Whether you’ve just found out that you’re expecting, or the birth of your child is imminent, there’s nothing wrong with planning your little one’s arrival and looking ahead to the future and what the labour room might hold. Of course, planning your labour can be incredibly daunting and your midwife will be able to go through the appropriate options with you and what kind of birth you should expect to have.
But how do you plan for labour? Scented candles and whale song playlists aside, is there anything else you could be doing to ensure it goes as smoothly as humanly possible? Read on for some simple, straightforward ways you can prepare yourself for labour.
Understand the realities or birth injuries
This isn’t meant to frighten you. But it’s worth knowing that birth injuries or mishandled births occur more often than you might think. Again, this isn’t meant to make you feel anxious, but many postpartum women agree that providing yourself with as much information about all the aspects of childbirth makes them feel in much more control and able to cope if things do take an unexpected turn – if you’re looking to find a cerebral palsy lawyer, click the link. In short, the better informed you are, the more confident you feel. Which leads us on to the next point.
Keep a positive mental attitude
It’s quite disheartening when you tell people you’re expecting, and they go on to tell you all about their own bad labour experiences. It’s incredibly frustrating and it can make you worry! The best idea is to surround yourself with as much positivity as you can. Read about good birthing experiences and take positive steps to prepare yourself for the unexpected. E.g. what pain relief you would prefer or if you can’t have a birthing pool what would you choose to have next? Turn every potential negative into a positive!
Don’t get stressed over your hospital bag
You’re probably familiar with the fact that you need to pack a bag to take along to the hospital with you. You’ll need clothes for the baby, nappies, clothes and nursing bras for yourself and a whole host of other items. Unfortunately, this simple and seemingly straightforward task has the potential to be a little overwhelming and stressful. What if you forget something? Should I take this just in case? Do I need this? Etc. The best advice is to keep it simple. You’ll find plenty of lists and advice online about what to take to the hospital with you and remember that if you do forget anything, the hospital may be able to provide it for you.
Put your health first
Are you keeping hydrated? Are you moving your body every day and getting in a little gentle exercise? Looking after yourself is not only imperative when you’re pregnant but it helps you to prepare for labour and it gives you strength and endurance. Weight gain is natural during pregnancy but try to keep it within the natural parameters to avoid complications. Getting regular exercise has obvious health benefits but it can also encourage your baby to move into the headfirst position.