Please share your labour visualisations

[Zil131]

I am currently 3 days overdue with DC2, and have to say I haven't given much thought to the birth (just thinking I've done it all before)
However having watched Amanda Holden last night, I suddely feel the need to try to be a bit more relaxed about it. My first birth was very medical, controlled and I just gritted my teeth / screamed through the pain (bit like the ladies on the show)
I've obvioulsy left it too late to take up a hypnobirthing course, or probably even buy a CD
Can any of you share with me what thoughts you held in your head during labour to help you embrace the pain in a positive way rather than fighting it. I'm not very creative, and can't think of any suitable images to hold in my mind other than an opeining cervix...

I like to count (slowly) through the contractions. Then as I count I blow out and imagine the precious baby blowing out the candles on their birthday cakes (as they get progressivley older) if that makes any sense. Works for me and keeps focus on breathing, blowing and of course the baby/child to come.

Good luck!

I'm not very good at focusing on something in the future (like holding my baby) or an abstract concept (like relaxing on a beach). I guess I'm not very imaginative! So the visualisations were pretty literal.

For each in breath, I imagined my lungs expanding and my abdomen pressing down and pushing the baby a little bit lower. For each out breath, I imagined that pressure releasing, my body relaxing and my cervix dilating a little bit more.

As I say, it didn't take a huge amount of imagination but it made me feel like I was achieving something positive to get me through the labour with each breath. Also because it wasn't very complicated I could really focus on it and didn't lose my place or get distracted for ages, which I think would have happened with something more complex.

Good luck!

Every breath I slowly blew out was a long gold thread.

I found it peaceful. It was something to focus on.

Each contraction was like a mountain to me, I had to reach the peak to gently come down the other side. Sounds weirdy but worked for me

Thank you - some good ideas.
Last time I tried to remember being on the beach on our honeymoon, but it was more like avoidance and rejection of what was happening, so to focus on what is happening, but in a positive way is my aim!

Just an update - our second son was born on Wednesday afternoon, weighing 7lb 15oz

With 3 hours of positive visualisations at home, and 55 mins in hospital where he dropped out while they were still filling the birthing pool, it was a radically different, amazing experience!

Oh yay, congratulations on your new baby Was just going to share my (rather basic) visualisations but don't need to bother now