Whether this is your first pregnancy or your fourth, the prospect of laboring to deliver your baby can be both exciting and frightening. As you count down the last weeks of your pregnancy, remember that very few babies are born on their due dates. If possible, take a birthing class before you reach the end of your last trimester to help prepare you for the laboring process.
Have a Support System
Having a support system during labor can help you physically and emotionally. A 2000 study published in the "The Journal of Perinatal Education" found that laboring women who had the support of a doula, or labor coach, had fewer incidences of cesarean births and less need for Pitocin, a drug that enhances contractions and dilation. A supportive partner can be your advocate and your voice during labor. Your nurses and doctors will ask you to make decisions during your labor, and your partner can help translate your needs and desires if you are in pain or very tired.
Be Flexible
Visualizing in advance what your labor process will be is normal; however, labor is a natural process that does not follow a prescribed pattern. Being flexible and open-minded before going into labor and during the process will help you avoid disappointment. Allow yourself to consider pain medication options, even if you initially thought you wanted a completely medication-free labor. Give yourself permission to change your mind without feeling guilty. Prepare yourself for the possibility that you could have a Cesarean birth.
Take Comfort Measures
Labor can be an uncomfortable and painful process. As your labor progresses and your contractions become increasingly strong, take a shower or soak in the hospital's tub. Ask your partner to massage your back, legs or feet. Request a birthing ball be placed in your room, and sit on the ball to take some pressure off your back. If allowed by your doctor, take sips of water and ask if you can eat small amounts of food. Change your position frequently. Walk, stand up and rock in place or sit in a rocking chair.
Use Relaxation Techniques
Learning to relax during the labor process can help you avoid pain medication, if that is in your birthing plan. In addition to employing the techniques you learned during your childbirth class, ask your nurse or midwife to show you how to take long, deep breaths to help you through contractions. Similar to yoga breathing, relaxation breathing can help relax your entire body. "Parents" magazine recommends playing soft music during labor to distract you from the uncomfortable sensations and asking your partner to turn the lights down.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Pregnancy week by week: Childbirth education: Get ready for labor and delivery
- "The Journal of Perinatal Education"; Alternative Strategy to Decrease Cesarean Section: Support by Doulas During Labor; Guadalupe Trueba; Spring 2000
- Womens Health: Healthy Pregnancy: Labor and Birth
- University of Minnesota: How Does My Body Work During Childbirth?
- Parents: Natural Labor Tips
