Did you know that there are
three key ways that you and your partner can prepare for the arrival of your
baby, whether in hospital or at home, which may make a real difference to your
chances of experiencing a gentle birth?
Place –
feeling safe and unobserved in your birth environment, free to move around and
take up any position you want, can help your mind and body to stay focused and
keep those essential labour hormones flowing. Rearrange the furniture, hang a
‘do not disturb’ sign on your door!
People –
choosing attendants you trust to uphold your wishes for labour and birth is
wise. Your supporters can protect your birth space by keeping questions and
noise to a minimum, by banning strangers from the room. Enlist a doula (birth
companion) as your advocate, she is there for your partner too!
Pain –
establishing a unified attitude to the way you choose to work with your
contractions, and making sure you have plenty of positive emotional support,
can mean you are less likely to feel the need to request pain medication or an
epidural. Write a clear birth plan, keep everyone informed!
An ‘undisturbed’ labour
means you are more likely to enjoy a gentle birth. And a positive experience
helps you, your baby and your family off to a good start.
To purchase ‘Birth Space, Safe Place: emotional wellbeing
through pregnancy and birth’ (Findhorn Press, 2009) see www.adelastockton.co.uk
Posts
Wonderful that you are blogging! It was only with my fourth baby (Hector, now 2) that I had the confidence to trust my own body and to expect a very long labour of around 36 hours. Every birth and every woman is different. I wish I had known with the first what I know now!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anne! Great to hear your story, you are so right, every mother and baby have their own version of 'normal birth', and its so brilliant that you found your confidence and trust in the way that was right for you.
ReplyDeleteHaving confidence in your birth team and trust in your body is key to getting the experience you want. Trusting your body to guide you and once you are given any instructions by the midwife allowing you time to do it in your own body without additional chit chat allowing you to focus on what your body needs to do. It's true birth without fear makes a huge difference to how you feel and how relaxed you are allowing you to enjoy the first few hours skin to skin and glowing :)
ReplyDelete