Hello everyone,

This is my first baby and I have very little experience with regards to how to prepare for labour.

I am 18 weeks this week, and feel I should start exercises or classes, or at least start thinking about how to prepare for the kind of birth I want to aim for.

I thought it might be better to ask in Third Tri, where many of you are already approaching birth.

1. What did you start doing in Second Tri in terms of exercises/classes?

2. What are the various methods of birthing that are worth knowing about? I've heard of Bradley, Hypnobirthing, etc.

3. Any other advice?

Really appreciate your help. Please don't be overwhelmed by the length of my question - just share what you can.

Many thanks in advance!

Hey honey

Its good youre thinking ahead..it more than I ever did!! However, im sure there will be other women who disagree as we all do things differently but ive not dont a thing with regards any of the things youve asked...ive been doing my pelvic floor exercises ( when i remember a couple of times a week!! ) & i did general research on the web in terms of pain relief etc etc for labour.....but have to say ive been fairly relaxed about the whole thing which i dont think is a bad thing?? sometimes you can be TOO prepared u know hon?

You're probably best off asking your mw any specific questions you have with regards to relaxation classes etc in your area if thats the sort of thing you fancy & feel would benefit from?

Other than that maybe wait until you get to the 2nd & third tri - your mw probably seems quite relaxed at the moment with you but thats because unless youve had a difficult pregnancy so far for any reason ( i.e bledding etc etc ) then theres nothing really that you need to know

Go with the flow. eat healthily ( if you can! ) & do some gentle exercise ( if you have the energy to do so ) & just enjoy being pregnant!xxxx

I booked my antenatal classes at around 18 weeks. I went to mine between 28-33 weeks, I found them useful and will help answer your questions.

I don't know about all the different birthing methods you have mentioned but at the antenatal classes they went through births in the birth pool (which I would like to go for.)

Not sure about what exercises you mean apart from just doing your pelvic floor exercises (which I have to admit I've not really done them regularly enough.)

I would talk to your midwife and find out some of your options too. You've got plenty of time left to decide.

see i was told to book my antenatal classes at 25 weeks & then started mine last week ( at 32/33 weeks )!! different parts of the country work in different ways & to different time lines Ummar..you really are best off talking to your mw??Xxxxxx Good luck!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone - I have spoken to my midwife, and she says she'll refer me for classes much later on and many people have told me they found these classes fairly basic.

Babydreams321 - I'm already in my 2nd tri (maybe you meant I should wait till my third tri?).

I guess what I'm looking for advice on is non-NHS classes and birthing methods - stuff our mothers and grandmothers did to make labour easier, methods which today's medical professionals are losing touch with.

I am very keen on a natural birthing experience (although I am not dead against intervention if it becomes necessary) and so want to make sure I am physically preparing for it.

For e.g. the Bradley method teaches mums-to-be to do exercises and other training to builg up strength, stamina and confidence. There was a thread in 2nd Tri some time ago where the women were doing the exercises 'together'.

We did the NCT classes which were very good - they focused on active birthing, and natural birthing whilst still giving us all the information about interventions that we needed. It was also great for the social aspect, and meeting other mums to be locally.
Our classes took place at 28-30 weeks.

I also had intentions to go to aquanatal classes at the local pool, but unfortunately the midwife who taught them had broken her leg and so they have only restarted the last 2 weeks (a bit late for me now!). I still took the opportunity to go swimming each week - it's a great way to stay active, and a lovely feeling of weightlessness once you get bigger!

Pelvic floor exercises - best thing you can do!

Thank you - several people have told me swimming and aquanatal classes were really helpful. I think I'll start those now because I have a gym/pool membership that isn't getting used very much (I used to workout pretty hard 3-4 times a week before getting pregnant).

Are there links to what pelvic floor exercises to do? I have a few books I'm going through - I might find the info there but just wondering if there are online resources.

The best class I did during my first pregnancy was antenatal yoga. My teacher did a lot of breathing exercises to help during labour, and also lots of different positions to help get the baby in the right position and also to help with pain during labour. I found it helped my confidence because I felt in control of what was to come, and I had a very positive experience during the labour and birth.

Sorry yes i meant the third tri ;0) i hope you find the information youre after hon & good luck with rest of 2nd tri :0) xxx