How to prepare… for Birth

The birth day is approaching

This is where you get to meet and welcome your baby in to the world!!!

It’s incredibly exciting

How can you look back on your birth with pride and fond memories?

Now would that  be a great result?

and that is exactly what we want for you!

Please read this page carefully……

In our culture today, birth is seen as the major hurdle to survive and get through following the news that you are having a baby. Both men and women are anxious for what is supposed to be one of the most exciting days of our lives. If you are ready to have children and have planned it then you will be excited and eager to meet this little person. If it was a shock and you have now come to grips with the reality you are hopefully also in a healthy place and looking forward to the arrival of this unknown entity. No scan or blood test can you tell you what they will look like in the flesh, how they will smell and most importantly just how much you will love them. For most it is life changing in so many ways that the birth becomes a moment in time.

There is no doubt that your birth day will be a memorable occasion and we know from experience that the better that memory the stronger your foundation into parenthood. This is a significant moment in one’s life and for a woman will probably be the most challenging experience to date. Physically and emotionally there is no comparison and this is why it needs great preparation and thought. Unfortunately too often today that thought is anxiety rather than focusing on what works best for you and your body. We are bred into a culture of fear which is the exact opposite to what is required for a woman to have healthy birth. By healthy birth we mean that mum and dad feel confident, mum has a support team around her that she is happy with and who know exactly what she needs, mum and dad are in a good state of health both physically and emotionally, and there is clarity around the need for flexibility of thinking. Rigid thinking is a sure way to meet problems in any walk of life. With a healthy birth preparation you offer mum, dad and baby the best possible chance of a result they can look back on and feel proud.

What must be remembered is that women are designed for this role of pregnancy and birth. Things do not always go to plan in life and that can be said about any area of life. Is it possible that our lifestyle and cultural beliefs, such as fear, are having a major influence on womens’ experience in birth today? If that is possible then it is also possible we can all grow and learn and create an environment where women can have confidence in themselves again. What impact would that have on parents and their confidence?  How would that affect a childs’ life?

How to prepare for birth is to understand the things that will influence your birth.

Your past, present and environment.

Your Past – how were you parented and what stories did you hear about your birth  If they were horror stories do you think that may influence your confidence?If your Mum had a great experience but the other family members had a terrible time then your belief systems will be placed in fear mode. Or perhaps a friend had a tough time, or someone who knew someone whose friend etc….

If however you only have positive thoughts about birth then that will also influence your approach. The most important thing to remember here is the word ‘influence’. It does not mean success or failure, it simply means influence as will all these other factors. Past experience, stories you have heard and your beliefs generally will all have some impact on your birth. If you can get to differentiate between the reality of those and what your interpretation has created you will be in a much stronger place. That is often impossible on your own because most of these thoughts are subconscious. That is why we have created consultations because we understand the importance of supporting a Mum to clear away some of those fears in order to leave them outside the birthing room. Your past is not just your past unfortunately. If you have a partner, family members or friends they will also give their input which comes from their past. Just be aware it is an interpretation of theirs and is not necessarily fact.

Your present relates to state of health. At Pregnancy and Preparation we see many women coming to birth already stressed and tired from work and general life. Can you imagine preparing for a marathon feeling stressed and tired? How would you perform? If you want to have a great experience then this is a priority. It is amazing to hear women building the nest in the last few weeks with the stress of builders in the house running six weeks overdue. That is enough to make anyone go into labour! If you think of the birth as a major upcoming event then you need to do a few logistical manoeuvres to ensure success.  Planning those dinner parties and nights out with friends in the last month may not be such a great idea even if you are convinced your life will end with a baby. There are many ways to create health in your pregnancy and arriving at the birth feeling strong and confident is going to create an environment that provides the best possibilities.

Your environment is both physical and emotional. Can you imagine a man having to do a pee in a corner of a room in front of strangers with someone wanting to examine them as they start? Is it possible that is what we are asking women to do this with our current birthing culture? A woman in birth will feel vulnerable, scared, exposed and protective. Does a room with strangers, bright lights and machines beeping fill any of us with joy and confidence when dealing with a life threatening situation? Managed well that environment can support a woman to do incredible things and achieve a result where she looks back and thinks yeah I did that. For the safety of Mum and baby that has to be the best scenario.

There is no doubt that birth is a big step and a huge challenge. It is also a time when you get to meet your little person and so it should be an incredibly exciting day. So many women today are made numb to it or rendered unconscious and that is a great shame. Take a look at our videos to get some evidence on what we are trying to say.

If you would like some professional help then please go to our consultations page under Expert Advice.

Remember: birth is a part of life that women have been doing naturally for thousands of years. It can be an incredibly powerful experience for both mum and dad and the less trauma for baby the better your chance of a great recovery. Babies also like it so there are all sorts of positives from having a healthy birth.

All the very best from the P&P team.