Relaxation and Labor question

terri_doula2010

*Actual question in bold because I'm long winded*

Hi ladies! I hope you don't mind me asking this here, but it seems like it would be better suited for this board than my BMB.

I'm pregnant with my 2nd and planning on having a natural VBAC. My son was breech and I couldn't get anyone to support me, so I had 9 hours of labor and then a c-section. I knew I would be having a c-section, so while I didn't have any meds for that time (and they were 9 progressive hours!), I also didn't really try many relaxation techniques...just got through each contraction and waited for the next.

Since this time I plan to go the distance, I want to be better prepared for coping with contractions. I thought about doing hypno-birthing classes, but we have a 2 year old and I don't think that is the way I want to go anyway...I don't want to be hypnotized, just relax. DH is good at leading me through guided meditation anyway, but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for meditation or relaxation cds that are well suited for labor.

 TIA!

Harper'smom

We had to read Mind Over Labor for our Bradley class and DH would read the relaxation/meditation/guided imagery to me for practice. For me trying to relax my mind and use guided imagery didn't help but having repeatedly practiced one of the meditations that tell you to relax each part of your body did allow me to follow the instructions to relax when given by DH, MW, and doula. 

Marsee

I know you said you're not interested, but give Hypnobirthing a second look. I practiced along with the CD for about 10 weeks. I didn't think it was doing anything, but it helped a lot. I was never "hypnotized" during labor, but I was extremely relaxed. I didn't even use the techniques I had practiced! I just listened to the CD of positive affirmations over and over. Labor was intense, but was completely manageable and I know if I would have done the techniques, I would've probably been almost asleep. 

It was glaringly obvious when I got out of my "zone". When we decided to go to the hospital (from birth center) because DS wasn't descending, I was p*ssed. And that's when the pain started. All my nice relaxation went right out the window because I couldn't focus because of my anger.

I ended up with a semi-emergency CS and going through labor with Hypnobirthing was a breeze compared to my recovery. You're never in a trance or anything, just really relaxed.

Also, check out the Natural Birth Board. Those ladies are very supportive and they have lots of great natural labor ideas. See if 'sschwege' still hangs out there; she had an amazing Hypnobirthing experience. Good luck!

terri_doula2010

@Marsee Thanks for the info! The biggest reasons we aren't going to take the class are because we have a son and no free babysitter (so it great increases stress/cost) and the cost of the class. We don't have a lot of extra money and our doula, photographer, and placenta encapsulator are already more than we can afford.

tokenhoser

The best thing I did was prenatal yoga (and regular yoga before that). It teaches you to be mindful of your body and work with it, and how to consciously relax. That skill was the most useful thing I had during labour.

Personally, no CD was going to do it for me when I was in labour. I just wanted to focus inwardly. I found external stimulus really annoying. Like, the doula tried aromatherapy and I just thought she was an idiot (in that moment). The smell of grapefruit was NOT making it any better.

There's a free prenatal podcast on yogadownload.com: https://www.yogadownload.com/Utilities/GenericProductDisplay/tabid/110/prodid/263/default.aspx

Kaeldrasmommy

tokenhoser:

The best thing I did was prenatal yoga (and regular yoga before that). It teaches you to be mindful of your body and work with it, and how to consciously relax. That skill was the most useful thing I had during labour.

Personally, no CD was going to do it for me when I was in labour. I just wanted to focus inwardly. I found external stimulus really annoying. Like, the doula tried aromatherapy and I just thought she was an idiot (in that moment). The smell of grapefruit was NOT making it any better.

There's a free prenatal podcast on yogadownload.com: https://www.yogadownload.com/Utilities/GenericProductDisplay/tabid/110/prodid/263/default.aspx

I'll vouch for yoga. I did a lot of yoga shortly before and all during my pregnancy and the doctor kept asking me and my moms if we were sure I had never had a baby before. Lol. Apparently I coped well. Also, stress balls are the bomb during labor. You may destroy them, but they are wonderful to have.

terri_doula2010

OOh I hadn't thought of stress balls! Yoga is awesome. Unfortunately I only started up again a few weeks ago (27 weeks now), but it is helping my sciatica, and I still have 3 more months to get into it before D-day.

Thanks ladies I welcome any more suggestions! I think I'm more freaked out this time than for my first labor, because I know what *can* happen, and I don't want it to!

ebp913

I'm totally snooping on this board but I just wanted to say that I didn't do Bradley or anything like that and I had my daughter drug free.  I did do prenatal yoga for a little while but the teacher quit when I was about 26 weeks or so, so it wasn't that long. 

I think the biggest thing for me that helped actually was watching a Baby Story on TLC.  I liked to watch the ones where people did it med free so I could brace myself for how bad it was going to be.  The BEST thing by far was staying home as long as possible. My OB allowed me to be home until contractions were 3 mins apart and just being able to do whatever I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it helped me get through the pain tremendously.  By the time I got to the hospital I was 8cm, and she was born less than an hour later. 

Labor is hard.  Try to remember this - when you think you can't go on anymore, you are probably in transition and it's the worst.  If you can get through that, you CAN do it!  Pushing sucks but for me I kept telling myself that the sooner I sucked it up and got it over with the sooner I would be pain free.  I know this isn't a super happy, pick me up story but I was SO proud of myself and I had a great and easy recovery.  I plan to go drug free again for sure! 

lwsnake

I downloaded dr. Harry henshaw's relaxation for sleep, stress, blah blah. It was and is awesome. I fell asleep between contractions right before I started to push. Now I use it to put the baby to sleep. It's on iTunes.

admico821

I found prenatal yoga classes to be VERY helpful! My yoga instructor would have us hold poses like Goddess pose for 1 min and would say this is how long your contraction will be feel and accept the "pain" and learn how to breath thru it