If you're expecting your first baby, it can be a bit scary.
Too many women like to share their horror stories of labor and
birth with you. The best thing you can do for your own peace of
mind is spend some time learning about what to expect when labor
starts. There are plenty of good books available, or you can
spend some time online checking out the many websites dedicated
to pregnancy and giving birth. If you've already chosen a
hospital, then it's quite likely they offer free or very cheap
classes all about labor and different birth methods they
support.
The reality is that the more prepared you are for labor and
birth, the more relaxed you will be when the time comes. If
you're more relaxed and understand what's happening, it's easier
to deal with it all. Your birth partner should also attend the
classes if possible, so that when the time comes you can have
the best possible support they can give.
One very popular birth philosophy is called Lamaze. The focus
of the Lamaze technique is your breathing. The idea is that you
focus on breathing through the pain of each contraction, so that
you enter something like a meditative state during labor. This
helps you to cope better when the contractions become more
intense. The role of the birth partner is to act as coach during
labor. Many women find Lamaze breathing makes pain medication
unnecessary, so if you're interested in a medicine-free birth,
this is definitely a birth method you should learn about. It can
also be used together with standard pain reduction drugs.
The Bradley Method is another popular birthing method. The
focus here is mostly on your body, and you learn a variety of
positions and relaxation techniques during classes, so that your
body can have contractions that are as productive as possible.
You can also relax and choose one of the positions to help
reduce pain. Relaxation is one of the best things you can do to
help manage the pain of labor. Your birth partner acts as a
coach to help the mother-to-be relax during contractions. Again,
this method is often used successfully for a drug-free birth,
and can also be used in conjunction with pain relief medication.
Apart from these two main birth methods, you can also have a
professional come and help you during the birthing process. A
doula, or labor coach, isn't a nurse or midwife, but someone who
has been trained in the best ways to support a woman during
labor. The doula can also give the birth partner advice on how
best to support the mother-to-be. Many husbands feel completely
lost during labor, and desperately want to do something to help
their partner with the pain, but have no idea how to help. A
doula can support both partners and suggest effective ways to
reduce pain and make labor easier.
There are many different options available for giving birth,
so take the time to educate yourself and learn what those
options are. That way you can choose one or two methods that
appeal to you, and use them to help make giving birth as
positive an experience as possible.
