Advice, ideas, hints to help labour

[Geme26]

Hello

Just wondering what people were doing to get themselves through labour. Perhaps you have been through it before and found certain things helped, or maybe you have been given some advice?

This is my first and i'm due in 5 weeks time. But I like to be organised and so researching as much as possible...anything to help

So far I have...

1. Stay at home for as long as possible
2. Take a bath or shower to ease contraction pain
3. Hot water bottle (or ice pack whatever works for you)
4. Stay as relaxed as possible. Consider each contraction as a step closer to meeting baby. Take it one contraction at a time.
5. Stay positive. You can do this! This is what we are made to do.
6. Breathe. Deep even breaths.
7. Concentrate on something else, a picture, a photo, tv, mark on the wall through each contraction.
8. Squeeze something.
9. Keep as upright and active as possible between contractions.
10. Watch tv, do puzzles, read, play games whatever you like doing.
11. Have your partner rub your back, give you a hug if you want it.
12. I plan to use the birthing pool if available.

So anybody have anything else to add?

 

[Amygdala]

Learn about breathing/relaxation techniques. I knew about "deep, calm breaths" but when I got to the active stages of labour, all that went out the window. This time I'm trying to learn and practise more formal techniques, ie counting while breathing or visualisations etc.

 

[NaturalMomma]

Moving always helps me. With both of my homebirths I swayed, walked, squated, etc through labor.

 

[Geme26]

Learn about breathing/relaxation techniques. I knew about "deep, calm breaths" but when I got to the active stages of labour, all that went out the window. This time I'm trying to learn and practise more formal techniques, ie counting while breathing or visualisations etc.

This sounds really helpful. I was surprised that in our ante natal classes the midwife said she wasn't going to teach us to breath because we all know how to do that!
You always here of breathing techniques so it was a bit of a shock!

Guess I will just have to go with the flow!

 

[Geme26]

Moving always helps me. With both of my homebirths I swayed, walked, squated, etc through labor.

Yes I keep hearing this, so keeping active will be something I am planning on doing!

 

[MindUtopia]

My advice would be to do whatever you need to do to stay in your own quiet, safe, peaceful space minimizing outside distractions or interruptions (like exams or even tv/games). For me, the more focused I was and the less going on around me, the easier things were. Also stay focused on you breathing and keeping you breath slow, calm and controlled. My yoga instructor taught me to do 4/6 breathing (breathe in 4 counts and out for 6 counts) and that was so helpful. Lastly, one thing that really helped me was being reminded to keep my throat open and vocalizations low. That might not make sense now, but if someone reminds you at the time you'll know what to do. And just stay positive about it! It's totally doable and awesome.

 

[Geme26]

My advice would be to do whatever you need to do to stay in your own quiet, safe, peaceful space minimizing outside distractions or interruptions (like exams or even tv/games). For me, the more focused I was and the less going on around me, the easier things were. Also stay focused on you breathing and keeping you breath slow, calm and controlled. My yoga instructor taught me to do 4/6 breathing (breathe in 4 counts and out for 6 counts) and that was so helpful. Lastly, one thing that really helped me was being reminded to keep my throat open and vocalizations low. That might not make sense now, but if someone reminds you at the time you'll know what to do. And just stay positive about it! It's totally doable and awesome.

Thank you that is really helpful, and congratulations on your birth
I guess we all have our own ways of coping, and probably won't know what will work for me until i'm going through it myself. But all the same, it is nice to have a list of advice that I can fall back on if all else fails

 

[dollyemi]

I had a tens machine to help me through early labour (but buy some spare pads as I had been practising with them so on the day they weren't as sticky!) which you can rent from 37 weeks or buy.
That and the breathing, check if your hospital ante natal clinic offers a breathing and relaxation class. Mine did but I left it too late.

 

[chazzette]

bouncing or rocking on a birthing ball really helps

 

[mrscitysmith]

I had a 'happy place' in my head I went to. It helped relax me and pass the time during early labour.

 

[brunette&bubs]

All of the above that you mentioned but with my next I will be using hypnobirthing

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I like to make noise and moan when I'm in pain and when I was at home I found burying my head in a pillow and moaning through the contractions really helped! xx

 

[Geme26]

Thank you all! Lots of really good suggestions thank you

 

[butterflycake]

That all sounds fab! I really recommend learning a couple of hypno birthing / visualisation techniques........ I wasn't a believer inthis things really but oddly I found them more pwerful than painkillers..... ie in early contractions I would recite nursery rhymes in my head / visulaise a dandelion clock puffing away with each contraction - I've no idea where it cam from - however towards the end of labour I'd run out of steam and wished i'd have other mental imagery to keep focussed through contractions good luck - youre list is spot on L) xxxx