Prepare for childbirth

The word “childbirth” provokes excitement and fear in equal parts. It makes you excited because it is the moment when you see your baby for the first time and fear because of the pain and suffering that characterizes the process. However, there is nothing more comforting than having all the information about that moment in hand and be as prepared as possible to get the most impacting experience of your life in a relaxed way.

Believe it or not, childbirth can also be a pleasant process, however, it all depends on your preparation. Pregnancy not only helps your baby to form and grow inside you, but it also helps the mother prepare for the moment of birth. Would you like to know how? Here are some tips that will help you get ready for the big day and the maternity period:

Tips for preparing the body for childbirth…

Stay fit during pregnancy

Pregnancy and childbirth are a very shocking experience for the body, so it is important to face it from an adapted physical state. Nausea, weight gain, constipation and even pushing during childbirth are more manageable if your body is adapted and fit.

We recommend that during the weeks of pregnancy you maintain a moderate physical activity. Although activities such as running may be unadvisable after certain weeks, it is important that you do walking or swimming. And if you prefer a group activity, sign up for a yoga classes for pregnant women, where you will learn breathing techniques and meditation very useful for the time of childbirth, or pilates adapted to your state, where they will also help you strengthen the pelvic floor, one of the parts that suffer the most during pregnancy and childbirth.

In addition to helping you during childbirth, exercising during pregnancy will also help you recover during the postpartum period so you can put all your attention on what really matters: your baby.

A balanced diet

During the months of pregnancy, the baby is going to eat what you eat, so if you must follow a healthy diet, this is essential when you are pregnant. So, throughout these weeks healthily nourish your body, offering all the nutrients needed to cope with this phase. Legumes, fruit, vegetables, and carbohydrates should be a must in your diet. And we are what we eat, so if you want to be a healthy mom, you have to eat as healthy as possible. Besides, the good eating habits that you adopt during these months will help you a lot during breastfeeding, where the child also depends on your diet to get fed.

Take a deep breath… and enjoy

In the case of natural childbirth, controlling the breathing during dilation and also during expulsion is very important.  But mastering breathing is not a one-day job. To be able to breathe properly, you should learn some breathing techniques during pregnancy and practice them as much as you can. Remember that the more you are aware of how to breathe, the easier it will be to control the pain and pushes. 

 …and the mind

But not only the body of a pregnant woman is important…the mind also plays a very important role in the whole pregnancy period.

The first step you should take when preparing for labor is to realize that at some point you will be in pain. But at the same time, you have to think that childbirth is a biological process and that a woman’s body is prepared to handle it. 

It’s normal for you to feel a certain fear of the unfamiliar situation, and that’s why we’re going to give you some tips to help you get through these hard times in the best possible way:

• Knowing the stages of labor, visiting the delivery room days before and even watching videos of births can help you form the idea of what you are going to experience in the next few weeks. Far from frightening, the truth is that mothers who have followed one or more of these tips have recognized that they feel more relaxed in the process.
• In the hardest moments, that is, when contractions start to be painful, try not to lose your nerves and don’t let yourself be carried away by despair. Concentrate on your breathing and if it feels almost unbearable: call your nurse and ask for a painkiller to help you cope with it better.
• Childbirth is a “fare” you should pay for your baby to be born. It’s important to keep in mind that no matter how much pain you have, it’s not due to illness, it’s the first step for your baby to be born.
• If you are a newcomer, it is normal for the dilatation to be somewhat longer than usual. Think that you have less and less left until you have your little one in your arms.
• Of course, you must trust your midwife, gynecologist and the rest of the medical team. They will be the ones who will advise you the best during the whole labor process. Convince yourself that you and your child are in the best hands. This will give you a sense of tranquility that will allow you to focus on breathing.
• In general, you must always maintain a supportive attitude. And the fact is that childbirth is possibly one of the moments where it is best shown that the more positive you are, the easier it will be to dilate and the less pain you will feel.

With all these tips the only thing you have left to do is to give birth and enjoy the moment.