What helped you get through labour and have a natural birth?

[Traveller]

Hi Babyluv

there is no simple answer to your question, but there are a number of things you can do to maximise your chances of a natural drug free birth.

1) believe in yourself. Believe in your body and your baby. Without confidence in your body's ability you will doubt and have fear, which will inhibit your birth journey.

2) trust your caregiver. If you do not trust the person who is caring for you in labour you will not relax. Trusting that intervention, if suggested, is necessary for you in your particular case is important as well as trusting that no uneccesary intervention will be mentioned so you don't have to stress and can get busy with the business of giving birth

3) stay at home as long as possible. Getting to hospital far too early is one of the most common mistakes first time mums make as it starts the official clock ticking on your labour.

4) don't be scared to try a couple of paracetamol and a bath, this simple technique can get you through a long latent stage and onto an empowering birth.

5) Have a plan. By this I don't mean a written in stone birth plan, but have some ideas about how you might cope. Some people find aromatherapy suits them, for me it was calmbirthing techniques. Others use deep breathing, positive birthing affirmations, or a combination of any of these.

6) Prepare your body as for a marathon. Eat well, do simple exercise (such as walking). Labour is a hard slog and if you are strong you will have a much better chance of doing it without drugs.

7) Have birth companions who believe in you. This may mean someone other than your partner, or someone in addition to your partner. Many women end up with an epidural because they feel bad for their partner who is unprepared for the pain they are in. Making sure the people who are supporting you in labour are supporting your labour ideals and prepared for them will maximise your chances.

Natural drug free birth is very possible, I have done it 3 times (4 if you count the twins as 2) but having supportive birth companions and having a coping mechanism in place were vital to my success. Hopefully you will have the same experience, you certainly sound very motivated which is so important

trav
xx

[kylieb77]

Another great book that I highly recommend is New Active Birth. Well worth obtaining a copy