10 Tips for a Powerful Positive Birth
How to stack the odds in your favor of having a positive birth.
If an unmedicated birth is important to you then having a strategy to stack the chances of that happening can be very helpful. Your daily brain training is only part of the equation. What you do outside of your hypnosis and mindfulness practice is just as important. It’s also dependent on your baseline ‘positive birth’ mental fitness. If you grew up hearing inspiring positive birth stories from your own mother then you’ve got a great foundation already - but if your mother described her births as traumatic and distressing then I’d suggest increasing your practice.
Whenever I meet with clients a common question that I’m asked is ‘what is my philosophy around birth?’. That’s an easy one for me – my philosophy is whatever YOUR philosophy is. A positive birth comes in many forms whether that’s a drive thru epidural the day before your EDD (joking…but that was my intention on my first), swinging from the chandeliers or a family centered planned cesarean. A positive birth is defined only by YOU.
Here’s my top ten tips to help you have the labor and birth of your dreams.
10 | Choose your place of birth carefully
According to recent US research your risk of having a cesarean depends more on your choice of hospital than any health complications you or your baby may experience on the big day. Not all hospitals are created equal - doing some homework in can make your birth a much more positive one. A birth center or home birth are great options too if you’d prefer care that is tailored to your unique circumstances. Learn more about stacking the odds of having a positive unmedicated birth here.
9 | Walk Your Way to a Positive Birth
Half of all first-time moms in the US are considered obese at the beginning of pregnancy. That doesn’t mean crash diets and CrossFit classes are recommended. Light exercise in pregnancy reduces the risk of complications and is good for you and your baby. You build endurance and focus – all helpful in labor. Being upright in labor is associated with shorter labors, less pain, and less fetal distress. You get to share those lovely happy hormones (endorphins with your baby too). Yoga, walking, swimming are great options as well as any mindful movement.
8 | Get the Inside Track from an Independent Class
Traditional hospital birth preparation classes often focus on what can go wrong in labor rather than what can go right. In an independent childbirth class, you’ll learn about your hospitals policies as well as all of your options for the big day so you and your partner can navigate any decisions that need to be made more confidently. An independent instructor works for you – not the hospital. Google your local GentleBirth Instructor.
7 | Don’t Labor Alone
In a busy hospital your nurse may have to look after more than one expectant mom so that leaves your partner as your sole support on the day (see point 5).
There’s a saying ‘if doulas were a drug it would be unethical to not to use them”.
There are many benefits to hiring a birth doula – including less need for pain relief, significantly reduced cesarean births, less Pitocin, a reduction in postnatal depression and higher breastfeeding rates. There’s really no downside to having extra support on the big day.
6 | A Prepared Partner
A well-prepared partner is one of the most important tools in your labor toolkit especially if your nurse is busy. For too often partners have been sidelined in the birth room but with support, information and training they can be the rock you need on the day for emotional and physical support.
5 | Avoid the Negative Nellies
No doubt you’ve already met a few. Those well-meaning friends and family members who can’t wait to tell you how awful labor is. Find your positive birth tribe – people who will uplift you, encourage you and keep you feeling excited about what’s to come. Find like-minded groups, both in person and online (join the GentleBirth community here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/273661266056860/ (European/Australia) and https://www.facebook.com/groups/GentlebirthUSA/ (USA & Canada)
4 | Concise Written Birth Preferences
Written birth preferences are a fab communication tool. You’ve never met your nurse before so it’s a great way to help your nurse get to know you and the kind of birth you’d like very quickly. It’s not a contract or guarantee but helps you and your partner explore your options for the big day and access personalized care rather than standard hospital protocols which may or may not be evidence based. No need to turn your preferences into a thesis just one page with bullet points will suffice.
3 | Get the Bump in the Bath!
It’s also known as the midwife’s epidural. Deep warm water immersion shortens labor, reduces pain and allows for greater freedom of movement. You are weightless – absolute bliss in labor! No tub? Try the shower instead.
2 | Build Your Labor Toolkit
Slow focused breathing is underestimated but a powerful tool. Try out the different breathing approaches in the GentleBirth App so you can practice in stressful situations during your pregnancy and they are second nature to you on the big day.
Don’t labor without a yoga ball. Just sitting on it opens the pelvis and reduces pain as you move your pelvis around your descending baby. A TENS machine, acupressure, music and mental strategies can also help you feel calmer and more in control. Medication is also part of your labor toolkit – keep everything on the table for the most positive birth possible.
1 | Your Mindset - Focus On What Can Go Right
Despite what you see on Greys Anatomy in most cases birth goes really well for most healthy moms and babies. I bet you spend a lot of time in pregnancy mentally rehearsing the kind of birth you DON’T want (episiotomy, cesarean…etc) instead of the birth you DO want…calm, focused, empowered. Your mindset heading into birth is so important. Start training your brain to prepare for a calm, positive birth, whatever direction that experience takes you with hypnobirthing and meditation.
“What helped you have a positive birth? Leave a comment below!”