Just woo or helpful?

[Pizdets]

I'm not a very 'woo' person but intend to be quite open minded about things. Still 10 weeks to go but both yoga instructor and NCT leader have been talking about birth environment and got me thinking.

I DO think I'd prob feel more relaxed if I had low lighting/essential oils/soothing music rather than bright hospital lights and beeping machines, but my friends who've given birth recently pooh-pooh'd (sp?) it and said that I won't care about things like that once it all kicks off.

I'm not confident enough for a home birth, but hoping be in the birthing centre. Would I be mad to take in a soft light lamp and aromatherapy oils? Anything else which helps make the environment more pleasant and relaxing? Or should i just be getting on with it?

Honest opinions very welcome! Thanks,

Piz

No harm in taking it, is there? That's the way I looked at it anyway!

I found the relaxing music massively helpful, FWIW.

I just asked for the lights & music to be turned off in the birth pool room. One small light was left on in the corner for the midwife. I had an iPod all ready but I just wanted total quiet I gave DH a row for his grammar He was using adjectives in place of adverbs.

Thanks ladies, really interesting to hear you had different experiences but you're right poppywearer, can't hurt!

Take it but don't have your heart set on it would be my advice. Fingers crossed you have the birth you want and get to use them but be prepared that if things don't work out you might not get too. Hope all goes ok!

I was all set up with my playlist and low lights in the birth centre, but my yowling ("it huuuuuuurrrrrrrttttttts") on repeat drowned out the music!

I spent ages putting together a playlist for when labouring with dd. I couldn't listen to it. At one point somebody put on a television and some carboot programme presented by an orange man came on. In normal circumstances, I wouldn't watch such tosh, I barely watch television even, but I stared at this orange man and this carboot crap like my life depended on it. I also screeched at the midwife who turned out the lights. Something like "if I wanted to give birth in a fucking CAVE... etc".

And I AM quite woo.

No harm in taking it. But your reactions may surprise you. I turned into somebody else entirely.

Thanks guys! It's really useful to know. I've had some bad times and a fair bit of intervention already this pregnancy so it's only just really dawning on my that I might have options other than just being in pain in whatever circs I get and I think I'm getting excited! So I will plan to take maybe a playlist and a few essential oils but won't set my heart on them.

Really appreciate the advice, thanks!

I put lavender oil on my towel as I packed it in my birth bag and found it amazing inhaling it between contractions whilst in the pool. It wasn't too strong by then, just muted and I suppose mixed with my washing powder so just felt so familiar and comforting.

Also appreciated lights low except for a lamp mw used to write notes. I think they're quite prepared for that.

I know what your friends mean about ' you won't care once it all kicks off' but if you're lucky enough to have some respite between contractions you might think be able to bark some orders at DH/P like I did. Can't Hirt to take stuff in.

Well I had the dark environment (Doctor used a torch and what would best be described as a skate board but that is for another post)

I took music - didn´t want it

Didn´t want noise of any kind - gave birth in silence

Had the pool or ready and the lovely warm water - didn´t get in DD born much faster than the doc and midwife expected

Didn´t take essential oil (allergic to lots) but loved the smell of the flowers from out side.

I think calm environment is best - BUT only you know what helps you calm. ie I love the sound of waves crashing onto the shore but you may HATE that! You may love essential oils or hate them. What your friend, yogo teacher, midwife says are nice are only nice if you LIKE them!

Work out what you want and then be prepared to throw it all out of the window if you don´t feel like it when you get there!

Helpful in my case - but by the time things really got going, I wouldn't have noticed.

There's a theory that the 'primal brain' takes over if given the chance. Hormones help with dilation and pain management, so you need to give your body a chance to do its thing. Bright lights and cold signal vulnerability and exposure to the body, which is why contractions often slow down when you leave home and set off for the birthing centre, and why home births can be so soothing. A burst of adrenalin in early labour can slow things down as the brain tells the body to wait for a safer time/place.

But after a certain point, you need energy to get through second stage, so the body produces lots of adrenalin (transition) to give you that extra boost.

This is all assuming a healthy baby/mother and good positioning, and a bit of luck, of course. Try reading Nicole Croft's chapter on the primal brain in 'The Good Birth Companion'. And good luck!

I thought i'd want dim lights & music but...

• speakers didn't work; headphones didn't appeal

• gave birth on bright, sunny day so no lights to dim

• think I probably had my eyes shut a lot of the time

I was 7cm by the time I got to hospital & didn't want any kerfuffle - didn't get changed into the clothes i'd chosen for labour, eat snacks or anything. Just got on with it.

But your situation might be different. Just be open minded.

"spent ages putting together a playlist for when labouring with dd. I couldn't listen to it. At one point somebody put on a television and some carboot programme presented by an orange man came on. In normal circumstances, I wouldn't watch such tosh, I barely watch television even, but I stared at this orange man and this carboot crap like my life depended on it. I also screeched at the midwife who turned out the lights. Something like "if I wanted to give birth in a fucking CAVE... etc"."

This made me laugh and remember the many births where the delicate preparations are just abandoned on the day "Just fuck off and take your massage oil with you!" being one .At a home birth, I Switched off the TV showing "Beadles About" as the woman entered 2nd stage, "Oi! I was watching that!" she said as the head appeared?.

I gave birth in a birthing centre and there was a variety of options to try out - I was in the pool room and there were candles, lights were on a dimmer switch, there was a chaise-longue-futon-something-or-other, Swiss ball, huge bean bag/pillow, a CD/radio/tape player, a TV... (and a pool of course). Just tons of stuff. I wanted to try everything and anything to make the experience as relaxed and pleasant as possible. I also packed essential oil, a wooden handheld massager, my favourite CD and some other comfort items.

I spent 7 hours on my knees, mainly asleep, lying against the bean bag, with the G&A firmly in the my mouth

I ignored the lights, missed out on the pool (due to sleeping through 3-10cm), forgot about the oil/music/comforts, didn't care about massage, and when the time came to push I just followed the MWs, got naked and pushed on a birthing stool for 1.5h until DS finally arrived.

Don't even think about what other people have to say on these things unless it's helpful tips. Also I remember reading on here that sometimes it's just having all the stuff there, just in case, that makes you feel more confident or prepared. What matters is that you're happy. I have a friend who likes to follow a natural way of doing things and she ended up with an EMCS. She said she highly recommended it Because that's just what happened and she got a beautiful baby at the end of it.

Sooo what I meant with all of that was... bring everything you think will make you feel good, use it if you feel like it - you may well care about it and plenty people do, don't worry if you don't want it - you only really know once labour kicks off, find out what the birthing centre has as they often have a variety of facilities (ie you may not need to carry a lamp with you!), and just make the most of it!

Thanks everyone, really useful to hear your experiences! I might pack a few bits then but won't get too hung up in it all!

Another woman said to me. "I was really pissed off with the midwife, she just came in, sat there and didn't speak to me. 2 Days later, i realised I'd written in my birth plan that i didn't want to be distracted or spoken to unless absolutely necessary?..".