Birth Mindset
Labour and birth is unique and there isn’t one right way of doing it so my aim is to encourage you to put yourself at the centre of your care - to ask questions, to say what you need as it unfolds and to be better informed about both straight-forward and medical labour and birth - so you feel safe and supported.
Only 27% of labours are without any intervention, so it is important to know more about induction, caesareans, assisted delivery and epidurals – with more of what to expect, what your options are, how to stay calm and managing your labour if it becomes more medical.
Mindset essentials
Self belief – you have to believe you can do labour and birth, whatever it can look like. If you don’t think you can do this, let’s talk it through – what do you need? Where do your fears lie?
Robust knowledge & strategies – so you know more about working with your contractions, managing your energy and how to stay calm. It’s important to know what you can do for your labour and birth, rather than feeling lost and waiting to be guided. It’s important to know what you can do and what to expect.
Being at the centre of your care – so you can do what you need to work with
and manage pain & energy, so you are informed and so you feel safe.
Roll with the changes – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost if labour it becomes more medical and your options narrow. Believe in your ability to use
your breathing to stay calm, to ask questions so you know what is going on and
what your options are and what you can do. It is still beneficial to say what you need.There will be challenges - these will be different for every woman and challenges aren’t bad. Not all labours are easy or even straightforward so preparation and mindset has to be about being well equipped to look after your needs in labour, however it unfolds.
As you start to prepare for labour and birth, it is worth considering…
What words describe labour and birth for you?
This can help you to identify any worries or fears you may have
What do you want your labour & birth to be like?
This is important because you can then think about how you can make that happen – what needs to be in place?
Some parents I work with just say that they want everyone to be safe, which of course is very valid, but later on they can start to mention a waterbirth or birthing centre, or focusing on having an epidural or wanting to avoid an epidural. Everyone has an idea of what their ‘ideal’ labour and birth looks like and it can beneficial to be as honest as possible about that.
What could labour involve?
It can also make a difference to think beyond your ideal birth so you have more information about the alternatives, your options and going with what feels right for you.
Please do leave a comment with any questions. And you can also follow me on Instagram for more tips and conversation about everything birth, baby and early parenting.
Coming up:
writing your birth plan
positions for pregnancy, birth and with your baby
the 4th trimester
growth spurts
feeding