I remember the first time I Googled “How to prepare for birth”.
The results were overwhelming. Over 80 million blogs, websites, videos and articles telling me what to do, what not to do, and really what not to do. Not all of it helpful. Some of it terrifying.
When I first launched SweetMomBod, I promised to be the honest mom I would want to have in my circle. Someone who wouldn’t scare the pants off everyone, but be the wise friend who would tell you the truth in a helpful, supportive way.
That’s why I’m pumped to have Anita Lambert from Holistic Health Physio on the blog today chatting about how to prepare your body (and mind) for labour and birth.
There are so many ideas out there but you don’t need a 20+ page birth plan to feel confident heading into the delivery room.
If this is your second, third, fourth… kiddo, you know that stuff happens and plans may get tossed aside in the thick of things.
If this is your first kiddo, keep in mind that stuff happens and plans may get tossed aside in the thick of things.
But you’ll feel much more confident heading into labour if you have essential strategies in your back pocket like the ones Anita shares with us today.
You can prepare your body and mind for labour – whatever labour you’re hoping for – and it doesn’t have to take a ton of time or energy. Simple strategies can work extremely well.
And most of the strategies Anita shares can work for both a vaginal delivery and c-sections, as well as medicated and unmedicated births.
(P.S. I apologize for the choppy video – our internet connection wasn’t a fan of me the night we recorded. But Anita shared so much goodness I wanted to still get this into your hands).
Here are some links to learn more about the tips and strategies Anita mentioned in the interview
How to Do the Flower Bloom Breath
Even More Tips on Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Birth
The Top 7 Strategies Anita Used to Have a Positive, Fear-Free Birth
Regardless how it goes, feeling confident is key
Going into labour – no matter how many times you’ve done it – can feel scary because you never know what’ll happen.
And that’s the beauty of preparing, but not being married to our plans.
When we marry our plans, if things don’t go according to the script, we can feel like failures – and that’s an awful way to enter into newborn motherhood land.
So go ahead and use these strategies (and any others you find that are relevant to your idea of a positive birth experience) but give yourself some space for alternative options and endings.
If you were hoping for an unmedicated birth but you end up getting an epidural, that’s okay.
If you were hoping for a vaginal birth but you end up needing a c-section, that’s okay.
If you tried perineal massage and still ended up with some tearing or an episiotomy, that’s okay.
It’s okay. Whatever happens. It’s okay.
Take the pressure off your shoulders. It doesn’t need to be perfect, or go exactly as you planned.
Prepare, but don’t sign a pre-nup with your birth plan.
You’ve got this. You can do this. #RockstarMom.
Thank you so much for watching and please do share this video with your pregnant mom friends – especially the ones stressing over labour and delivery.
Hugs,
Jen
P.S. I’d love to hear more about your labour story (or stories if you have more than one) and the strategies you found the most helpful for whatever birth you had. Feel free to share in the comments below so can we learn from and support each other.
Leave a Reply