easy on the eyes, and affirmations hung around with to focus on. Having a serene space that you work on ahead of time is helpful. Not only is it good to have a designated space, but having a place to envision your birth will help manifest good thoughts surrounding your birth, which brings me to the last, and very most important tip…
Get your mind right
The MOST important thing you can do for yourself, is to mentally prepare. Envision meeting your baby, and practice what you will do to cope with your labor. Get into a head space often, that lets you connect with your spiritual self. This is probably the most life changing event that you will mentally and physically go though, and doing the mental work beforehand is so crucial to setting the stage. Telling yourself that you can do it, leads to believing you can, and believing you can is the reason you WILL.
I hope you found this AWESOME list helpful. What else has helped you to prepare for natural birth leading up to it? Leave your suggestions in the comments!
Carey Lauren Photography is a photographer & videographer specializing in birth serving the Phoenix, Arizona & all major surrounding cities including Peoria. Read more about Carey, here
