If you had one tip for labour/birth...

[suzi2]

...what would it be?

Mine would be to 'go with it' and just let it all happen.

I have a couple - Dont wear your brand new nightie like I did! and make sure you take some mini bottles of water with you that your partner can hold whilst you sip!

I was running out of energy, and I had a jar of Honey with me, dh was holding for me and
giving a teaspoon when necessary....

avoid to be in bed....

stend up or in four.....help to push baby out!

Breath, Pant & push as hard as you can

nope. can;t do one ! sorry ! can write a book !

erm....erm....

trust your body and listen to it !

Don't rule out any options.

Don't have the baby in Portugal.

Actually my real tip would be to remember that the aim of the exercise is to end up with you and the baby both ok, no matter how that comes about. So if you don't have the vaginal/water/active/ whatever birth you wanted, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter.

Be patient and don't fight it or try to control it.
should listen to my own advice on the patience side methinks.

Chocolate.

Works for everything else in life ...

lol lm - I reckon if you put them in separate posts I'd allow you more tips

Don't plan anything, expect the unexpected

I was really tired after a short but intense labour and Lucozade got me through.

read about labour and birth..not just the few pages in a general book, but one devoted to labour and birth....

anything by Sheila Kitzinger and Ina May Gaskin...

it is worth doing some preparation for the big event....

oooh lulu,

have just bought one by each of them! am due april.

gas and air might make you feel sick at first but persevere as it really is worth it

Have a water birth if at all possible and guzzle loads of water and apple juice throughout.
I really did enjoy mine.(just hope I'm as lucky second time around).

sense of humour always helps

in normal situation, should be added

Don't be afraid to ask the m/w or doctor to explain anything you don't understand.

Take your own ice chips in case it's 30+ degrees and the hospital has run out

When you get to that stage, with the gas and air, when you think you are in a night club and you don't know where your feet have gone ....

It's not overdosing. It's working.

footprints, that is so true (about the point being mum and baby together and well - although Portugal may be a bad idea, I don't know!)

Mine would be - take your birth plan and use it to line the bottom of a bird cage - it will be more useful there!

keep mobile!!!!!!

I have had 4 and each was different but the best by far was the ds2 as I had a brilliant midwife with me all the way full of encouragement, no pain relief needed at all!! But if that's not possible dont be a matyr take anything you need to get you through [simle]

Don't feel you have to stick rigidly to your birth plan. If you need more pain relief bl**dy ask for it!