S u g g e s t i o n s .
When should you take a childbirth education class, to prepare for the birth of your baby? The sooner the better! In the fifth or sixth month, or even earlier if you can find an Early Pregnancy Class, and depending on the childbirth program. Such as a Bradley(R) class, will run 10 - 12 weeks! Birthworks(R) offers a 10 week class. Lamaze(R) International, 4 - 8 weeks. You will need to contact each organization to find out more information about their classes.
Don't wait too long to sign up for a class because the skills that you learn, like relaxation techniques, need to be PRACTICED! So, you need TIME to practice them, or you will forget them! Also, having a baby is a life changing event encompassing physical AND emotional changes. Childbirth education classes present you with a lot of information, and options which you can investigate if you have the time to do so.
There are other things you can do to get into a "mind set" for the upcoming event.
*Start "tuning" in on what helps you to relax in stressful situations. Do you take a walk? A hot shower? Listen to music? Becoming aware of what you do may assist you in your labor.
*What kind of menstral periods did you have before getting pregnant? Did you have a lot of cramping? No cramping? If you had cramps were they very bad, not so bad..what? If they were very uncomfortable, WHAT did you do? How do you tolerate them? Answering these questions may provide insight as to how you react to pain in two ways. First, many women have described contractions as a cramping sensation that intensifies. Your discomfort may or may not be similar in early labor. Secondly, HOW you react and interpret these cramps as mild, moderate, or painful, may reflect how you interpret your labor experience. Get familiar with how you deal with stress, and pain.
*Learn all you can! Please don't wait until your Lamaze class. You have many decisions to make and before you know it, you'll be a MOM and your partner will be a DAD! Yikes! Actually, you are beginning your roles as future parents right now, this very instant as you read this! So, what are your options? To circumcise or not, episiotomy or can I go without one. What kind of birthing environment do you want? Hospital, birthing center, home with a midwife, in a hospital with a midwife, what? What are your concerns and how can you prepare for them? Will you breastfeed? These are ALL important issues, and there will be more, that you will be confronted with.
*So, start asking yourself these questions now. Talk with your partner, and doctor, or midwife. Why? So you will be prepared to make on the spot decisions when the time comes. It will also prompt you to communicate with your healthcare provider throughout your pregnancy.
*Daydream about your delivery. What would be the perfect experience for you and your partner. This would include where you would have the baby, or type of environment, music playing, dimmed lights...and so on. How do you see yourself in labor? How do you invision your partner helping you? How do you feel about giving birth? Daydreaming is visualization. This is one of the skills Lamaze encourages, so get an early start and practice.
*Stay positive! There are enough stories out there in the real world and in cyberland that will curl your hair! You MUST remember, when you hear a horrible story, first of all, you were not at the delivery, so you don't have all the facts. Chances of the SAME events happening to you are unlikely. Sometimes the story gets diluted or exagerated.
But, what is most important to remember is there are more healthy deliveries than not.
*Stay ROMANTICALLY and emotionally connected with your partner - if you can. A simple "I love you", gentle carressing, holding hand, will go far during pregnancy AND during labor. You don't have a disease! Touch is ALLOWED.
*Find out about ALTERNATIVE methods for pain management, such as relaxation skills and hypnosis, meditation,Yoga, etc. These things really help!
*Check out the facility you plan to birth in - are they supportive of what you want? Are they mother/baby friendly? VERY IMPORTANT.
*Giving birth is a personal, unique, and INDIVIDUAL experience totally dependent on your attitude, your pain level, physiological makeup, the amount of anxiety and/or stress you are experiencing, and other variables.
*Don't underestimate the power of your mind and your emotional state! Your mind is very powerful and you have the power - I'll repeat this - YOU HAVE the POWER to control HOW you respond to your birthing experience. This response will influence how your body responds during the labor and birth process.
Remind yourself from time to time that there is no right or wrong way to birth your baby, but that your way will be the best way for you, your partner, and your baby, and THAT's what matters.
"Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness" George Santayana
Updated: 2/1/2010
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Being Prepared
(C) 1998 All Rights Reserved. A Service of U Smile Communications. CEO, Lesly Federici info@leslynotes.com
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