Every time I am expecting a new baby, I try to do what I can to inspire myself to get through labor as well as possible. I'm not expecting rainbows and unicorns, but would like to eliminate as many variables as I can, while making it go smoothly and be manageable. After 5 births, I've learned a lot on what works for me, and what doesn't in many aspects. I shudder at how uninformed I was with my first baby, even though I thought I had become well informed. (Mayo Clinic pregnancy book..yikes!)
1) Read inspiring books on how a woman's body is meant for labor and how empowering it is to birth a baby. My favorite is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and I've read it through before each of my last babies. The most profound chapter is about "Sphincter Laws", and why so many women end up being induced or with C-sections due to the inability to dilate. She tells how this is a new problem, one we've created by taking women out of their safe, familiar surroundings and putting them on show for all to see and then expect them to 'jump through the hospital hurdles' so to speak. Can you pee in front of a crowd? Delivering a baby is much more complex and intimate, in yet our society expects women to just make it happen while the woman is in severe pain, fearful and under time constraints in a room full of strangers. Ya right!
I also generally read the Bradley books, but they are lent out right now so I wasn't able. I did save my cheat sheets from them for labor, so have reviewed them once again.
2) Red raspberry tea. I generally take this for the last 6 weeks of pregnancy to help tone and strengthen everything. It can be taken longer than that, but I usually forget. I drink 1 qt. per day, although more can be taken if you want. It's awfully boring to taste, so I mix a bag of it with of Sweet & Spicy to make it more palatable. I also take an herbal tincture called Gentle Birth, but it creates lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, so I use it as I can handle it. Too many contractions are kind of tiring, even though they are doing good things.
3) Webster certified chiropractor. This helps immensely in getting baby into the correct position for an optimal birth. I believe this is what has really made the difference in cutting my labor times in half, as well as getting rid of the back labor that I had with my first 3 babies. This is also what I used to flip Celeste from breech to the right way when she need flipping. Spinning babies website is another good option for exercises to get baby in an optimal position if the chiropractor isn't an option.
4) Exercise/birthing ball, weights and rebounder. Due to the yucky weather, I haven't been able to get out walking as much as I'd like, so these have been a lifesaver for exercise in the house. I still haven't exercised nearly as much as I would have liked (who does with 5 kids?) but try to do something every night before bed. Usually I do some kettlebell swings/squats with weights and then sit on my ball while stretching at least. Or walk on the rebounder with the weights works too. Hopefully it'll be enough! Ina May says that if every woman did 300 squats per day, then we'd see no difficulties in labor. Umm, yeah, not quite there!
5) Dates. Eating 6 dates per day is supposed to significantly shorten labor according to a few studies. I've been eating 2-3, because they're just plain good too!
6) Lots of calcium and protein and iron and probiotics. All of these build strong uterus-es, babies, help muscles contract and help you avoid Group B strep, so I try to get in as much healthy food each day as I can. I also usually have some body-building type drinks available for labor for added protein and calcium while in labor, as these will help sustain energy as well as reduce pain and aid in muscle contractions.
7) Learn more and more to build confidence. I try to avoid scary birth stories and focus on what my body is able to to (and other women's also) and remember my past birth stories and read other positive ones. My little sister told herself through labor, "It's just one day in my whole big, huge life. Suck it up!" That has helped me immensely too.
My favorite new website/blog I've discovered this pregnancy is Natural Birth and Baby Care and I've learned all kinds of new good stuff.
8) Review favorite Bible passages to boost me up. This is my list I made when I was expecting Elise, so it's been through 3 babies so far.
Eph. 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might."
Nehemiah 8:10"forthe joy of the Lord is your strength."
Ecclesiastes 3:11" He hath made every thing beautiful in his time"
2 Timothy 1:7 " For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
John 16:21" A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world."
Here's a couple of my favorite blog posts that I reread with each baby also.
Scriptural Encouragement for Preparing & Giving Birth
Embracing the Pain & Letting Go of Fear in Childbirth
Keep us in your prayers during these last couple weeks until baby is ready to meet us.
