Best giving birth tip?

[NewMum26]

So I'm 39 Weeks first time mum and been thinking ALOT about having to give birth soon 😱
Just wondered what your top tips for anyone giving birth for the first time were? 😊

Babies don't read birth plans. It's fine to have preferences, but being flexible means you're less likely to be disappointed if it doesn't go as you thought it might.

Don't lie on your back, really doesn't help move baby in right position and makes labour more painful. Don't think about how long labour will be - take each contraction one at a time and focus on getting through that one. Make out breaths longer than in breaths as it helps relax muscles which eases pain. Make sure your birth partner can be a voice for you if needed. Don't panic!! You will be fine - remember your body was made to do this, you will get through it, and the pain does come and go. Good luck!

Some great tips and advice here thank you everyone!

When you're at the pushing stage - push like you're trying to push the pain of the contractions away.

Remember : when you feel like you're about to die - it's almost over.

When the contractions get intense get your birthing partner to count with you

You can do this!!! Oh and take the drugs. All the drugs.

Good luck- it's so worth it!!

Breathe, remember the pain will end, take the drugs if you need, drink lots of water afterwards. Don't expect it to go as you planned, my two experiences childbirth couldn't have been more different (emergency premature section and a vaginal delivery after short labour).

Trust your body and don't panic.

Find a distraction activity that works for you. For me the best was wiggling my fingers. DP would give me different combinations of fingers to wiggle so I really had to concentrate. If you have time read JuJu Sundin Birth Skills, loads of brilliant practical ideas for pain management. Go into hospital when you feel you need to, not when you finally get 'permission' from the midwives (bitter).

Be open minded about what might happen as you can only control so much.

Eat regularly right up til you go into the birth room even if it's just small amounts and if it's late night - you will need the energy and they may stop you from having anything except liquids at some point especially if you're being induced - nobody warned me about that so I had nothing after dinner at 5pm and it was over 36 hours til I got to eat again and the energy drink made me sick on an empty stomach.

Don't go into it with any expectations

Try not to worry about it, I thought I would have every drug under the sun! It was so much better than I expected, had DC1 & DC2, natural births with each, no pain relief, gutted I didn't get to try gas and air, I heard it's fab! Of course there was pain I won't kid you, but not unbearable, the most important thing is to breathe, energy sweets can also help give you a boost. Good luck OP as others have said it's only for a short time.

A paramedic friend told me you should take the gas and air just before each contraction rather than when it actually starts, so counting will help with this too. Definitely helped me as in my first labour I just guzzled it and was totally high on it and useless with it, but with my second (after he'd told me) I was much more in control

The bit where it feels like a Ring of Fire, that means you are very nearly there! After the head comes out it feels easy by comparison.

Upright or all fours is easier but I was gutted that I just couldn't manage to hold myself up.

Definitely keep up and walking as much as you can though.

TENS machine was fab for me. In the late stages it wasn't really killing the pain anymore but

I've also found out shortly before this pregnancy (8 years after my last) that my uterus is back to front? So my cervix is tilted the opposite way or something. I've no idea how that changes the angles of, er, exit though.

I didn't have an epidural in my second birth but only because by the time they got there it was too late - I was gutted when she said sorry there's no time now you're in transition! Nooooo! So I would say ask early rather than waiting. I'd like to think I can go without this time since I have before, but I also don't want to risk waiting too long again if I do need it.

If you poo during labour it's a good thing. You will mostly likely not notice and you will certainly not care :o

Try not to lay down, don't panic, trust your body. Good luck!

Oh I forgot to finish the TENS bit. What I meant to say was that it was no longer killing the pain towards the end, but the weird buzzy feeling was a good distraction and helped me feel in control

How are you holding out op?

If you're induced with the drip then have the epidural!

Yes to taking your own pillow. And straws to make drinking easier

I didn't realise how long the latent phase could take so prepare for that a bit. Try and eat in the early stages as I couldn't manage anything during established labour. Get of your back if you can. Try and stay mobile. I ended up giving birth standing up and and gravity helped! Good luck!!!

It could be a fast labour. Prepare for that too.

My midwife refused to discuss that with me and said we'd talk about childbirth when I was in labour.

That backfired.

The majority of my friends had labours under 8 hours too (some 1 hour).

Eat loads in early labour to give yourself the energy for later when you can't eat. I was told to think of it like a marathon- lots of carb loading

Tell yourself after each contraction that it is one contraction you won't ever have again. This really helped me. It was like I had chunked my labour up in my head and towards the end I knew I had fewer contractions left that I'd already had if that makes sense.

Try to relax and create an environment you feel safe in. Other animals don't give birth when they feel scared so I think that applies to humans too.

Take in juice cartons with straws. This means your birth partner can hold the carton for you, esp if you're on all fours.

Don't have a definite plan. Go with the flow and listen to your body. If you need the drugs then take them!

Take spare t shirt for your DH/DP. Our DS weed down my DH as soon as he was born and my Mum had to bring in one of my Dad's tops for him.

Pack cereal bars or something for afterwards. Although the midwives made me tea and toast I was so hungry afterwards!