Magali Dieux - a french singer who was singing/toning through Labor
She sang:
"Be strong my mind, my self
Protect me from doubt and fearhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
My child, my miracle
Don't be afraid
Follow me, follow the wave"
Beautiful empowering mantra for birth!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
10 Tips for “Labor Day”
How to achieve the labor & delivery you imagine
By Healthy Moms Happy Babies
1. Labor at home as long as possible
Hospitals often impose informal time limits for labor & delivery. They may want to introduce interventions to speed labor along if they feel that you’re not progressing quickquickly enough. Once one intervention has been made, it’s that much easier for more to happen. Avoid the cascade effect and stay home until your contractions follow the 4-1-1 or 5-1-1 rule (contractions occurring every 4 or 5 minutes that are one minute long over the course of one hour). You’ll be more comfortable at home!
2. Eat, drink, & rest in early labor as much as you can
Keep your strength up by taking care of yourself in the early stages of labor. Often the excitement of everything will cause you to want to make calls, clean the house, pack your bags, etc… Resist the urge to expel unnecessary energy so you can be strong through the whole event. Eat, drink, and rest as much as possible. Think marathon, not sprint!
3. Change positions often to find comfort
Standing, sitting, laying, hands-and-knees, and squatting are all viable ways to labor (and deliver). The birth ball can be a great tool to sit on, or lean on – from a standing or kneeling position. Try different positions and follow your body’s rhythm to know when to change things up.
4. Walk to make some progress
Let gravity do some of the work! Walking in between contractions can be a great way to further move the baby downward into the birth canal. If you aren’t able to walk far, try making figure 8’s with the hips or marching in place.
5. Tell your doula, or birth partner, how they can help you
Doulas come prepared with an array of massage techniques and position suggestions that they can offer. In addition, they can get you water, food, chapstick, heating pad, or whatever you need. They are also great sources of emotional support and encouragement. Communicate your needs and let others help you.
6. Use the shower or bath to relax
The warm water will soothe your body and you can use the sprayer to target any spots (like the low back) that are painful and/or uncomfortable. While baths in early labor can slow things down, they are very effective in late labor to relax the urogenital muscles
7. Go to the bathroom often
If you are drinking often, you’ll need to pee often and believe it or not, urinating is a great way to relax the muscles of the pelvic floor. Sit down and stay awhile. Maybe even turn around and lean on the back of the toilet to get comfortable.
8. Use your breath effectively
Breathing is an effective way to lower stress levels and keep your awareness on the present moment. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. With every exhale, open your jaw slightly and let go of your pelvic floor. Making sighing sounds or any other sound will only enhance the effect of the breath.
9. Take your time when making decisions
There are lots of decisions to be made during labor and delivery and it can be a confusing and disorienting time. If you are unsure about the options that are being put in front of you, ask for a few minutes to discuss it with your partner or support team. Take a deep breath, and weigh your options.
10. Think positively
Keep your attitude elevated and avoid letting negativity cloud your mind. Know that all of your efforts are working even if they don’t show in your degree of dilation right away (there are more ways than dilation to make progress). Know from deep within yourself that you are capable of giving birth – it’s what your body was made to do!
By Healthy Moms Happy Babies
1. Labor at home as long as possible
Hospitals often impose informal time limits for labor & delivery. They may want to introduce interventions to speed labor along if they feel that you’re not progressing quickquickly enough. Once one intervention has been made, it’s that much easier for more to happen. Avoid the cascade effect and stay home until your contractions follow the 4-1-1 or 5-1-1 rule (contractions occurring every 4 or 5 minutes that are one minute long over the course of one hour). You’ll be more comfortable at home!
2. Eat, drink, & rest in early labor as much as you can
Keep your strength up by taking care of yourself in the early stages of labor. Often the excitement of everything will cause you to want to make calls, clean the house, pack your bags, etc… Resist the urge to expel unnecessary energy so you can be strong through the whole event. Eat, drink, and rest as much as possible. Think marathon, not sprint!
3. Change positions often to find comfort
Standing, sitting, laying, hands-and-knees, and squatting are all viable ways to labor (and deliver). The birth ball can be a great tool to sit on, or lean on – from a standing or kneeling position. Try different positions and follow your body’s rhythm to know when to change things up.
4. Walk to make some progress
Let gravity do some of the work! Walking in between contractions can be a great way to further move the baby downward into the birth canal. If you aren’t able to walk far, try making figure 8’s with the hips or marching in place.
5. Tell your doula, or birth partner, how they can help you
Doulas come prepared with an array of massage techniques and position suggestions that they can offer. In addition, they can get you water, food, chapstick, heating pad, or whatever you need. They are also great sources of emotional support and encouragement. Communicate your needs and let others help you.
6. Use the shower or bath to relax
The warm water will soothe your body and you can use the sprayer to target any spots (like the low back) that are painful and/or uncomfortable. While baths in early labor can slow things down, they are very effective in late labor to relax the urogenital muscles
7. Go to the bathroom often
If you are drinking often, you’ll need to pee often and believe it or not, urinating is a great way to relax the muscles of the pelvic floor. Sit down and stay awhile. Maybe even turn around and lean on the back of the toilet to get comfortable.
8. Use your breath effectively
Breathing is an effective way to lower stress levels and keep your awareness on the present moment. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. With every exhale, open your jaw slightly and let go of your pelvic floor. Making sighing sounds or any other sound will only enhance the effect of the breath.
9. Take your time when making decisions
There are lots of decisions to be made during labor and delivery and it can be a confusing and disorienting time. If you are unsure about the options that are being put in front of you, ask for a few minutes to discuss it with your partner or support team. Take a deep breath, and weigh your options.
10. Think positively
Keep your attitude elevated and avoid letting negativity cloud your mind. Know that all of your efforts are working even if they don’t show in your degree of dilation right away (there are more ways than dilation to make progress). Know from deep within yourself that you are capable of giving birth – it’s what your body was made to do!
Breast Crawl - Baby's First Meal
I had to post this video in honor of the amazing breast crawl I witnessed today!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 21, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
