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Overwhelmed... what is the most beneficial way to prepare?

rayofsunshine99rayofsunshine99 member
in Natural Birth

Hi Ladies!  I am hoping to go med free with my upcoming birth (had a long labor full of interventions etc with my first).

I've got a doula who I'm working with, plus I'm trying to do whatever necessary to prepare myself, but I am feeling overwhelmed with it all and the amount of time it takes to fit it all in, on top of working full time, having a 4 year old etc.

I'm trying to do the practices on spinning babies, trying to walk every day, drinking red raspberry leaf tea, reading Hypno Babies, practicing the techniques in the book, plus I have two more natural child birth books to read and I just feel like I'm running out of time and that there is too much to do/not enough time to do it.  I don't want to be blindsided when the day comes and I just feel unprepared.

So I am wondering, what were some of the *most* beneficial things that you did to prepare yourself for the big day?? 

Mommy to
Tyler (10/29/08)
and Lily (4/21/13)

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Re: Overwhelmed... what is the most beneficial way to prepare?

  • tokenhosertokenhoser member

    1) Hired a doula.

    2) Read enough to feel like I knew what was going on. More isn't better; more is just more. For practical, I liked "The Birth Partner" most. Hypnosis methods do not appeal to me.

    3) Yoga. But I was doing yoga before and find it generally useful for stress management and relaxation.

    This shouldn't be overwhelming and stressful. All you need is enough information to feel confident, good support people in labour, and good reasoning on why you want what you want.

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  • SarahinMDSarahinMD member

    Sounds like you're on top of things! I read a lot, esp. stuff by Ina May Gaskin--the birth stories of real natural birth moms (though some pretty hippie, they give a pretty positive mind-frame).

    AND--how about this--DON'T: don't watch births on TV or in movies (generally these are on the more dramatic side and emphasize the most unnatural progresses of birth). And DON'T ask for or listen to birth stories of women who didn't have a good, med-free birth. Keep your brain focused on only those examples that you want to be like. I found I could listen/watch these early in my last pregnancy (same this time) but that I could tell they started stressing me out towards the end. So there, something NOT to add to your list :-)

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  • UnknownUnknown
    You sound stressed! You also sound pretty well prepared already. Having a doula that you trust may be all you really need in the end... because any music, positions, techniques you might plan now could end up seeming totally horrible to you when you're actually in labor. Trust yourself that you'll be able to listen to and use your body when the time comes. Your doula will be there to help you too! Personally, I love taking lots of long luxurious baths in the week or so before labor starts. Also this is a great time to get in lots of extra snuggles with your older one... and it'll help you relax just like the baths :
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  • A37liciaA37licia member
    Of all the reading I did beyond one NCB book (Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way), and perusing Ina May's book, I just spent a lot of evenings reading birth stories.  There are many here, and on the Birth Without Fear Blog. It gave me a great exposure to all the variances of normal in childbirth.
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  • babyalex124babyalex124 member

    It can be so overwhelming.  I think a doula was your best decision.  It's wonderful to have someone who has been through it so many times there to hold your hand and guide you.  The rest is just a bonus :)

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  • linjmurxlinjmurx member
    a video that I found on the internet was the most helpful thing for me. Unfortunately I can't find the specific one right now. However, it basically was a woman who'd been through 40 hours of natural labor talk about the different strategies that she used. So in essence, I found it helpful to have a few different techniques to draw on.. and hearing about someone's personal experience was more useful than a book written on "the best" strategy. I read the Bradley book and that wasn't helpful to me at all. I think it would have killed me to lie down during contractions. You're ahead of the game since your doula will know lots of different things she can advise you to try as you go. Plus you'll figure out what works for you.
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  • hsthst

    What I try to remember is that people do his all over the world without reading and without classes. It's natural, you just have to get out of your own way if you know what I mean. Also I found " birthing from within " to be helpful but it's so hippyish, I had to look past parts of it.

     

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  • JoyfullnoiseJoyfullnoise
    Last time: dates out with husband and yoga.

    This time: I think I'm getting a cleaning service to come I'm a week before edd!
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