Labour

[Mamtobe2024]

I'm 30 + 1 with my first baby and I'm just thinking more about birth etc and what I would ideally want. I know not to set anything in stone because birth can go one of many ways.

However I would like to try and have my birth as natural as possible meaning minimal pain relief if I can cope as it is my first baby so I'm not sure how I will be. Did anyone else have a natural birth and have any tips for coping through the pain etc? Again I do understand that I may not be able to give birth naturally depending on what happens 😊

Do a hypnobirthing course. Although I am a wimp and I was always sure that I want as much pain relief as possible or an elective c section, the hypnobirthing course I did almost made me change my mind, that’s how convincing the advice about breathing and relaxation during birth to manage pain was.

I wanted to have a natural labour / birth with my first pregnancy, but like you was also aware of being flexible.

I avoided negative birth stories, not to psych myself out. I avoided all sweeps / inductions etc and waited to go into labour naturally. I would highly recommend hiring a TENS machine - this was ideal for early labour, and really helped on the car journey to the hospital once labour was well established. I laboured at home for as long as possible (was 7-8cm dilated by the time I went to hospital). Was originally taken into a normal labour ward room but said I wanted the birthing pool if possible, and was able to use a room with the birthing pool once I requested this (it was in birth preference notes, but I think you need to assume no one has read those!). Took TENS machine off and went straight into the pool and used gas and air.

In the end, I did need to have medical intervention. My labour slowed down considerably after going to hospital, and I had a long pushing stage. In the end, it was recommended to have a non-emergency assisted forceps delivery. I did accept pain relief when waiting for theatre, and had a spinal aesthetic in theatre. I managed absolutely fine without pharmaceutical pain relief up until then. I didn't do hypnobirthing or anything like that. I just got on with it.

I went very internal during birth - I got them to shut the curtains (even though it was daytime by the time we went into hospital and I laboured all day, my perception of it all is like one very long night). I closed my eyes and ignored everyone (including my DP). Only engaged in conversation with the midwife when completely necessary to answer questions.

This time around I'm planning a home birth, as I found the transfer to hospital disruptive to labour. Didn't have the confidence to aim for a home birth first time around as wasn't sure how I would cope / wanted the reassurance of being in the hospital if required.

Another vote for hypnobirthing. I read Your Baby, Your Birth by Hollie de Cruz and it was great. I got it on audible initially and listened as audiobook, then bought the actual book to be able to see all the exercises on paper. You can also check out the Positive Birth Company on YouTube. They have short videos with breathing exercises to give you a flavour of hypnobirthing before you decide to go ahead with it. Good luck xx

Hypnobirthing breathing was very very useful for me - I could tell the difference in pain when I lost control of my breathing

I also used a tens machine - definitely helped

And I spent alot of time in the bath

This time I've heard about holding a comb as well which I'm going to try

I had my last baby as a water both with just gas and air and it was amazing my first one was induced so had more pain relief and second was induced and to fast for anything so had nothing with her.. currently pregnant again and opting for a water birth as it was a really big help last time x

I did a Hypno Birthing course at 32 weeks from the Positive Birth company. Used the meditations and breathing ane movments techniques.
Baby was born with gas and air only in my local birthing center after 15hours of active labour.

Kept moving, birthing ball, relaxation etc building up to it. Rat as much as possible once early labour started. Rat and minimal movements and eat very well if you feel ok to do so.

I took snacks with me, Lucozade sports bottle etc I snacked while I could. Really helped give me the energy

Think about how you respond to stress and anxiety and build you plan around that.
Dance if you want to dance. Meditation if you want to do that. Labour might be new to you but you are the same person you always have been

I do a breathing exercise when anxious where I imagine I am on a boat and the waves are linked to my breathing and I have to try to calm the waves with slow breathing. Most mindfulness makes me irrationally angry but this helps and it really helped in labour

If you are of the clumsy variety be careful with the birth ball as it really scares the life out of your partner when you fall off take out a chair and the crash into the wardrobe and he's downstairs and just hears the thud....

Hi
I would go into detail about my birth as I don’t think it’s helpful, I had in my mind that I wanted everything as natural as possible in the midwife led birthing suite. Due to complications I was on the labour ward, induced on gas and air but the pain was so intense I had an epidural which I said I really didn’t want all along. I’m only telling you this as I was so disappointed with not being able to have what I had planned but the most important thing is your baby :) I really hope you get to but don’t beat yourself up if it’s not possible xx