What I Wish I Had Known Before I Gave Birth
Ah, that young face and round belly - I loved being pregnant! I really did. I was blessed with easy pregnancies and while I wouldn’t trade that fact, it lead to misconceptions in my mind about what my labor would look like.
I thought I did everything right with my first pregnancy. I ate extremely well, walked or did some form of exercise almost every day, and rested when I needed it. I felt great, and I thought winning the pregnancy game would automatically translate into winning the birth game. But it’s not that simple.
What I wish I had known then is that preparing your body for labor is just one piece of the puzzle. An even bigger, almost more important piece, is getting your MIND ready for labor. Preparing your mind will allow you to more easily take control of your labor by filtering what’s happening through the lens of confidence instead of fear. And being able to interpret labor with a sense of calm and understanding is what will actually help you win the birth game. But what does that look like practically?
Preparing your body is important, yes, but a prepared body without a prepared mind will only take you but so far in labor. Inevitably, you will reach a point where mental stamina and strength are what are needed for your body to continue doing the physical work of labor.
So what are some ways you can prepare your mind?
Practice relaxation. Really - practice every day, even when it seems silly.
Take a really good childbirth class, and not just a one-day, two-hour type deal. Commit to learning about what your body will go through so there is no fear when you get to that part. (Our Comprehensive class is such an amazing one, so make sure you register for the group starting at the end of May!)
Practice muscle tension release, and not just at night in your bed when you’re already relaxed, but at different times of the day and with your partner.
These are just a few suggestions, but you can learn a lot more in the Comprehensive Childbirth class (or the Home and Birth Center class). It really is the best way to get your whole body (mind included!) ready for labor!