My best advice for a fast labor and delivery

This is my second time having a baby and I thought maybe everything I did with my first was just coincidence. My mother told me how with all of us (3 siblings) she went past her 40 weeks due date, had to be induced and had long (I’m talking 36 hour) and painful labors. After going to some prenatal classes and learning that a good indicator for your labor and delivery is how your mothers was, I was determined to do everything and anything to make this process as easy on myself and baby. So what did I do?

1) I stayed active my entire pregnancy. I’m talking through the nausea and through the headaches and through the extreme tired days. I pushed myself to be active. 5-6 day’s a week at the gym doing mostly strength in the first two trimesters and then cardio in the last trimester. This pregnancy, I only gained 20lbs and body was all belly

2.) at 36 weeks, start preparing your body for labor

-I ate 6 dates every morning (I hate dates and gagged every time but chuffed it down with water)

- drank raspberry leaf tea increasing the strength of the tea every week by adding an additional tea bag to 10oz of water

-bounced on a yoga ball (20-30min everyday) to help baby get his head engaged and down low

-walked, walked walked and walked daily

-at night I inserted 1300mg capsule of evening primrose oil and laid in bed with a peanut ball

With my first, I spontaneously went into labor at 38w4d. Was 6cm dilated when I arrived at the hospital after laboring at home for maybe an hour before going in. From start to deli every, it took 8 hours. She was 7lbs 7oz

This pregnancy, I spontaneously went into labor at 37w4d. My water broke at 9am and I was pushing by 2:59pm and had him at 3:13pm (14 minutes of pushing). I arrived at the hospital 6cm dilated and once they broke my second bag of water, I went from a 6 to a 10 in under 10 minutes. I was in labor for a total of 6 hours. No tears or stitches needed. He was 7lbs 14oz.

Here is my Aidan Jeffrey Welch. Born 7-3-2020 (due date 7-20-2020)

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