Labour Tips

[Patience1990]

Currently overdue and so so anxious about labour. Was due on the 1st and baby showing no signs of arrival yet.

Have my second sweep on a Tuesday but I've a feeling it will be the same as the last. Dreading being induced but I have this feeling that that's what will end up happening.

So, any tips for labour/aftercare that you wish you'd known beforehand?

FTM and bricking it.

Congratulations! You’re nearly there.

I had my first baby in October. I went 15 days overdue and was induced - like you I was so desperate for that not to happen.
However the date came round and you find yourself going with the flow - I think for me it was because I’d never done it before so didn’t have any expectations of what it would be like for me if that makes sense.
My birth ended up being absolutely nothing like I had imagined. Some things went wrong (nothing to do with being induced) but I can honestly say I would do it all again tomorrow.
Try not to be scared, seeing my little one was one of the best moments of my life.

What might help is a birthing ball. It was too late for me but I bounced on one for 2 hours after I had a pessary put in and it made my waters break and meant I could go to the labour ward! Wish I’d bounced earlier!

Try and stay mobile. I found contractions were not as bad as long as I wasn't on my back. At home i leant against the kitchen cabinets. At hospital you can raise the bed up.

I used long slow breathing through my contractions and just focused on that - nothing else. If I held my breath the pain was unbearable.

I couldn’t lay down and found the floor and my knees comfy. Keep mobile. Also if you can use a tens machine get one I loved mine! X

If not get on a birthing ball and you tube some moves to do on it! I found with both my kids the birthing hall helped get them into position and during the labouring at home! X

Rest! I had a very long hesitant labour with my first. I spent hours walking up and down stairs to try and ‘get things moving’. What I should have done was rest between contractions to conserve my energy for active labour.

My first was 5 days late. 2nd and 3rd 9 days over - all came spontaneously in their own time. Honestly, the scariest thing about labour is thinking about it before - once it’s happening you just go with it. Good luck xx