There are plenty of things everyone is going to tell you to do for the labor of love ahead. There’s really only a few things that I needed to do to get ready besides getting down the saved clothes from my first child. The practices that were most important for me were the simple, mindful ones to prepare for labor and birth.
I know I’m not going to have as much support this time around because my family won’t all be here. It’ll just be my husband and I with grandma at home watching our two year old. Mindfulness has played a huge role in my pregnancy, first and current, so that was what I focused on most.
For me, there wasn’t a lot that I did to ‘get ready’ for my first pregnancy. I exercised and did certain ‘labor helpful’ yoga poses. I read a few articles and a the typical ‘What to expect when you’re expecting’ book.
None of that really helped in the grand scheme of things simply because having a new baby is living on a different planet, with a different atmosphere, with completely different species. It’s just one of those things.
The Basics
Birth plan ready– Knowing what you want to do before you get into the thick of it is super important. Everything may not go as planned. However, having something to go off of is helpful for you and whoever is assisting in the delivery.
Physical Exercises- I’m talking Kegels, walking, yoga, something to keep your body in shape and your mind attuned to it. Labor and birth is a marathon and not training for such is a rookie mistake.
Talk to Your Baby– This is a silly one I know, because some people will say they can’t hear you but others will argue that they can recognize your voice. Same with dad. You may not want to do this but maybe just sing a long to your favorite songs more often, try reading out loud a few times. I like to think they can hear us, even if they’re ten thousand leagues under the sea.
The More Mindful
Get Your Affirmations- Being able to repeat a phrase to yourself or have someone to tell you ‘your body was meant to do this’, something that is going to motivate you and encourage you through this. That also helps to keep your mind focused on something more positive than the pain of contractions.
Practice the Labor Techniques- Since I’m planning to have another natural childbirth and there will be less support people to help, I really wanted to practice the things I learned in my birth class.
- Non focused awareness– when you focus on something, then move your awareness elsewhere.
- Tense & release– exactly as it sounds, you tense one part of your body then release it to fully relax it
- Positions- such as hands and knees, squatting, leaning on the yoga ball, there’s an array of positions you can use
- Circular Breathing/Ujjayi- just to name a few breathing techniques. An even count of inhales and exhales continuously. Then Ujjayi is a yogic technique through the nose but still exhaling with your throat.
Meditation/Visualization– Seeing in your minds eye that you can do this, and literally visualizing your child coming out of you was a big part of my first birth. I would sit and see it happening, me pushing and him birthing earth side. Seeing myself being WILLING and ABLE to do this was a huge motivator.
Maybe you don’t need any practices for labor or you’re so mindful already that you’ve been prepared since the start! These rituals are ones that I began as soon as I felt better after the first trimester wave. I knew I wanted to have another natural birth, with as little interventions as possible.
Since this is my second, I’ve spent a lot of quiet contemplation with my son visualizing about what things will be like once he’s earth side. I had a lot of anxiety about bringing a second child into our world but the closer I get, the less nervous I am.
I hope your nerves are easing too as the date gets closer, if not maybe some of these mindful practices could help you in your labor!
xoxo, Tayler