What should I expect when I'm in labour?

Women are often unsure or are even scared of labour. They will ask themselves, their midwife, their family and friends and more often than not will get other people’s labour and birth stories, instead of the advice and reassurance they are looking for.

Simple By Nature’s antenatal classes aim to dispel some of the myths surrounding labour and birth, while giving real, practical advice about what to expect during each stage of labour and the choices you have as a woman going through it. Along with techniques that might make your labour shorter and easier to handle.

Important things to remember are that labour is a long, slow process for most women. There are the few out there who experience very rapid labours and births, but they are few and far between. However these women will still experience the same stages, emotions and fears of every other woman out there.

Labour and birth needs to be slow for many reasons, not least to give your body time to adjust to the increasing amount of hormones suddenly adding into the mix of what has already been there during your pregnancy. But also to allow your muscles and tissues time to relax, expand, dilate and stretch to allow your baby to enter the world. At Simple By Nature we aim to explain all of these processes, so that by the time you are in labour you understand what is happening, when and why. This understanding can help you to cope with labour better because the fear of then unknown has been removed.

We will also explain some of the equipment that might be used during your labour and birth. We will explain why it might be used and what it does. Again dispelling some of the myths. Medical equipment can look downright scary, but with a little understanding is suddenly easier to deal with.

So, what can you do to make this long process more bearable?

*Take your own music along with you. Set up a play list on your phone or ipod/ipad, whatever you prefer to use. Some parents want a particular song to be playing at the same time as baby is born. Something that your birth partner can be in charge of.

*Set up some films or a box set to watch, especially if you are going to be induced. (See my next blog about induction coming soon)

*Make sure that your birth partner has drinks and snacks to keep them alert (you don’t want them passing out on you).

*Keep yourself well hydrated as well. You should also keep some snacks for yourself, something that is easily digestible and will keep your blood sugars level to give you the energy for labour and birth.

Antenatal classes with Simple By Nature will aim to dispel the myths surrounding labour and birth. Explain what to expect and when. Ways to help you and your birth partner get through the long hours. And hopefully make the whole experience less scary for everyone involved.

If you would like to know more about our antenatal classes then please do noit hesitate to email using the link below. Or check out our faceboook page. https://www.facebook.com/simplebynatureassistingthefirststepsofmotherhood/