When you are pregnant, one of the things you are probably spending countless nights worrying about is the prospect of being in labour.
We’ve all seen it in films, in TV shows and we’ve all heard real-life horror stories.
It isn’t pretty, and it hurts.
That much we know.
But it is important to not get too bogged down by the negatives of giving birth and let yourself get upset and stressed by the thought of it in the lead up to your birth.
This stress and anxiety won’t be good for you or your bump, and, in fact, getting really worried and uptight about giving birth before it happens can make the experience of giving birth worse.
So, to help prepare you in a more positive way, here are some things that you can proactively do to prepare yourself in the best way possible for labour.
Do yoga and stretching
Yoga is great for pregnant women, especially if you do poses and routines designed for pregnancy itself.
Strengthening your core and cervical muscles will help you immensely when it comes time to push during labour. You can help to prepare the muscles that will be needed during this process so that the whole process is easier.
The best way to do this and to know what muscles to work on is by reading books about pregnancy yoga, attending classes, and/or watching online tutorials on this specific kind of yoga.
Go to classes
Speaking of classes, there are a lot of classes out there specifically designed to help you prepare for giving birth.
You can go with your partner, a friend, your own mom, or by yourself.
In the times of post-covid, some of these classes might have moved online but all you will need to do to find the information you need is a quick Google.
These classes can be great to put your mind at ease about birth and help you get to know the ins and outs better. A lot of them will also help you prepare for what happens after birth and help you learn about what to do with a newborn baby.
On top of all of this, you can meet a lot of other expectant parents at these classes and this is a great way to make new friends and make new connections. It’s always good to talk to people who know exactly what you are going through. Meeting people with the same worries as you should help you put your mind at ease.
Meditate and practice breathing
A big, important part of giving birth is getting your breathing techniques right. Correct breathing techniques will help you push and will help you manage your pain and stress.
You can give yourself a head start by starting to learn about this and practice it early.
It will also help you control your stress while pregnant, which is always a good thing.
Whenever you next find yourself up at night worrying about labour, turn to your breathing and practice your techniques. This will help you now and down the line too.
Remember after it’s over you will have your baby and all the pain will disappear. It will all be ok!
