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Crazy thing that worked for me (hopefully)

Annaeliz84Annaeliz84 member
in Natural Birth

I found out on Thursday that I'm GBS positive and it threw me through a loop!  Even after I researched and changed my expectations and my plan, I still felt less than confident about my ability to go natural.  My MIL went natural and she suggested to my DH a few weeks ago that we "practice" pain management techniques when I was feeling the most uncomfortable, like at the end of the day when I'm the most sore.

Anyway, all of this led me to have this crazy idea.  I thought, what if we dimmed the lights, lit some candles, and I held ice cubes to simulate me being in labor?  Ice cubes might not sound like much but I've always been sensitive to cold and holding onto them tightly for as long as I did felt like agony.  I held the ice cubes for about 1.5 minutes each time with about 2 minutes in between.  DH timed the "contractions" and practiced some of the support techniques he's been studying.  We did this bizarre (I know how crazy this whole thing sounds!) exercise for 45 minutes or so, which was how long it took me to get "in the groove."  By the end I realized I was actually feeling less pain because I was so much better at relaxing, and DH knew so much more about which support techniques helped me and which ones I didn't really care for.

I know this experiment sounds totally insane, but it really helped me!  I learned where I hold my tension when I'm in pain, what relaxation techniques help me and which ones don't, and DH got some good support person practice, too.  I doubt anyone can be totally "ready" but I certainly know more about myself and what helps me than I did before.  As an added bonus I feel less anxious about the big event and empowered about my ability to relax, and my DH's ability to be there for me.

Edit: I'm not suggesting this is what anyone else should do, just sharing an experience that made me feel more confident about going natural.  We'll see how I do in a few weeks, haha!

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Re: Crazy thing that worked for me (hopefully)

  • botanicalblissbotanicalbliss member

    Actually, that sounds like a pretty good idea!  It's easy to relax when there's nothing bugging you, but adding some uncomfortable stimulus is a great idea for practicing. 

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  • catsinawindowcatsinawindow member

    With DS I took a class on "labor breathing techniques" and we used ice cubes to practice breathing and relaxation.  I noticed the difference when using the ice cubes and the breathing and relaxation techniques I practiced really helped during labor as well.  Good luck!


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    BFP#2:  EDD 2/11/14, MMC confirmed 7/15/13 (growth stopped at 6 weeks), D&C @ 12 weeks 7/25/13

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  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member
    I think this is a pretty popular technique.  Our Bradley instructor talked about this in our classes.  H and I tried it a few times at home. I think it worked pretty well too! GL!
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  • Annaeliz84Annaeliz84 member
    I'm glad you all don't think I'm crazy!  I wanted to post it because I thought it might help someone another FTM trying to prepare for the unknown, but I was afraid that it sounded really out there!
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  • starshineamatorstarshineamator
    This may be a silly question, but... what exactly did you DO with the ice cubes? Put them on your belly? Or just hold them in your hands? 
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  • pixieprincsspixieprincss member
    Not crazy at all! We had to hold ice cubes as part of our Bradley class during the labor rehearsal session. It was helpful for both DH and I. Yay for feeling more confident!

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  • Nechie122Nechie122 member
    imagemaymomNY:
    Not bizarre at all!nbsp; Last week our birth class coach said she used to do that with the ice cubes!nbsp; Instead she had the husbands do a wall sit while us moms got to talk them through their 'contraction'.


    We used to wall sit for 60 seconds at a time during prenatal yoga while our instructor told us, "This is the length of a contraction. You can do this."

    You know what's funny? I STILL say that to myself during gym class, and my DD is almost 2. We'll be holding a plank pose, and I'll think, "Don't quit, it's only the length of a contraction." Natural birth techniques will stay with you forever, haha.
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  • pdilly2bpdilly2b member
    In one of my childbirth classes, towards the end, we did something similar going to various rooms in the instructor's house to try various positions and technique, but with DH pinching me instead of ice cubes :)
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    DS, May 2011
    DD, April 2014

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