Most women love children and the idea of pregnancy thrills them to no end. But when it comes to childbirth, well, that is a different story altogether! Anecdotes about labor and delivery can scare any woman carrying a wriggling baby in her tummy!
Here, we list some steps to ready your body for a normal delivery.
1. Move Your Body
Yes, pregnancy is hard on the body. You are exhausted, every inch of your body hurts, and all you want to do is sleep. But if you want your body to go through a normal delivery, you’ll need to move around a little!
Exercising is the most important trick when it comes to preparing your body for vaginal delivery. Some of the exercises you can try while pregnant includes the following:
- Walking is an excellent low-intensity exercise for pregnant women. So grab a pair of good shoes and start walking.
- Swimming is another great way to stay fit during pregnancy and get ready for normal delivery.
- Nothing can beat Kegel exercises to ensure a normal and healthy childbirth.
- Go for exercises that can help strengthen your pelvic and thigh muscles. Strong thigh muscles are a must for a safe vaginal delivery. Remember, the thighs suffer a lot during labor and may be one of the reasons why your doctor orders a C-section.
2. Stay Stress-Free
It is normal to feel stressed during pregnancy. But try to keep your mind as calm as possible. Stress can play a huge role in turning the process of childbirth into a nightmare and even lead to a C-section.
Some of the ways to beat stress during pregnancy includes the following:
- Meditation works like a charm. You can try any form of meditation that you feel comfortable with to keep stress at bay.
- Visualization techniques are a great way to beat stress.
- If you are not the meditating kind, you can try music to stay stress-free.
3. Breathe Right
Breathing is something you don’t even notice. But it is the one thing that can make the whole labor process easier, negating the need for a C-section.
Here are some breathing techniques you can try for normal delivery during pregnancy:
- Breathing from the chest
- Breathing from the stomach
- Shallow breathing
- Alternate deep and shallow breathing
4. Eat Right
The food you eat can have a huge impact on your pregnancy, and childbirth as well. A healthy mother equals a healthy baby. A proper diet can go a long way in ensuring that your baby copes well with the process of childbirth and takes birth through a normal delivery.
Here are some points to keep in mind about pregnancy diet for vaginal delivery:
- Your diet should consist of a healthy dose of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, legumes, and dairy.
- Go for dark green vegetables, a good amount of starchy food, and foods that are rich in protein.
- Your body needs extra iron during pregnancy, so make sure you eat an iron-rich diet.
- Steer clear of organ meat.
- Try and avoid foods that contain retinol.
- Also avoid seafood as much as possible.
- Avoid sugar.
- Avoid eating street food as they may contain bacteria, which can harm your health.
5. Don’t Gain Too Much Weight
Yes, it is important to gain a decent amount of weight during pregnancy, but you don’t need to pile on the pounds. Overweight women can have problems during labor and end up with a C-section.
Here are some points to keep in mind about obesity and normal delivery:
- Obesity can make it difficult to monitor the baby during labor, making delivery difficult.
- If you are obese, the chances are high that your baby will be big too, which may lead to trouble during labor and delivery.
6. Stay Positive And Avoid Negative Birth Stories
It is normal to share notes about one’s pregnancy and childbirth. But the last thing a paranoid pregnant woman needs is to hear about a labor gone wrong.
Here are some points to help stay positive:
- If a fellow mother begins to tell you about her nightmare of a childbirth, walk out of the conversation.
- Negative stories about childbirth can play on your mind and cause panic during labor, which can cause problems with normal delivery.
- Remember that all individuals differ, so does their story of labor and delivery. Just because your friend had a tough labor does not mean you’ll too!
7. Learn More About The Process
Knowledge is power – repeat this mantra and arm yourself with as much knowledge about the whole labor and delivery process as you can.
Here are some things you can do to learn more about the childbirth process:
- Consult your doctor about any doubts you have about pregnancy and childbirth.
- Surf the net and consult web sites for more information. But do make sure the sites are reliable.
- There are numerous books available about childbirth and all that it entails. Buy a few today.
- Talk to your mother or other elder women in the family who can help you with their experience. You can also talk to fellow women/moms.
8. Build A Support System
You are going through the physical aspect of pregnancy alone, but you surely need support to walk this road with comfort. It is vital that you create a support system to help you have a normal delivery.
- Make sure you and your partner are on the same page when it comes to childbirth.
- You’ll also need to ensure that other members of your family support your decisions and stand by you.
- Having a support system can help take away a lot of the stress involved with childbirth and help in a normal delivery.
9. Choose Your Doctor Wisely
It is a sad fact that many doctors look for convenience and hurry mothers into a C-section. So it important to choose your doctor, the one who’ll deliver your baby, wisely.
- Make sure your doctor and his clinic has a good rate of normal delivery.
- Talk to your doctor about his views on normal delivery.
- If you feel that your doctor may not respect your wishes about a normal delivery, look for another doctor.
10. Make Water Your Best Friend
Apart from drinking water, you can also use it to make the whole labor process easier.
- Hydrotherapy can help reduce discomfort and pain during labor.
- Fill the bathtub with water and soak in it for relief.
- Hydrotherapy can also be a great tool to beat stress during labor.
- Ensure that the temperature of the water is normal to avoid harming your unborn baby.
- Do not soak in a bathtub if your water has already broken. You can use the shower instead.