Labor & Birth Prep
Preparing for birth can feel overwhelming when you have no idea how it will look for you. Whether this is your first baby or not, every birth will look different. While I will provide recommendations to books, podcasts, and products to help with coping through labor — the best way to prep is to go inward and figure out what YOU want.
What is most important to you and why?
If you go into birth thinking maybe I’ll try for an unmedicated labor, that may not be enough to get your through it. Find your why and without judgement write those reasons down and remind yourself and talk with your partner about them. Then go into processing your fears surrounding birth. What are you scared of, what would hold you back, who’s voices are taking over in your decision making process.
This may be something like…
✨ “I’m scared of tearing”
✨ ”I’m nervous that I can’t handle the pain”
✨ ”I don’t want to have a c-section”
✨ ”I want my baby to be safe”
Are you more nervous for the pain in-the-moment or healing from it physically? If you have an unmedicated birth and tear, they won’t give you stitches without local anesthetics! And many people don’t realize they had any tearing during delivery. The pain hormone cycle registers pain as being unmanageable when fear rises, this then decreases your ability to cope well with the changes. It can be so empowering to go into birth with the mindset that “yes, I may tear and if I do I know what will happen after birth”. When that mindset shifts you can start to prepare for postpartum.
What would healing look like for different birth outcomes (vaginal without tearing, vaginal with tearing, episiotomy, EVD, cesarean birth, etc.). And how will you be supported during the first 6 weeks?
My postpartum Planning Guide is coming soon! 👀
Knowledge is Power
Taking a birth class to learn more about what to expect for many birthing outcomes is a good place to start. I teach a Womb to World birth class and you can request a private virtual class if you aren’t local. Knowing your options and what questions to ask during birth to walk away feeling confident in your choices is going to help you prep. We as humans are so adaptable and some more than others. Having knowledge going into birth on positioning of baby and how that may effect birth (i.e. breech babies) can give you insight on what your baby and body is doing and how to move through labor to support baby. Start now in your appointments asking for the Benefits, Risks, Alternatives when things are brought up. Then you can listen to your instincts and ask if this is something we need to do now, not at all, or wait.
Go into birth with your B-R-A-I-N
Benefits
Risks
Alternatives
Instincts
Now/Never/Not Now
Tools for Birth
No matter your birth goals, going into birth (especially postpartum) with coping tools to move through discomfort and difficult things. These are tools you already have! Start to notice that way you go through difficult, what do you do, who do you lean on, what keeps you grounded and calm. Some coping tools may not be healthy or sustainable, maybe start with deep breathing techniques (inhale for 4, exhale for 8). Deep breathing can be such a powerful tool especially to teach your little ones when they have big feelings that take over their bodies. You may gravitate towards position changes if you tend to go to the gym to relieve stress. Start to try some or all of these and see what calms your nervous system and brings you out of flight or fight.
Other coping tools to lean on during birth could be:
Acupuncture / Acupressure
Environment (low lights, change rooms)
Smell (Lavender, Peppermint, Frankincense, Clary Sage)
Birth Ball / Peanut Ball
Breath Awareness
Doula Support
Hypnobirthing
Massage / Counter Pressure / Sacral Pressure
Music
Position Changes
TENS Unit
Bath/Shower
Words of Affirmation
Sour Candies or Lollipops
Products for Labor & Birth
Birth Comb: We gift one to each mom who takes a birth class!
Spikey Ball, Wooden Ball (img above), Soft Stress ball
Birth Ball / Peanut Ball — These are both at the hospitals
TENs Unit: Option to rent from TaKara with Rooted Rebel Birth
Portable Speaker (phones work just fine or bring a speaker from home)
