This was my thought last week as I realized how close our little one was to being born. Well, labor has been something which I have feared forever--but now that it's getting closer and closer to my due date (Nov. 4th) I can no longer ignore the fact that I am going to have a baby-- really soon.
With this being said, I took it upon myself to ask some seasoned veterans of motherhood the following question:
What are some good ways to prepare mentally, emotionally and/or spiritually for giving birth?
Below were their answers...
- I used hypnobirthing which may seem a bit odd to some people but for, it took a lot of the negative out of childbirth and made it a GOOD happy thing which I loved!
- I reread "The Gift of Giving Life" in my last trimester. I ask for a *priesthood blessing when I go into labor." *A priesthood blessing is a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint term, meaning that you request a special blessing of healing or comfort from the Lord.
- I would make sure to not have expectations that everything is going to go perfectly. Anything can happen. I got a blessing before we left and that helped me a lot.
- With my first, I was dead set on NO c-sections. When I was faced with the possibility of having a c-section, I was very disappointed. So I prayed a lot and also received a blessing. After that, I knew that it didn't matter how the baby got there--as long as he or she was healthy and safe. Also, prepare your husband for birth, there is an area for dad's on the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book, and let him know that he's still important. I was so lucky to have a husband who was very supportive about focusing on the baby, but at times I could feel like he felt left out.
- I watched Sheri Bayles "Laugh and Learn About Childbirth" and practiced those Lamaz breathing techniques (I had 2 natural births because of those). Bottom line, your body will be more able to progress and you will be in less pain if you can relax and focus on breathing properly.
- I was completely freaked out to have a baby pass through my nether regions and to be given the daunting responsibility of a little life in my hands 24/7. The best thing that helped me prepare was preparing itself. I went to birthing classes, downloaded birthing classes on my iPad, had my hospital bag packed and ready to go, organized Benny's stuff, etc. The nice thing is that the good Lord has programmed women to be mothers and my maternal instinct kicked in and took over when all other rational thoughts went out the window. There were times when BJ and I would be at a loss of what to do to help our son and then I would all of the sudden start doing something that helped the situation. Prepare as much as you can; The Lord will provide.
- Here is a link to a childbirth education class that was recommended to me: https://www.pennysimkin.com/childbirth-education-classes/
- Don't watch "Call the Midwife" :)
- Have a birth plan and be persistent about your preferences. At the same time, be aware that anything can happen; Be open to tweaking your plan and ask for an explanation before each procedure is done to help you make your decision.
- Mary Murry is an RN and Midwife who blogs for the Mayo Clinic about pregnancy and she has lots of pointers for mother's-to-be.
- Oh remember, remember...YOU are the one having the baby--NOT the nurses. In my experience, nurses can either be totally awesome or terrible. Take your time, take pictures and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. Also, look into your husband's eyes every chance you get. :) Remember, every mom is different, every baby is different and every delivery is different. Discuss your preferences with your husband so he will be mentally ready when decisions arise. Try to imagine that each of your contractions is pushing your baby down. Picture it happening and try to physically relax. It's so easy to tense up, but God created our body's perfectly and they know perfectly well how to have a baby. Last of all, go on as many dates with your husband as possible before the baby arrives because you won't get to as often after the baby is born.
Thanks to all these lovely women, I have some good tips. Hopefully it helps everyone who reads this as well.
