Childbirth can seem overwhelming and scary for any mom, but especially for first-time moms. It can be hard to wade through all the advice and opinions you’re given, not to mention your own fears. But it’s time to take it easy on yourself. We’re letting you know how you can prepare for your best childbirth.
Research and Create a Game Plan
We cannot emphasize this point enough–you need to do your research. First and foremost, research will give you the knowledge you need to make decisions that are right for you. Second, but not less important, is that it will help quell you fears. Most fears stem from the unknown, so equipping yourself with knowledge will help you better expect what is to come. This will allow you to breathe a bit easier as things unfold on delivery day.
After doing some research, it’s time to create a birth plan. This will help you create guidelines on both what you do and do not want for you and your baby. However, make sure these guidelines allow for situations outside of your control–childbirth is beautiful and unpredictable. But allowing for guidelines in varying scenarios will put to rest the “what ifs” in your head.
Practice Breathing Exercises
This one might be obvious, thanks to the innumerable lamaze classes out there. However, this is quite possibly the most important thing you could learn to aid in childbirth. Breathing exercises can help to focus and center your mind, as well as oxygenate your abdominal muscles, which keeps them more relaxed.
It also helps calm your nervous system, in turn soothing feelings of tension and stress. All of this will be so important when your brain and body want to focus on the pain–learning to center your mind will help immensely during delivery. However, don’t allow this to stress you out either. There is no right or wrong way to breathe. The key is simply to feel the breath as fluid, natural and relaxed.
Do Your Kegel Exercises
Another exercise? This might be one you hadn’t thought of yet. Kegel exercises work to tone the pelvic floor muscles, which of course, are integral during childbirth. They also create elasticity in the tissues and muscles of your pelvic floor, while also teaching you to relax the perineum. As your little one makes it’s way out, those muscles and tissues will be stretched. Kegel exercises help prepare you to make that space available.
Study and Practice Labor Positions
Did you know there were multiple positions available for you during labor and delivery? Most women imagine themselves lying still and in pain in a hospital bed–not necessarily the case!
Practicing these positions ahead of time can help them feel more natural and feel out what works better for you. Not only that, it can allow you to to connect better to your support system–partner or otherwise. Here’s an article on the positions, as well as the pros and cons of each.
Most importantly … Relax!
You’re going to do this, and it’s going to be the best day of your life. So take the above ideas to put your mind at ease, and then take some time for you. Do some prenatal yoga, take a walk with a friend, whatever calms you down and soothes your soul. Childbirth will come soon enough, and we’ll be here for you the whole way.
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