What are your tips for managing labour and birth?

[wondering7777]

I’m due to give birth soon and know very little about what to expect. I was planning to read loads of websites and books in the run-up, but life has been so busy and stressful that I haven’t had a chance. My antenatal classes have also been cancelled due to the virus.

I was wondering if anyone could share any insights or advice on how to deal mentally and physically with the pain of contractions and labour, and also how to stay calm and in control. Did you use any particular techniques to get you through?

One thing I do recall reading is to see a contraction as akin to climbing a hill, then coming down the other side. Anything like that you can share would be really good to know!

I used hypno birthing classes and it was so useful. I did attend classes but there's a lot out jet here on the internet, really worth a read as the science behind labour that they teach you really helped me x

I have no idea how I did it but I closed my eyes and basically just counted in my head until it was over . I took slow deep breaths .My contractions were always a minute in length but they would peak about 20 seconds in and then they would start to die down after another 20 seconds . Knowing this helped me mentally prepare for each one.

Yes, my contractions tended to be between 45 seconds and a minute long, no longer than that. So by the time I got to 30 seconds I knew I was on the downward slope each time. What changed was the frequency and the intensity. It wasnt that they got more painful as such, just that as labour went on they came faster, felt bigger and more intense. That probably doesn't make a lot of sense! By the time I got to the hospital with my second they were lasting 50 to 60 seconds, and coming every 90 seconds or so. When they examined me on arrival I was 5cm at that point. Dd was delivered just under 3 hours later.

Also giving birth (for me, anyway, I appreciate not everyone has this experience) was incredibly empowering, I felt like I could move mountains afterwards.

OP get the Positive Birth Book! I’ve literally just done a post about it!

I’m a first time mamma and I like a no BA approach and this book is honestly 5* IMO!!

Mixes straight forward with easy to digest and quite funny as well!

x

BS*