FTM feeling unprepared!

[Shootingstar11]

I’m now 36 weeks and FTM and beginning to think I feel somewhat unprepared for labour! Can anyone direct me to some good resources for breathing exercises etc? I did an online course recommended by my midwife as there were no in person sessions because of Covid, but id like something more focussed on breathing and delivery.

There is a hynobirthing course by the positive birth company which is about £60. I’d be interested in other recommendations people have!

I didn't properly look into hypnobirthing but had looked up a few things here and there. I'd read that big deep slow breaths help you relax and the less you panic and the more you embrace the labour, the more tolerable it will be. I went into labour with this mindset and I'm sure it helped. Just did very slow deep breaths, imagining all that oxygen going in and then with each contraction I closed my eyes and imagined myself climbing a mountain. As the pain got more intense I was climbing upwards and when I got near the top the pain would start to go away and as the pain slowly goes away I'm climbing back down the other side of the mountain. Not sure if that sounds ridiculous! The good thing is though is that you can look forward to the end of the contraction and know once it's over you're pain free until the next one. I did very slow deep inhales of the gas and air too and it worked a treat, and just kept telling myself that as each contraction goes by my baby is getting closer and closer to the exit. I know it's easier said than done once you're in labour but I really surprised myself how well I coped with it all and I'm someone that used to cry when I had period pains!

Blossom antenatal do online stuff

I also purchased the Hypnobirthing course through The Positive Birth Company like PP. You can also buy their book on Amazon if you’d prefer, it covers the breathing techniques in this. I have had a fear of labour / birth for as long as I can remember so when I fell pregnant I knew I had to find something that made me feel in control and give me a better mindset towards it. The Positive Birth Company has done that for me and I practise the breathing techniques etc. everyday. I am currently 36 weeks too and although I still feel apprehensive of what’s to come (as every birth varies and there is no way of me knowing exactly what my experience is going to be!), I am definitely not in fear of it anymore. Give it a go, hopefully it works for you like it has for me. All the best with the rest of your pregnancy

Thanks everyone for the advice! 😊appreciate it x