Preparation for Meeting your Bonnie Baby – Part Two

I must have read about these in a book or seen one in Pinterest.  I made a big one! It never made it to hospital with me but I took a photo of it and referenced it whenever I felt the need throughout labour.

I made a big board so that I couldn’t miss as I walked by it in the house.  It was covered in positive birth affirmations, encouraging information and images that made me smile.  I associated it with happiness and belief of a good outcome.  I also printed off multiple copies of some of the birth affirmations and placed them around my home, on doors near the handle, mirrors and even used one as a bookmark.  I’m sure my husband loved reading “I soften, I open, I release” every time he was brushing his teeth, but he made no complaints and quite rightly, it’s not him who will be giving birth to a person so do what you can to help you focus on the task only you can do.

A doula is your guide in labour.  Their main focus is you, your health and your wishes for your birth.  Your doula should be someone you trust and someone who is knowledgeable about birth and hospital practices. 

My doula was Cáitlin Heavey, my Yogabirth teacher.  I attended her classes throughout my first pregnancy when I knew nothing about doulas and their benefit.  When I was back at her classes for my second pregnancy, she noticed a nervousness in me that wasn’t there before and began to question me about my feelings from my first labour.  That’s when I learned that she was a doula and when I engaged her services, I had one of those ‘I wish I’d known this the last time’ moments.  Perhaps my first labour would have always gone down the same path (2 days of intermittent labouring that resulted in an emergency caesarean section) but my gut tells me it would have gone better.

Not every doula will your weekly yoga teacher that you have built up a relationship with over time, but all good ones will have a great website where you can learn about them to see if you could be a good fit.  They will take time to get to know you and your wishes for labour and do their best to guide you this transformative experience.

A lovely warm pool can help ease labouring aches and also provide a relaxing environment that can help your labour to progress. After my emergency c-section with Harrison I wasn’t allowed to go into the Birthing Centre at the ERI for my second labour, so I hired a pool to have at home.  You just need enough space (various pool sizes are available to hire) and a birth partner with a ‘can-do’ attitude!

I had a birthing pool available to me for every labour and never once gave birth in a pool.  However, it was great for relaxing and gave me great comfort to know it was there.  It was another (rather large) tool in my box to help me feel I had control in my labour.

Practice, practice, practice.  Tens machines feel strange!  It’s an odd sensation, so wearing it before birth for a short time each day and increasing the levels will mean that it isn’t going to annoy you during labour.  It will be familiar and helpful and when your body is surging you will be glad to have something help with the work your mind is doing.

 I remember thinking that a Tens machine was too unnatural for me to use.  I planned to rock my hypnobirthing and sail through labour.  Well, I came round to using one for my second pregnancy.  During my first there were just times that I was too tired to concentrate.  Having a contraption help me along when I needed it, was better than not having it at all.  Comfort in labour comes from control.  No-one will promise you a sensation free active labour but having all the tools to pick from, as and when you need them, will make you feel more in control of the situation.  This will keep fear at bay and help you be more comfortable.