1.  Study Up.  Read books like Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and magazines like Mothering.  Stay far, far away from A Baby Story and What to Expect When You're Expecting.

2.  Create a Support System.  Discuss your birthing choices with your physician or midwife as early as possible.  Have one support person, husband or friend, that will be there during your pregnancy and birth.  Share your fears and concerns, highs and lows.  Let them be your voice so you can focus on giving birth.  Hire a doula if possible. 

3.  Attend a Natural Birth Class.  I attended the Wonderfully Made Childbirth courses and they were amazing!  Opt for a private tour of the hospital, if possible.
4.  I loved Hypnobabies.  This program is amazing and if you commit to it you can have a very low pain/no pain birth experience.  We used this from about 20 weeks on and Nathan and I both slept better and felt empowered to participate in the birth experience together.  Hypnobabies has a great home study course if there traditional courses are not available in your area.

5.  Create a Birth Plan.  

6.  Prepare Your Body.  Prenatal yoga, walking and doing squats is a great way to prepare yourself for labor.  Stay Hydrated.  Eat Healthy.  Use Evening Primrose Oil to do perennial massage.

7.  Drink Raspberry Leaf Tea (and lots and lots of water) during pregnancy and labor.

8.  Get Baby In Position.  Visit a chiropractor during pregnancy.  Use the Knee to Chest position to put baby in the optimal position for labor.

9.  Enjoy the comfort of your home as long as possible.

10.  Pray.  Love.  Laugh.  Breathe.  Be.
 


Comments

doula los angeles link
07/19/2010 17:26

I am going to try to have a baby next year but decided to started research. I did not realized so much to considered from type of birth to the minute matters of diapers. I want to have natural birth but undecided if I want epidural and hire a doula. Thanks for the post. It is going to help me make my decision easier.

Leslie

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