Favorite labor advice :)

gladdyola · June 2015

FTM here and throughout my pregnancy, I have gotten loads of advice from STMs about labor. And I'm talking some real, positive, not-so-horror-story advice. It's always such a nice surprise when someone actually wants to tell you ways that made their labor a little more bearable rather than it being described as such a nightmare.
So far, my favorite piece of advice has been from my mom - "don't throw yourself a pity party, pretty soon you'll be meeting your baby. feeling sorry for yourself won't make it any better". Me being the whimp I am took this to heart and have been drilling it into my brain. FTMs - what's some advice that you have been given that you're going to be keeping in mind in the next month or so and while you're in labor. STMs - what *POSITIVE* advice or tips do you have about labor?

breezymeema7 · June 2015

It will eventually end. And then you'll have a beautiful little baby in your arms. Each contraction is one step closer to the finish line.

hitcj4687 · June 2015

You have to have the mindset that you can do it. You CAN do it.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2015

I mean, this post would be more effective if we're able to be honest. The honest truth is, labor isn't easy. However, the cool thing is it ends. There's a reason for the pain and like PP's stated it will eventually end and your life will be forever changed.

cosplaymom · June 2015

My advice is to not get emotional while laboring. Put yourself "in the grind" state of mind where you are focused on the task at hand, just dealing with the pain, walking one step after another, whatever you're doing to get through it. Either embrace the pain or give yourself a distraction. Or an epidural.

Shove aside frustration and worry. Just stay focused.

Let the emotions come when that baby is put into your arms for the first time.

Seed0824 · June 2015

Good advice I got from my mom reminding me how many people have multiple children.

bpwife&mama · June 2015

I have to echo PP in that you just have to remember it doesn't last forever and the end result will push your body through some extreme measures. You're a mom already and you would do anything (including go through labor) for your children. Remember that.

fionalouise007 · June 2015

Little bit different, but I've been advised to have an open mind and not to put pressure on myself. An open mind about the whole experience, the birth plan, and how I will cope throughout the labour, and not to put too much pressure on myself to be perfect at anything - labouring, breast feeding, being a Mum..
Also that you'll feel out of control but that's ok because your body and baby know what they are doing.. So trust in the innate ability of your body and baby (and that failing that you're amongst a bunch of professionals who's job and passion is to keep you and baby safe, so remember that we are in good hands).

jlsweets · June 2015

Ok a little comical advice but true for my case

If your husband has a weak stomach prepare him beforehand that bodily fluids come from either end. I was violently throwing up which I'm assuming was from the Pitocin. At my first round of throwing up my husband ran to the bathroom and started throwing up himself. He had to sit in the bathroom until I was done because he couldn't stop throwing up himself from seeing me. He would carefully peak his head out and be like, "um is it over?" I wanted to throw the damn bucket at him ha

All of that was worth having a precious little baby in our hands

*Side note- this is a positive thing

bhargrave88 · June 2015

My advice? Don't kill your husband!!

They usually say the stupidest crap while you are in labor and pain, and the thought of murder will come.

Don't act on it

jlsweets · June 2015

Another thing nobody ever mentioned to me was how much more I would fall in love with my husband once the baby was born. Your relationship is taken to a whole new level , this little life that you both just created.
A little added bonus to labor

louiseambrose · June 2015

I like the idea that your body won't create any more pain than it can handle. It won't self-destruct.

sushilove15 · June 2015

Someone told me birthing a baby is all about you, mama. No one else will do it for you. It's all about you.

This was the first moment during my pregnancy that really made me think about labor in a different way. Game on!

gladdyola · June 2015

@CaliforniaDream87 definitely don't mind you being brutally honest!

just trying to avoid the horror stories

gladdyola · June 2015

Love all of your responses, ladies!!

PixelPosy · June 2015

Trust yourself and what you're feeling. Have someone there that can advocate for you, whether that's your husband, Douala or another support person. Keep yourself open and flexible with your birth plan. Not saying you can't get what you want, but things go down and plans sometimes have to be changed. That open mind set helps a lot with keeping things positive and moving along.

Mindy1209 · June 2015

This sounds funny but it was actually good advice for me. I wanna do a natural birth and everyone tells me I can't do it or something along those lines. My mom encouraged me a bit by saying I can do it and that shes had tooth pain worse than natural birth haha

Robin910 · June 2015

My mom had 4 med-free births and her only advice was: don't lose control. Don't feel the need to scream out like they do in the movies. Screaming and getting vocal causes you to lose control and it takes so much energy and strength to get that control back.

lifesabeach85 · June 2015

From my doula:

You are stronger than your contractions! They can't be stronger than you because they are a part of you.

amylianne · June 2015

Well, I guess I don't have advice so much as 1st world inspiration. I did 15 hours of labor, but with an epidural for 14 of it. My body goes through more pain during a good workout, and the soreness in recovery was comparable because you have a sweet little baby to help keep your mind off it

)

Starynightsky24 · June 2015

This may totally depend on personality as it could freak some people out.

But someone told me to educate myself about what each contraction is actually doing to push the baby out. I'm SO glad I did because to me it felt like my body was completely freaking out. It helped calm my fears to know what exactly was going on.

hgyp1006 · June 2015

My husband thinks I may not handle labor pains very well (I can be wussy about certain things) but I dunno, I feel like while it's going to be super painful, I will be able to manage it
I take strength from the fact that my mother (and my aunts etc.) who gave birth 30+ years ago without the aid of an epidural could do it, so can I. Honestly, I'm terrified but as the weeks wind down and due date gets closer, I'm focusing on the idea that I can do it, and in the end, we'll have our beautiful baby, no matter how she gets here. Positive thinking :-)

mpmom1518 · June 2015

I am loving all the inspiration on this board! I'm a FTM and I'm going to take so many of these to the hospital with me to stay strong through it all. Thank you everyone who is sharing!

SarahMekonnen · June 2015

I'm also a FTM so I don't have personal labor experience, but when I hit the wall during training and on the day of my marathon I would pull deep inside myself, taking it one breath and one step at a time. I began an internal chant in time with my breath, focusing on putting down my right foot and then my left. I didn't tell myself how close I was at that point; I could only handle that one moment. While I've never done labor, much of what I've heard other mamas describe sounds a lot like that--surrendering into what you are experiencing and rejoicing in your progress, one little breath at a time.

jakesjess · June 2015

This is an awesome thread! This will be my second time and there's a lot I WISH I had known the first time around.
1. Every contraction brings the baby closer to being born!
2. Don't stay in shape for vanity, do it so you are strong for labor.
3. You can do this, it isn't hard for everyone and you can choose to view it as a good thing.

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