Pregnancy: Preparing for Labour Tips
I’m 30 weeks pregnant today. This is a major milestone for me. The week I have been hanging out to reach since I fell pregnant.
It’s the week where I heave a big sigh of relief.
I know that from this point onwards, should my baby be born premature, the chances of her survival are high.
I know that I am on the downhill slide and I can start preparing mentally for what is to come.
I know that I have only 8 weeks to go (please- hands on knees begging) and I can manage this.
Stretching for Change
I’m not one to stress or panic. I’m not going to rush around and get all the nappies in the nappy drawer, the room painted and her outfits planned for the next year.
My life is too transient and ever changing to place these hair pulling restrictions on myself. I know all she needs is lots of love. She wouldn’t know if there was a giraffe painted on the wall or matching sheet sets. But she will know if I am calm and happy. She will know if I am feeding her enough and cuddling her enough.
So for the next 8 weeks I work on preparing myself so I can give her all she really needs.
First things first.
Preparing for Labour
Rasberry Leaf Tea
I’m throwing out my one cup of coffee for the day and replacing it with cups, yes cups, of Rasberry Leaf Tea. It was my sister who encouraged me from the moment of conception with Kalyra to start drinking this as soon as I hit 30 weeks and I did.
Rasberry Leaf tea helps to tone the uterus which prepares it to deal with contractions effectively. It also helps tone your uterus back into shape after the baby is born.
Who knows for sure if it really made a difference, but there are studies to prove the benefits it has in assisting women through the childbirth and after.
Walking
This is one that I have been really upset with this pregnancy. I have not done enough walking. Again, my sister, after participating in a hospital study, proved that walking has tremendous benefits in making labour easier.
With Kalyra, I walked about an hour and a half every day. I find that extremely difficult now as I have a dawdling toddler by my side and really limited time.
But, from here on end I am focused on making up for that lost time and getting walking fit. If the rain would just stop.
Meditation
I was never into meditation when I was pregnant with Kalyra. It will be interesting to see the effects it can have on labour now. I know women who have said they felt no pain because of their ability to meditate. I don’t know if I am that good yet, but I do know it helps me to breathe, to focus, and to let go.
I will be meditating every morning from now on to get myself as good as I can be with it.
Yoga
I have been doing yoga about four mornings a week for the past month. It is the most magical way to start the day. I feel so energized, refreshed, and relaxed after doing yoga.
Not only is it good for breathing techniques, but it is also fantastic for strength, balance, and flexibility, all of which are needed to pull you through a gruelling labour.
Gratitude
How could anyone be grateful for labour? It’s the most painful experience anyone could ever go through.
Gratitude will help pull you through these moments. It will help you remember why you are doing this, and how you are the luckiest person in the world.
This little angel who is about to become your child, chose you for the job. They chose you because they believed you were the best person to give them what they needed.
What a miracle that is. It is these thoughts that make me so grateful, that help tune me into what needs to be done. I need to do this as someone else is relying on me to get it done in the safest, healthiest way possible. I’m grateful that I am strong enough, and I have the opportunity to do this.
Believing in the strength and power of womanhood
This might seem a ridiculous thing to think about, but this is truly what helped me get through my first birth with Kalyra and will get me through this one. I don’t want to take any drugs. I know this is not what is best for my child, so I am prepared to take the pain sacrifice.
The thoughts that get me to believe that I can do this are the following
Women have been doing this for the beginning of time, so why can’t I do it and be just as strong?
Women in Asia and Africa, give birth and then hours later are back tending to the fields. Why can’t I be this strong?
If they can do it, I can do it.
What are some of your preparing for labour tips? How do you get ready?
Comments
Alex
I’ve had a few children 1 with an epidural, 3 drug free. If you can, have a drug free birth. You’ll be amazed how quickly you recover afterwards. Yoga, meditation and staying fit are great ways to get ready for labour.
Caz
If all goes to plan it will be drug free. I really don’t want to unless I have to. I just wish I was fitter than what I am now.
Pip
I swear by Calmbirth tapes, listened each night intensly in months leading up to birth. Also a highly nutritious diet with magnesium and zinc featuring strongly and supplemented-said to ripen cervix. And as you said exercise, as body needs to be in tip top shape-i did aqua aerobics and spin classes up till a few weeks before birth. I focused on the ‘good’ stories people had to tell me, listened to some bad ones to prepare mentally if things didn’t go to plan. Coupled with revising instructions for the TENS machine I went into it as informed and prepared as if I was completing a marathon (which I’d decided the labour would be like). So go in rested , well trained, in top shape and with a plan. Most of all though j reminded myself to trust the female body-it’s an incredible piece of work! I managed a pain-free birth, with about 15 mins of pushing (though 10hrs of contractions)-some luck I guess but I was also pretty focused on the end goal of meeting my little girl in as healthy a state as I could offer her.
Caz
Thanks for the great tips. I’ve not heard of calmbirth tapes. I will have to look that up and the TENS machine- sounds scary. With Kalyra, I was so relieved when it came time to pushing. I felt as if I could finally do something with the contraction pain. The contractions were the hellish part for me, so I hope a lot of these things can help me cope with that.
kirri
Caz, I didn’t realise you were so far along in your pregnancy…how exciting 🙂
With my first pregnancy we didn’t own a car and used to walk everywhere…including to do grocery shopping and carrying a lot of heavy bags. I hauled ass everywhere, had a long 27 hour difficult labour but did it drug free because I know my body and it is sensitive…so I felt that if i took anything it would likely affect my abilities to give birth or my baby…It wasnt an option for me and I bounced back within two days. I know it had a lot to do with my personal firness, mental attitude and the support of my hubby who was there for me 100%.
Second pregnancy (twins!) was a whole other ball game. I was a lot bigger, constantly uncomfortable by 5 months and was forced to slow down a lot more than I would have liked….made me more open to meditation and trying to relax more….I had no choice but a c-section which I found scary and painful afterwards for a few weeks…but my girls were healthy and perfect and managed to stay out of intensive care. Both diff experiences and both required a diff approach from me both mentally and physically.
I like the sound of your game plan….you got it downpat!
Caz
Wow! You had two very different births. It sounds as if you were well prepared for both mentally, which plays a big part in making it the best it can be. A C-section scares me way more than natural. and i have heard how bad the recovery is. I’d rather have a quick recovery as you need your strength more once the bubs is here. I so wish I was much fitter this time around, I know it will make the experience a lot different. I’ll just do what I can now to catch up!
Andrea
Really liked your tip about not being stressed and worrying about the nursery or other things that aren’t that important. I think being a good mother will be heavily dependent on prioritizing. I’m not pregnant but am looking ahead to our wanting to try for a family next year…going to bookmark this page so I can look back when the time comes. Great, balanced tips =)
Caz
i think the nursery and that is so unimportant. We never did it for Kalyra and I don’t feel she missed out at all. She is happy and well loved and that is all that counts. I guess it’s similar to how so many people but so much time and energy into making a great wedding, but not so much on the marriage!! 🙂
Nicole @ travelingcanucks
Hi caz,
Our first little guy is set to arrive in November. I’m not sure exactly what to expect but I’ve never heard of rosemary tea at 30 weeks. Once I get there (8 weeks to go) I’ll start on the tea.
Love the blog 🙂
Caz
OMG! How did I miss this? i didn’t know you were pregnant!! How exciting. How are you feeling about it? Our babies can go backpacking together. The rosemary tea rocks. I’m drinking about 6 cups a day. 🙂 Send me a message if you ever want to talk about anything. Being a mum is so wonderful, but it can have its challenges. Get lots of rest from here on end.
Kristy
Good luck with your birth!
Quick question … Are you sure you don’t mean RASPBERRY leaf tea? Rosemary is good for memory, raspberry is good for improving uterine tone. It doesn’t taste great, but I swear it made a difference for me. Many midwives recommend it, although some say not until after 36 weeks. And you should wait until baby is head-down before starting the tea. 🙂
Caz
OMG! You can tell that I am pregnant. I can’t believe I wrote rosemary leaf tea several times and didn’t even pick up on it. I have a whole bag of Rasberry leaf tea here that I have been drinking every day for the past 3 weeks!! Thank you so much for letting me know my mistake. I have corrected it. Feel so foolish 🙂 I’ve gotten quite used to the flavour. I swear it helped me the first time as well.
Kristy
LOL I had to re-read it several times too! Perhaps we pregnant and new mums should also drink the rosemary tea if it does help our memories and brain power! I know I could use the help!
Caz
I definitely need the rosemary tea. 🙂 I confiscated a student’s ipod the other day at school and cannot remember what I did with it. It’s like I drank a bottle of vodka after it and have severe blackout. I now have to buy him a replacement.