I’m one of those really crazy, weirdo, crunchy mamas who actually likes giving birth. Sorry, sue me. 😉 Birth is a very natural (obviously) thing to have happen, and I know it’s different for everyone, but I really believe there are some things you can do to have a faster, easier labor.
(And I’m not naive, I know there are instances where nothing like these tips will help- but it’s worth it to try!)
#1- Walking, walking, walking! Walking is one of the best things to do to help your body get ready for labor. After 37 weeks, I incorporated lots of hill/incline walking to help encourage labor.
#2- lots of squats! “Squat 300 times a day, you’re going to give birth quickly.” – Ina May Gaskin. There are lots of different kinds of squats to do- normal, wide, deep. Do what feels good and mix it up! I definitely believe squats get your body ready for labor.
#3- red raspberry tea/third trimester tea! I didn’t do this with my first birth, and even though I had a very fast labor, I’ve been drinking tea religiously this pregnancy to see if it will help.
#4- stretching! Stretching feels good on a growing, stretching body, but also helps open up your hips in preparation of your upcoming birth. Check out all the awesome hip opener stretches online!
#5- read & watch positive births! When people want to tell you their “horror birth stories”, just tell them you want to have a positive experience. I watched lots of good homebirths to get my mind ready and to be confidant in my body’s ability of giving birth.
What did you do to help prepare your body for labor?
Sincerely,
Hannah Diane
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I drank red raspberry leaf tea with my first pregnancy and I only pushed for 42 minutes. That’s pretty good for having an epidural and being a first birth! I’m planning to do that again this time around. I’ll look into adding squats in too! I wouldn’t say no to a labor that was under 24 hours this time around!
I like giving birth too! Such a feeling of accomplishment and I’ve also found it to be deeply spiritual.
I didn’t intend on giving birth naturally with my first, so I didn’t pay any attention to breathing techniques, etc in my birth/parenting class. But I wish that I had… my daughter surprised everyone with a quick entrance, and my plan for an epidural went out the window. With that in mind, I was prepared the next go ’round! You have some great tips for prepping for labor! (And I didn’t know about raspberry tea!)