How I Prepared for an Unmedicated Birth (Part 1: Before Labor)
Looking back at our birth (read our birth story here), it honestly went exactly as I imagined, which is so crazy to say. I attribute a lot of it to the preparation I did, but also know that God is ultimately the one that creates our path.
Shortly after I got pregnant I knew I wanted to deliver at a birth center because I didn’t want a clinical or medical environment, but rather a place where I could feel comfortable and relaxed. I wanted an unmedicated birth and didn’t really want to give myself the option of having what is now standard at most births. I dove headfirst into the internet and researched. I realized pretty quickly that most of it is a mental game, so that’s what I spent a lot of time nurturing. You have to believe deep in your core that your body was made for this. I believe God has designed my body to grow and birth my baby without the need for any intervention. And that is such a powerful gift!
Here are 7 things I did during pregnancy to help prepare for a natural and unmedicated birth.
Know Your Why: This is an absolute must. You have to know why you are wanting to do this and share it with your birth team. When you are in the depth of birth you need your birth team to be able to remind you why you are doing this. For me, I wanted to be able to experience birth. I know that sounds crazy, but I wanted to be fully present when my child came into the world and I didn’t want either one of us being put on medications that could hinder the natural process or affect either one of us.
Positive Affirmations and Prayer: I listened to affirmations daily and usually while I was walking our dog Copper and I would repeat them to myself over and over. I also got these cards from Natural Mama and taped them up all over our apartment, so I saw them anywhere I went. I prayed that God would allow my body to grow and stretch in ways that will also allow my body to bring my baby into the world safely, just as He has designed. I prayed that He would always watch over us and keep us safe. I know God has designed birth just as it should be and that it shouldn’t be a painful experience, so I prayed that He keep my mind protected from any fears or worries about giving birth.
Daily Exercise: This one was huge in my opinion. As much as I hated it at times, I walked at least a mile or two every day and we lived on the 2nd floor, so I was climbing stairs daily as well. I would take Copper on a few walks a day and that kept everything moving and grooving in my body. I also started using the Expecting and Empowered 2nd Trimester guide but lost motivation to actually work out, so I just stuck with walking and stretching :) I do think there is some potential of being “too fit” that makes your pelvic floor and body too tight to actually be able to relax and open up. Maybe that’s just a story I told myself, but either way, I really listened to my body and did what felt good and that was walking and stretching. I really focused on stretches and sitting in ways that were always working to bring baby down. Especially at the end I rarely sat reclined back. I was always sitting criss-cross applesauce or leaning forward to reduce the pressure of baby laying on my spine.
Reading Positive Birth Stories: Hearing over and over again that most births are not medical events and do not need medical intervention is so powerful. I loved Ina May’s book as she talks about how beautiful birth can be and you can read so many wonderful stories. Most everyone I know thought I was absolutely crazy to have an unmedicated birth and most had a not-so-ideal experience whether it be super long or painful they did not enjoy their birth experience. Sometimes I would tell people I’m only interested in hearing about positive birth experiences or if they did share I would just repeat to myself that their experience is not mine and I know my body was made to do this. I know most people mean well when sharing their experiences, but for me, I knew it was crucial to protect my mental space before birth.
Chiropractor: Now I know this one people think is crazy to have continued chiropractic care during pregnancy, but let me tell you Dr. Stephanie and Dr. Ross at Culture Chiropractic are legends and I attribute so much of my pain-free pregnancy and smooth labor to them. I started out going twice a week and then once a week and then toward the end of pregnancy back to twice a week. We actually surprised them and didn’t tell them we had the baby and just showed up for our regularly scheduled appointment with our sweet boy 24 hours after giving birth :) We still see them regularly now (even baby!) and they are the ones keeping my body functioning.
Practice Relaxing Your Body: This is essential and in my opinion why most women get epidurals. Your body has to be relaxed and open in order for baby to make it down the birth canal and into the world. When we get contractions, most people tense their entire body making it almost impossible for baby to start the journey. Trust me, I know those contractions are intense and this is where epidurals come along to take away that pain, stress, and tightness, so the body is able to relax. Tightness in the jaw is directly related to tightness in the pelvis and hips. Anytime I noticed it and especially when going to bed I would practice relaxing my jaw and visualize my pelvis and hips opening up. I also practiced deep breathing to help relax my shoulders.
Doula: HIRE ONE! Alyssa from Cherry Blossom Doula was absolutely incredible and there is no way I could have done it without her. It was so reassuring having an experienced professional give me tips during labor (especially breathing) and she also was a great resource as to when we should leave for the birth center. The pressure techniques she used really helped ease my back discomfort and just having her calm and gentle presence was so incredible and exactly what I needed. There were also things she did beforehand to help get to know us and what we were looking for in our birth, any fears, and other tips on how to prepare.
Here are all the resources I found super helpful!
Pregnancy & Birth Made Easy - I loved that they presented both sides to many topics and I was able to pick a lot of good information out.
Books
The Mama Natural Birth Course - I think a course should be required by every expecting mother because it helps break down what is actually happening during birth, so you have a better understanding of what’s going on in your body.
Coming next week: How I Prepared for an Unmedicated and Uninterrupted Birth (Part 2: During Labor)