Get ready to give birth!
If you're in the early stages of pregnancy it may seem as if childbirth is a long way off. However, it's best to start preparing for birth and labour as soon as you find out you're pregnant, so that you don't have any last-minute panics the week before you're due to give birth!
gurgle's top tips for getting ready for the big day
Antenatal classes
Antenatal classes are a great way to prepare you for childbirth. You will learn about the process of labour and be given information on pregnancy and parenthood.
Janet, 28, mum to Alice, four, is one of the thousands of mums - and dads - every year who find antenatal classes invaluable. She says: "I found childbirth classes really helped me prepare for birth. As a first-time mum, I didn't know a great deal about pregnancy or babies but after attending the classes I felt much more well-informed. I also made some great friends who I've stayed in touch with."
Exercise
Gentle exercise during pregnancy will improve or maintain your fitness levels in preparation for birth. A fantastic way of ensuring you're as relaxed as possible while you're expecting is to take up pregnancy yoga. It will improve your state of mind and make your body more flexible and supple for birth. It also helps you to practice and control your breathing, which comes in very handy for labour.
Linda, 34, mum to Jasmine, two, tried out pregnancy yoga. "I didn't have many pregnant friends when I was expecting Jasmine so I decided to join a pregnancy yoga group. I went once a week and really enjoyed it. The breathing techniques proved invaluable for labour."
Birth position
Another aspect of labour you might give some consideration to is the position in which you will give birth. Although in the actual event your plans may well go out of the window, it's worth having a few ideas in mind. There are many options including lying on your back, on your side, on all fours, sitting, squatting or standing. See our video on Positions for labour for more help.
Flo, 24, mum to Lily, two: "I had a clear idea of the position I wanted to give birth in. One of my friends recommended that I go on all fours as it was comfier, so I gave it a go."
Perineal massage
If you can avoid having an episiotomy - this is when a surgical cut is administered under local anesthetic to enlarge the vaginal opening and speed-up the baby's birth - so much the better. Some obstetricians and midwives think perineal massage can help. It aims to stretch the tissue round your vagina and perineum so that you're less likely to need an episiotomy.
Start thinking about massaging your perineum every day for six to eight weeks before your due date. Your perineum is the area of skin between your vagina and your anus. Make sure your hands are clean and cut any jagged nails beforehand. Apply olive oil or sweet almond oil to the base of your vagina and insert your thumbs as deeply as you can inside your vagina (you might want to do this in front of a mirror the first few times). Press the perineal area down toward the rectum and toward the sides. Gently continue to stretch this opening until you feel a slight burn or tingling. Hold this stretch until the tingling subsides and gently massage the lower part of the vaginal canal back and forth. Repeat the procedure every day.
Charlie, 34, mum to Bobby, four, says: "Although some people are put off by the sound of a perineal massage, it can really help. I managed to avoid having an episiotomy and this could well have been why."
Home or hospital birth?
Give some thought to where you want to give birth - in the main, your choice will be limited to home or hospital. It's a personal choice and you must make a decision based on whatever you feel most comfortable with. Also, spend some time thinking about what to take with you to hospital. You may just stay in hospital overnight, but it's best to be prepared. Pack some pj's, a dressing gown and a change of clothes. Remember that you won't just ping back into shape, so pack maternity clothes rather than your pre-pregnancy size 8 jeans! In addition, you will also obviously need a set of clothes for your baby. It also might be worth including a few pampering goodies to make yourself feel better after giving birth, such as your favourite make-up and perfume. See our video on packing your labour bag for more help.
Sarah, 21, mum to Finlay, ten months, says: "I packed a really nice bag of goodies to take to hospital to make myself feel a bit more human and attractive after giving birth. I took my favourite maternity dress, which I wore over some maternity jeans. I also packed quite a few mags which, in retrospect, I'm really glad I did as my labour lasted almost two days! You don't know how long your labour will be, so it's best to be prepared."
Do your research
Childbirth is an amazing experience and a huge learning curve for the first-time mum. Many pregnant women meticulously plan every aspect of labour and birth, but then realise that they don't know what to do once the baby arrives! It's a good idea to do as much of your own research as possible; as well as reading up on pregnancy and childbirth, look into issues such as breastfeeding, bathing and winding your baby. The more you know, the better equipped you will feel to deal with whatever becoming a mum throws at you.
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Last Modified: 07/07/2008
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