What are your best tips for labor?

Question

I know it’s different for everyone, but I’d love to hear about your experience/s and what really helped you ☺️

Answer

Don’t be scared to get an epidural if you need it. You’ve got nothing to prove. You’re bringing a baby into this world, you’re entitled to pain relief.

Answer

If you can be paralyzed from the neck down, I recommend that.

Answer

I found breathing very very helpful. I didn't want an epidural (lots of reasons) but was open to all other pain relief. No one gives you a medal for birthing without pain relief. 
Don't panic! I swear panicking makes the pain worse, as does tensing up. Try and nap in the days leading up to birth because its bloody exhausting, and if you can sleep in early labour DO IT! 
Also, if you don't get an epidural, try to move around and not be on your back. Being on your back is the most unnatural way to give birth as gravity and your hips aren't helping you out. Kneeling, squatting, or just standing with your hips tipped forwards will all help getting the baby down the canal.
If you can push more than once with a contraction do so, every time you stop pushing, baby will slip back a bit, so make those pushes count. 
Not sure what country you are in, but I'm in the UK and remember your midwives are there to help you. I asked my midwife to pat me down with cold flannels and get me something to drink so my fiancé could just focus on talking to me and supporting me. I also asked my midwife questions to try and calm myself, we spoke about her family and it helped to put me at ease. They're there to help make your experience as safe and as easy as possible, use them.

Answer

I went in with an ideal of what I was hoping for but a realistic understanding that anything can change at any moment and I have to be prepared to accept whatever needs to happen to deliver baby safely. I didn't do any birthing classes. Honestly during contractions I couldn't think of anything besides breathing through them. The doctors have always been amazing at instructing during delivery. And stay focused on the end goal. You're about to meet your baby for the 1st time 💗 you've got this!

Answer

Don’t tense up during contractions, work through them. Breath through them or hum through them. & it’s ok to get the epidural too, even If our bodies can do it naturally. It doesn’t make you any less of a woman.

Answer

Ina Mays guide to childbirth was really helpful!  Water therapy was wonderful for me.  Counter-pressure was heavenly.  Definitely have your birth partner learn the different techniques

Answer

I watched a lot of birth videos, I think that’s what helped me the most. There can be a lot of fear and anxiety about giving birth because it’s a brand new experience and watching the videos took that away.

What are your best tips for labor?

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