How did you prepare your body in 3rd tri for the big event?

Hi Ladies,

(Hope I am posting in the correct forum and it shouldn't be in the birth section)

This is my first baby and I am currently 32+ weeks and would like to do whatever I can to help my body out in the lead up to birth. I am keeping a positive outlook on birth as I am excited and looking forward to experiencing it as naturally as possible.

I really don’t know ANYTHING about the options out there, have heard mention of.... Acupuncture, Perennial Massage, Raspberry Leaf Tea... but don’t know how they help or when to do/take things.

So I would LOVE to hear how other women have began to prepare for birth while in their third trimester??????

:)

I did alot of walking which helped get baby to move down and helped my body prepare for labour as well as keeping me fit and moving and myself occupying on something else other than freaking about labour

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Like jellybean, I just walked, a lot. I had been walking the whole pregnancy though. I never tried anything like raspberry leaf, accupuncture or anything like that so can't suggest anything like that

I walked a lot too. I had a bit of raspberry leaf tea (although being summer that was a bit hard) and I took evening primrose oil. But what I wish I'd done was accept that I would probably be overdue and not spend a month trying every possible labour-inducing trick, because ultimately none of them worked. Babies come when they are ready :)

Enjoy these last couple of months hun.

Hey Rosey :) Nearly that time already... the last 6 months have just flown by!!
With DS I honestly didn't do much physically. I did work casually up until the week before I had him so i was on my feet a little bit. But if you take the 'traditional' view of women who do housework (scrub floors & sweep), wash clothes, hang washing etc. Anything but sitting in a recline positioned on the couch it gets bub in a good position to birth. So if you are busy in nesting mode and need to get things 'clean' for bub then that is good. ;) It's not going to hurry bub along any more than normal but it just makes sure that the chances are higher of it being the right way/position. And it keeps your mind busy too :)

Thanks Ladies. I haven't been walking as in exercising but I do keep myself active. I might do some light walking of a night when its cool. Thank you for the tip.

Kirley - yes the time has flown by. I am so happy to hear your news and hope things are going well for you! I have been nesting and I am sure when I start maternity leave it will only increase lol.

I have acknowledged that I will probably go over my due date - that is what everyone has told me from day dot and I know she will arrive when ready but just want to give myself the best possible chance IYKWIM. :)

I thought I would go over cause everyone says you do with baby no 1 but he was born on his due date after membrane rupture while I was asleep so no previous signs of labour

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Rosey I'm 37 and a bit weeks and I've found the following to help me at least 'feel' more confident that I can have a good birth experience:

Yoga- I've been doing prenatal yoga since about 22 weeks and my particular course is excellent for gently toning and stretching the body, optimal Foetal positioning and good relaxation and breathing methods. Lots of the vinyasa positions can also be used during labour.

Walking- I walked heaps right into the start of the third tri but it's actually super hard to go on longer walks now as I tire very easily and I feel like I have rag doll limbs that are too loose and wobbly at the groin and hip. So I highly recommend you walk as much as you can now, before it becomes too much!

Birth stories- I read lots of positive ones and actively seek out natural birth ones.

Antenatal classes- my hospital offers a great 'it's your birth' active labour workshop. You can also do this type of workshop through some health centres and yoga studios if your hospital does not provide one

Questions and knowledge - make sure you equip yourself with all the knowledge you can. Ask your OB if you have one and/or midwife or GP anything and everything that comes to mind. This includes stating your ideal birth preferences and also asking about mitigating circumstances like for example if you need to be induced how to make this as gradual and natural as possible. I have a list of thoughts and questions I prepare for every OB appointment and I pretty much read out the list so I don't forget anything!

Rest- while trying to stay fit I'm also trying to rest heaps as many midwives have told me a natural birth is a lot harder if the mama is exhausted before labour even begins. It's hard for me at the moment as I've had bad sleep issues though grrr!

Anyway I have not had this labour yet so who knows how my preps will pan out!

Oh I also have made a list of positive birth affirmations and reminders for me during labour or for hubby to remind me of. They are pretty practical - thing's like each contraction is short lived/has and endpoint; each contractions brings me closer to meeting my baby; remember to breathe; don't panic and don't lose focus etc.

Like the others I did alot of walking and tried to stand up as much as possible determined to get the bub into a good position. It was really hard as I had really bad SPD. I knew I was having a big baby that was posterior which wasn't good news as I had a previous shoulder dystocia with an average sized 36weeker. If I went again I'd walk, walk and walk I think.

swimming felt awesome in the 3rd tri. also walking laps in the water.

*bump*

As the 10th of Feb draws closer I've also been spending at least 20 minutes a day on my fit ball, doing hip circles and bounces while watching The Circle.

I think walking is a wonderful thing right through pregnancy and labour too. You can literally walk your way to fully. Most women in our culture really don't walk enough, ideally (well we're all so busy) half an hour a day - an hour even better. That car-couch-computer circuit is hard to get off of.

Hands and knees exercises - pelvic tilts and circles - are nice in third tri too. They just feel good and give you a break from carrying the weight.

I think these two things help get your pelvis balanced and 'rock' the baby so s/he finds good positioning.

Chiro & osteo care in third tri can be very helpful too. They can help make sure your pelvis is symetrical and balanced, which helps optimise foetal positioning too.

If you have a doula, midwife, friend or partner who can do rebozo on you, this can be really lovely, pregnant mums love it, it feels so good and relaxing, and helps everything relax and be balanced.

Swimming's the bomb! (Especially if you have haemorrhoids!)

Third tri is a great time to really cut down on sugar and junk and nourish your hard-working body with living nutrients.

did I mention prreeeegggnancyyy maaaasssaaaage .... *sigh*

A Pregnancy herbal tea can be wonderful too, nourishing your body with essential vitamins and minerals and helping your hormonal system produce all the hormones for the big event. Red Raspberry Leaf, Nettle, Motherwort, Alfalfa (rich in Vit K as well) are all ideal.

As far as EDDs are concerned, keep heavy emphasis on the 'ESTIMATED' and realise that by the Woods Method, you're probably less far along than the EDD you're working with. Beware of care providers who pathologise gestating past 42 weeks. Maybe have a refresher read of Leilah McCracken's advice to 10 Month Mamas or visit the page on fb. I used to tell myself, ''I'll prepare for a 45 week gestation (I don't know anyone personally who's gestated longer than that) and if the baby comes sooner than that, it will be a pleasant surprise!"

I didn't walk much my feet killed (Michelin feet syndrome).;-)

I did have
- raspberry leaf tea (more coz I wanted something warm so I might as well)
- Chiro (had it all the way through pregnancy)
- Pilates (pelvic floor exercises, core strength exercise)
- induction massage (was 1 week late)

In hindsight I should have got more massages. That would have just relaxed me much more.

Hope u have a fantastic birth!


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Actually one thing I'm super glad I did from the moment I got a BFP is walk heaps because I had no idea i would get to the third trimester and find walking so hard! For the first seven and a half months I walked at around 40 minutes a day. After that the baby got too low and heavy and I couldn't walk far without immense pelvic and abdominal pressure. Now baby is partially engaged it is super hard! But I've still been walking slowly and for shorter distances about every second day too. Plus my yoga as I mentioned in my first post. :)

So I'd highly recommend being diligent with some sort of gentle exercise routine early on and for as long as possible because you never know what the body will do and feel like in the final weeks.

i agree with the exercise.. i did alot of walking..
I did have the respberry leaf tea from about 35-36 weeks.. dont know if it helped but it doesnt hurt and i def will be doing that again..
Best of luck.. having a positive out look is awesome and the power of a positive mind is a very powerful thing :)
x

I saw a chiro - helped with pelvic alignment.

I did lots of walking and gardening (I'm sure the squatting helped!). I did have a raspberry leaf tea, but not often. I had a few pg massages too.

Mostly I got ready by reading lots of positive birth stories and watching home water birth videos on YouTube. I mostly got everything ready in a practical sense and prepared mentally by doing this.

Awesome tips from you all thank you.

:)


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=) just read up as I am keen to do more =) esp. now I'm not working I am no where near as active as I was, and really, being up moving and walking around I feel so much better, as soon as I do sit down I'm in pain with my hips. so i hear you all on the walking!!

I have also just started drinking the RLT (took me this long to find some to buy!)

I'm liking the sound of a massage =)

do you do any of these Rosey? do you think they helped?

I did raspberry leaf tablets - I don't do tea ;) from 36wks and regular Chiro (I averaged fortnightly visits the whole way through). I tried to walk a bit as well, not much as ds2 started engaging from about 34wks so was uncomfortable.


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Teirae I'm not sure if anything i did helped - I had a Long labour that ended in an emergency c-sect so I might not be the best person to ask. I had positive thoughts, kept myself active, rested when I could and used a fit ball. I didn't do acupuncture or the tea... I kept meaning to but as sad as it sounds time seemed to slip away from me.

Good luck... I wish you a beautiful birth :)


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This is my first so I can say I know the results of what I'm doing... But...

I am taking RL tablets since 28 weeks
Trying to walk at least 4 times a week
A friend has recommended the perenium stretching as per her ob's suggestion and she didn't tear with either child. So I am giving that a shot too.

Let you know how it goes :)

Little O I didn't do any peri stretching and had no tearing. ;) I gave birth in the water and was in the optimum position (leaning forward) to minimize the possibility of tearing. It can't do any harm to stretch, but i'd encourage you to look into positions to give birth in that will reduce tearing.