It is in your power to make this process easier and faster.
First, I’ll tell you the story of the birth of my son. It was in the 41st week. In the morning, light tingling sensations began – I did not attach much importance to them. You know, there are programs on the Internet that calculate whether you have false contractions (they are also called training contractions) or real ones. So this program kept telling me to the last: everything is not serious.
“Lie on your side, take a shower, take a walk in the fresh air,” the soulless contraction calculator advised me, which I did.
By the evening the cramps became more frequent and stronger. To be on the safe side, I went with my husband to the hospital. At 10 pm they took me to the ward, and two hours later they put my baby on the deflated stomach.
Everything went so quickly, but I was getting ready for a long delivery, I recalled the stories of my mother, who suffered for 15 hours.
Of course, for a fee or free of charge, but according to indications, you may be given an epidural. But it will begin to act only after half an hour. And by the time of attempts, its effect passes – you must give birth yourself. In addition, pain relief has many contraindications. There are also unpleasant consequences. For example, back pain, which may end the next day, or may last for a month.
Therefore, for those who are tuned in to natural childbirth without anesthesia, I will tell you what helped me ease this difficult process.
1. Mood. This is the main thing! “Think of childbirth as a job. You need to work hard, ”my gynecologist told me. To do this, listen and do whatever the midwife says. Concentrate on the process.
2. Do not be afraid. Fear is also from the unknown. Therefore, during pregnancy, read more books about childbirth, take courses at antenatal clinics. Of course, at the most crucial moment, a lot of this will fly out of my head, but some degree of confidence will still remain.
3. Think about the child, not yourself. Yes, it hurts. Yes, I want to feel sorry for myself. No need! Imagine that it is very difficult for your baby now too. Labor is even more stressful for him than it is for you. Therefore, look again at the first point: “Childbirth is work.”
4. Try to relax, no matter how silly it may sound. This will make the birth faster and easier. Doctors say: straining, we prevent the cervix from opening, and it should be relaxed. Therefore, with the next contraction, close your eyes – this will relieve external stimuli. Try smiling to relax the muscles in your face.
5. Do not Cry. First, it is unnecessary stress for the baby. Secondly, because of the screams, you strain your muscles once again. Thirdly, this is very unnerving for doctors. You, of course, at such a moment have no time for doctors, but, you must agree, an irritated midwife is unlikely to brighten up the process of childbirth.
6. Breathe. This helps to relax and saturates the blood with oxygen – what the baby needs now. But do it right, not as taught in American cinema. On the screens, women, curling their lips into a tube, breathe quickly and quickly. So you will not be enough for a long time, and it will not help in childbirth. Try to take a deep breath and exhale as long as possible, helping the cervix to open. Don’t hold your breath. I learned breathing technique from the video that I give below (watch from the 10th minute). And when I went to the hospital, I breathed, watching a video on YouTube.
7. Take a shower. Warm water will relax and relieve cramping. And if there is a jacuzzi in the delivery room, then you are just in luck. Most importantly, do not forget to bring a towel and rubber slippers.
8. Don’t lie down. Obstetricians say that in bed, a woman suffers contractions harder. By standing, you will help speed up labor – all through gravity. In addition, in movement, the muscles warm up, prepare for the “final throw.” If you don’t have the strength to walk around the ward, get up on the bed in a knee-elbow position – it will ease the pain.
9. Fitball. This big bouncy ball is a lifesaver for women. Ask if your hospital has a fitball or take it with you. You can jump on it a little or just sit, slowly and smoothly moving your hips in a circle.
10. Massage. Stretch your shoulders, neck, lower back. In this regard, partner childbirth is good. Then you don’t have to massage yourself.
11. And the last one. The pain will soon pass and will be forgotten. But you will remember the first meeting with the baby all your life.