How did you cope with contractions?

[Cassius2]

i kinda did a visualisation thingy like Tegam mentioned. although i used to be a high-diver and so i 'stole' our visualisation technique from that and viewed each contraction as a big phat beer barrel that i needed to 'jump' over...strange but true LOL!!!

i would recommend staying at home as LONG as possible too. those middies tend to be wayyy to keen to jab you with whatevers going at the time.

[bronners]

Stomped my feet, used heat packs (had to be very hot!), hot water from the shower head and strangely - reading something or thinking about something unrelated (distraction I guess). I only did the distraction thing when I was having the most painful contractions...I remember analysing every detail of the plastic chair in the shower...he he.

[Homebirthin'mumma]

Birth pool - get one!
makes a world of difference!

Also - read Birth Skills by Juju Sundin (co-written with Sarah Murdoch). It has some great strategies to cope and help get you into the right mindset.

And remind yourself that you already have done this before! You don't need to prove anything to yourself - you have already done it! Your body knows exactly what to do!

Also remind yourself of the health benefits to you and your baby of avoiding pain relief as long as possible.

Make sure your hubby and MW's are supportive.

Write out a birth plan. Maybe saying that they not suggest pain relief to you, but you will request them if you want them. Maybe also note that you must only request relief in the break when you are thinking more clearly/rationally, not during a contraction.

No athlete could go for 5 hours and not feel their muscles burning - and that's what is happening. Your muscles are working harder than ever before, for hours on end. You are not broken - you are working. And even athletes hit the 'wall' (transition), where they doubt their ability to finish what they have started. But they push through it and finish it - just like you will.

If it's unbareable, then take pain relief - that's what it is for.

And remember that every contraction's an action (baby moving down and one step closer to being in your arms). It won't last forever, and when it's all over you will forget about the pain in an instant.

Bets of luck - not that you'll need it.... You'll be great!