What was the best thing you did to prepare for birth?

[notalwaysalondoner]

I'm due in 2 weeks and haven't done much birth prep - we did NCT and I got through about half of the positive birth company videos, I had good intentions to practice breathing and massage with DH etc. but haven't stuck to it. So I wondered what things you did to prepare for birth, and which of them were actually worth doing?

Some things I've considered include:

• Meditation/guided relaxation
• Breathing practice (but what does this actually involve...?!)
• Perineal massage
• Aniball
• Raspberry leaf tea/supplements
• Practice massage with DH
• Practice meditation with DH (e.g. the 'arm stroking' meditation from positive birth company)
• Exercise (to keep as fit as possible) - I'm currently walking ~40 minutes per day and doing yoga once per week

What did you think was actually worth doing? Is there something you'd do differently next time round?

Nothing would or did prepare me for my first birth. I mean that sincerely. I felt quite angry that we basically lie to pregnant women. I still lie to pregnant women

Fill the freezer with ready meals!

I was just coming in to say made and froze lots of lasagna- but I’ve been beaten to it! 🤣

Yeah nothing can prepare you for it.
The only thing I would do again is let it go with the flow and listen to the professionals rather than force an ideal birth plan on myself. I was open to anything and happy to let them lead me to a safe delivery.
A friend was really disappointed in herself after she didn’t get her ‘dream birth’ and really beat herself up for needing pain relief!
I took every pain relief available to me and don’t judge anyone who does or doesn’t. But you do what’s right for you x

Haha thanks my freezer is already nearly full! I wondered if there was anything to do to prepare for the actual birth itself... but post-birth tips also appreciated!

@Carrott21

Nothing would or did prepare me for my first birth. I mean that sincerely. I felt quite angry that we basically lie to pregnant women. I still lie to pregnant women

This. I agree with practical things like filling the freezer, booking a delivery slot, other than that what will be will be. I did feel lied to, there was no point in a birth plan as mother nature isn't informed that there is one. My second birth was so much better as I knew I had to just go with the flow.

I personally think it's mainly genetic. But from someone that's had 3 quick and straight forward births...I walked everyday around 40mins. I sat on a yoga ball for a lot of pregnancy and most of labour. Ask someone what Gas and Air is like so you know what to expect if you haven't had it before as it made me high as I kite and a bit panicked when I felt like I was no longer in the room. Breathing was huge for me, by breathing I mean just keeping it calm, slow and controlled so I didn't get panicky. I reckon the rest is up to genetics/chance tbh. Also despite a complication free quick birth, the first time round I still felt like Is been in a car crash as it wasn't like anything I'd experienced before. However I'd choose labour again any day over 9 months of pregnancy. Every woman is different. Good luck, you've got this! (And if you haven't there's the midwives to help you - absolute angels in my eyes!) Xx

I don't think you need to do anything. It's a natural process which will occur in its own way. Preparation for the change to your life with a new baby is much more important.

Nothing!. There’s not really much you can do to prepare for the actual birth.

Had sex and got pregnant!!

I watched all of one born every minute while indulging my craving for Terry's chocolate Oranges ...

No, you can’t prepare or plan for it. You have absolutely no idea how it’s going to go.

Agree completely with @Wouldyoudothesame. Biggest thing you can do to prepare for birth is keep active through pregnancy, practice yoga and I also listened religiously to the hypnobirthing meditations so my body learnt to relax and kept them on throughout labour until transition. Also perineal massage may help. I did not but what may have been good is to harvest some colostrum pre labour to give to baby until milk in! Also remember to go with the flow things can and won’t go how you imagine.

Hmm I'm not sure many of the things you've listed will actually help. Maybe the breathing and the exercise? In the sense that exercise is good for you generally, and deep breathing might help you stay calm in the first stages. It helps not to panic! I had my second recently and I've been on my soapbox about the guff pregnant women are sold in the run up to birth. I've yet to meet a person who was told they could "breathe the baby out" who wasn't disappointed with how their birth actually went...

So! Listen to the midwives, try to breathe deeply, take the pain relief if you'd like it because it's not a failure to do so, and finally, push like you need to do an enormous poo as it's the same muscles. You'll do great, best of luck!

Relaxed, read novels, slept.

Learning about the stages so I had some idea about what was happening is probably the most useful thing I did.

What I wish I'd known for DS2 is how posterior Labour is different and what I could have done to manage it. That's kind of my big focus for birth 3 as he's posterior again... I think my body just makes them that way. I can share what I've learned if relevant to you.

Keep active - I mowed the lawn, sanded the driveway joints, walked the dog, swam etc. I was 3-4cm dilated from 36 weeks and didn’t even feel it. Also express and freeze colostrum - I did this for an hour a day from 36 weeks. It might be a bit late now for perineal massage, I didn’t do it but really wish I had done. Good luck!

I told my DH that he had to remind me to breath when I was in labour - that was his only job. It did seem to help as I was holding my breath when it hurt and when he reminded me to breath it helped.

Otherwise, just enjoy the peace, watch tv and relax and enjoy not having to listen out with one ear which you will do for next few years!

I spent the last week before labour in my pants on the couch eating my weight in ice lollies. Time definitely well spent

I’d be aware of all the options re pain relief and also what could happen ie, forceps delivery, c section etc. However I think everyone kinda already knows this stuff anyway. Beyond that apart from the practical stuff at home not a lot! Don’t have high expectations of yourself post birth either.

Doing a hypnobirthing cd every night and reading about it,without a doubt.

Honestly? Prepare for it to be pretty shitty. It probably won’t be zen, it might go tits up and you have a section, it will hurt a lot and it’s ok to take the drugs. But it will end eventually! Preparing for the fact it might not be great but it is doable would have helped me. I imagined it would be candles and whale music, and when it wasn’t, I felt like a failure. So prepare for disappointment is probably for the best and anything else is a bonus!

I have 4 DC, and If I could go back in time I'd have elective sections. And that's my honest advice to anyone who asks.

@Carrott21

Nothing would or did prepare me for my first birth. I mean that sincerely. I felt quite angry that we basically lie to pregnant women. I still lie to pregnant women

I was fortunate enough to be my friend's birthing partner before I had DC myself. So I saw how it was for her - painful but not unbearable (I'm not going to go into detail, it was over 35 years ago!) and that took away a lot of the fear. My own actual births were physically harder, but without the fear I could just go with the flow.

Probably not easy for OP to arrange this, though!

I thought that because I didn't want a c section, I wouldn't have one. Should have read about the things that can go wrong.