Comments on: Healthy, Natural Pregnancy: Preparing for Labor

By: Juliette Pryce@maternityacupressure

Juliette Pryce@maternityacupressure — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:22:37 +0000

hey there,
For my first pregnancy I took castor oil mixed with orange juice a day or so before my due date. Have to admit it was pretty gross but she arrived on time! For my second pregnancy I tried acupressure which I used for relaxation prior to going into labor and then I found it useful for helping with contraction pains. It was also great for my husband to be so involved as he was applying acupressure and it bought us even closer.
Juliette Pryce@maternityacupressure´s last blog ..How To Use Tricks To Induce Labor

By: Felicia Eis

Felicia Eis — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:12:22 +0000

Thank you for this post! My first baby was a home birth and will be doing the same with this one who is due in November and I am looking forward to it as I had such a good one the first time around I love reading about what others are doing so that I can have them in mind for my next birth.

By: Jena (Organizing Mommy)

Jena (Organizing Mommy) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 05:31:36 +0000

I used that yoga for pregnancy exercises to prepare also. We also had a special verse to meditate on during the difficult parts.

By: Nola

Nola — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:00:42 +0000

this all looks like great info! I did many of these same types of things. I found the most helpful for me was going over a book that I have and making notes, sort of like I used to study when I was in school...wierd but it helped me feel prepared. The book I love is called "the birth book" by William Sears. For me, writing out things again and again somehow commits them to memory so this worked for me.

I ended up using breathing to help me through the contractions, along with counting in my head to each breath...normal breaths though, not patterned breathing. It really helped me. My first birth I hummed. I'm serious- it just happened. I just sort of have gone with whatever works for me at the time to make me most comfortable.

Now you've got me all excited about giving birth...but I am not pregnant. Makes me want another baby (but I still have a baby!) LOL

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:42:35 +0000

My second child was born yesterday at home. My first was your typical hospital birth. I tend to have rather long, tough active labors (around 14 hours of contractions every 1 - 2 min.). The birthing pool made all the difference for me this time. 12 hours of serious labor and NO progress and I was losing it. My husband pulled me down the hall and put me in the birthing pool. I laid back on the side and forced myself to breathe deeply and release tension. Very difficult, but went from 5 - 10 cm and delivery in only 90 min. I kept thinking in the last few hours that I was so tired and I couldn't do it until they pulled me out of the pool and said the baby was coming NOW (I couldn't stop pushing...I was at 8 cm with a lip and not supposed to push and bleeding from it all) then I realized that I could and it was almost over! Now I'm home with my new baby and this experience is so different for all of us. My husband, who originally thought I was a little crazy, says "we'll never do it any other way." He feels so much more involved and bonded.

By: Sarah M

Sarah M — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:06:11 +0000

I also really found the Bradley Method & that book absolutely essential to my natural water birth. I read it two months "early" (i.e. seven months along) and when I started having braxton hicks, could 'practice' the method with them, and wow. I was amazed at how well the practicing and relaxation technique really worked and how well my body was in tune with what I needed to do! Recommend that to anyone. If you'd like to read my birth story (natural water birth with nurse-midwife in a hospital ((we don't have birthing centers & homebirths are illegal here))) feel free: http://ssmast.blogspot.com/2009/03/birth-story.html What an encouragement you are, and I'm not even pregnant right now! lol Sarah M

By: Ruth

Ruth — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:42:58 +0000

Thank you for that -I'd been anticipating this post! Your preparations are helpful; staying hydrated, preparing the uterous, exercises. Thankfully I find myself squatting often these days as I weed, weed and weed. I have found in three labours that I need it quiet with little distraction so I can focus on breathing through the contractons. All the music I prepared beforehand was for nought as I wanted silence. I know I should try water (pool, bath or shower) but it has never appealed before. Everyone speaks so highly of it.

By: Audrey

Audrey — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:40:10 +0000

Thank you so much for this! I'm starting to really gear up for my upcoming VBAC in 13 weeks, and I need all the encouragement and tips I can get! I had a really rough labor with my first, with every intervention in the book, so although I can't have a homebirth, I plan on doing it as naturally as I possibly can in an in-hospital birthing center.

By: Anna

Anna — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:49:02 +0000

I enjoyed watching birth videos on youtube to prepare myself mentally. Here's mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGVRFQlBnPM Blessings to you on your upcoming birth!

By: kristina

kristina — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:26:13 +0000

with my last labor, along with the soothing music and prayer, i rocked in a rocking chair for the first few hours and i enjoyed smelling mint! weird huh? i had this little bottle of organic mint lotion that i would smell and it helped me relax! i did feel a bit like a little ol' Victorian lady with my smelling salts, but it worked! we had also taken a Christian childbirth class and i LOVED it! the Lord was so good to us! and my beautiful 10 lb 2 oz boy was born by His grace, and no drugs! i was sooooo very thankful!