5 Ways To Prepare For Labor

The “big day” is always on our minds when we are expecting.  When will it be? Will I be late or early? Will it be painful? What can I do to prepare myself for the journey?

Labor and Delivery is tough, you must prepare mentally and physically.  It hurts, however the hurt is different than a broken bone.  A broken bone signals to your brain something is wrong in your body and you must fix it.  Labor and Delivery birth hurts in a way that’s like running a marathon.  You train mentally and physically for a marathon but the final stretch can be challenging, even painful, but there is a finish line you’ve worked so hard to get across!

There are many things you can do to prepare for the “big day”

1. Exercise- Your body needs to be in shape and ready for labor and delivery.  One of the best forms of exercise during pregnancy is prenatal yoga or pregnancy yoga, helping you prepare mentally and physically for labor and delivery by practicing breath during intense poses. Learning prenatal yoga poses allows you to release tension during pregnancy and during labor.   Prenatal Yoga also allows for mediation, an opportunity to practice surrendering and being present to the moment rather than push against it.
2. Educate Yourself- Whether your delivering at home, hospital, birthing center, it’s so important that you be your best advocate.  I once heard “you are not a patient during your birthing journey,” so true!! The more you educate yourself the less fear and anxiety you will have going into that “big day.”
3. Call in your support team- invite those on your team that have the same philosophy as you do when it comes to your birthing journey.  Create a space of peacefulness for your birthing journey. Do you want this to be a sacred time for just you and your partner? Do you want the whole family present? Who do you want as your practitioner- OBGYN, Midwife? Will you include a doula as part of your team?
4. Be Present- Trust in the processes.  Women have been giving birth for thousands of years.  Contractions are like waves, they build and crash, and you have time in between each wave to center again and ride the next wave.
5. Use Visualizations- visualize something that brings calmness to you.  What is that something? What color is it? What does it smell like? What does it look like? Where is it? Practice this visualization prior to labor.  Practicing visualization is powerful tool in pain management.

Full Circle Yoga KC offers prenatal yoga classes that support a mother’s pregnancy journey. In our prenatal classes we practice mindfulness in breathing, bring awareness to our changing bodies, and offer movement for a full body workout.