Preparing for birth is really important, here are my top 3 tips on what you should prioritise:
1. Prepare your body
During pregnancy, it is really important that you prepare for birth by:
Eat a healthy balanced diet - Getting a good variety of vitamins and minerals in pregnancy is really important for your growing baby and for your body too. This will help you to build the strength that you'll need, during labour. Taking daily supplements of essential pregnancy vitamins and minerals is often advised by care givers. Pregnacare is often a recommended brand, by Midwives in the UK.
Get a good amount of sleep - Getting a decent nights sleep during pregnancy, is really important. Your body is working super hard to grow your baby and needs plenty of rest at night, to give you energy throughout the day. Once you get into the 3rd trimester, it's not always easy to sleep as easily as you might have done previously. With a growing bump, restless leg syndrome, a constant need to wee or an active baby, you might find that you are waking often in the night or finding it hard to drop off. There are plenty of things that can help. You could try listening to a relaxation track before bed, meditation, read a novel book, to help settle your mind. Buy a pregnancy pillow to support your bump. Limit the amount of liquid that you have, a few hours before going to bed, to help reduce the need to wee in the night. Get some fresh air during the day and get some exercise. Don't use your phone or watch anything on TV that might make you anxious before bed. Particularly if you are feeling anxious about your birth and you read or watch something birth related.
Exercise regularly - Exercise can release all the good hormones, help you to relax, sleep well and keep you fit and healthy. You might want to consider doing a prenatal exercise class e.g. pregnancy yoga, aquanatal or a pregnancy aerobics class. Alternatively a gentle walk in the park is just as good.
2. Do a Hypnobirthing Course AND an Antenatal Class
Hypnobirthing courses are a brilliant way to prepare for birth. They are different to antenatal classes, whereby they cover topics to help you to create a positive mindset for birth. The diagrams below highlights the typical topics that you will cover on a antenatal course and a hypnobirthing course, with some overlap of some topics too. Hypnobirthing courses prepare the mind and body for birth, whereas antenatal courses prepare you for birth and the postnatal period. Many of my clients have said that doing both courses, has been really beneficial for them.
If you are thinking what is Hypnobirthing or if you would like to know more about my hypnobirthing courses and my antenatal packages that I offer, you can visit my website to find out more.
3. Write a Birth Plan
Birth plans can be a great way to help you to to prepare for birth and decide what kind of birth you would like. They help you to be aware of all of your choices and options. Birth plans are also a great way to let your birth partner and care givers know what kind of birth you would like and what choices you have made. Giving birth is a really big deal and it's important that you put a lot of thought and effort into how you would like it to be.
"Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life." Ina May Gaskin.
Birth plans don't always go 100% to plan and that is why I always recommend making a plan A, B and C. This way you can remain in control and feel empowered about the decisions that you have made and the alternative options that you might have to consider, to be able to make an informed decision. If you would like help making a birth plan, I cover this topic on my antenatal and birth Doula support packages. Alternatively, you can download my FREE birth plan template, which includes tips on how to write a birth plan, to help you to make a plan that feels right for you and your baby.
Please get in touch with me if you would like to know more about my Doula Support packages or any of my Hypnobirthing Courses.
Julia x