Not done any birth prep - anything I should do??

[JamieJay]

38 weeks today, have everything ready for baby, hospital bag packed and know roughly what I want in terms of birth plan.

However I have done nothing in terms of raspberry leaf tea, perineal massage etc. and don't have a birthing ball or TENS.

Midwife unit has birthing balls and pools but a bit worried that I should be more pro-active in terms of preparing my body for birth / early labour at home.

Given that money is tight is there anything that I really should be buying or can you survive without all these things?

Baby was head down and 2/5 engaged at 36 weeks so not worried about positioning.

Thanks

Birth prep? No "prep" involved OP, your body knows what it is doing.

Lean forward as much as possible, don't slouch on sofa. Helps baby into good position for birth. This is free! No other preparation necessary. Positioning is not just about head down.

I did hire a tens as it gave me relief at home but if you don't need it....

Thanks guys - too much time on my hands now I'm on maternity leave and doing much reading!!

When everywhere you looks talks about 101 different things you should be doing it makes you feel like a bit negletful if you're not

Probably am slouching to much so shall change my position a bit there......

Maybe do perineal massage with olive oil?
Would practice breathing and relaxing. I think you're relaxed attitude will help you. Your body knows what it's meant to do. Best of luck!

Have you written anything down about what you want to happen? I didn't and really regret it now! Dh wanted to cut the cord but the mw did it and I was gutted! Other than that don't worry too much but if theres something you feel strongly about I would definitely advise you to write it on a birth plan. Good luck with the birth btw

I'd try and be as relaxed as possible and go with the flow on the day. You're with the experts and they'll advise you through your labour. I hadn't done any breathing exercises or bought anything special and everything went fine - I just did as I was told by the midwife. Good luck

get some sweet almond oil and start rubbing it in

Just keep as active as you are able to. And just say to yourself that you'll go with the flow on the day (or days, more likely!)

Much better than getting very fixed ideas about the kind of birth you are going to have and then being very shocked/feeling bad if it doesn't turn out that way!

You can't prepare for it really. I found it helpful to think that it was not something I had to actually do - I didn't have responsibility to make it happen. It will just happen to you, and you just need to go along with it and not fight it.

Don't be frightened when it starts to get more painful. The fear of the pain makes it worse. And don't do calculations in your head eg "OMG, its x amount painful now I am 3 cms dilated so OMG it is going to be three times more painful when I am fully dilated!!" It doesn't work like that, and you'll just get yourself frightened and thinking you cant do it!

Best of luck.