Natural Birth - need info...

[NoMoreScuba]

Hi everyone :wave:

I'm starting to think about preparing my body/mind for labour (due early feb).

Ideally I would love to have a natural birth where pain relief is only breathing techniques / relaxation and water etc.

Please can you suggest some good reading material to get me started? Also, is there a good prenatal yoga dvd or something similar that i can do?

Thanks,
Sarah

[demeter]

This book is a really good read:
http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/html/gentle-birth-gentle-mothering.htm


and a lot of women recommend this:
http://www.amazon.com/Birthing-Within-Extra-Ordinary-Childbirth-Preparation/dp/0965987302


and I've heard great things about this woman (although yoga is not my thing):
http://www.capersbookstore.com.au/scripts/shop_item.asp?by=aut&item=909

[FinnsMama]

Hey Sarah,

I did a "yoga for active birth" class and found it a really worthwhile experience, I'm in Brissie but I'm sure there'd be something similar in Sydney if you were interested?

The book "New Active Birth" by Janet Balaskas has info about yoga for active birth too, including photos of the different positions.

All the best :)

[crazyjennie]

Good on you. I have had two 'natural' drug free births(It can be done!) I would suggest reading 'The Natural way to better birth and bonding' By Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts. Also i strongly suggest you dring raspberry leaf tea! My first labour was only 2 hours long, and my second only 35 minutes. I believ it was from drinking the tea! It also helps with your recovery after the birth!
Good Luck

[NoMoreScuba]

thanks crazyjennie...

I started taking raspberry leaf tea a couple of weeks ago, but then my cramps/BH seemed to get worse. So i decided to wait a couple of weeks in case it brought on labour early. I'm now 35 and a half weeks so reckon i'll start taking it again this weekend.

[alicesmum]

i just read lots of natural birthing websites and stories i found on the net (mainly using Google) but one i remember in particular was

http://www.unassistedbirth.com/

my advice to women from my own experience of having 2 natural births is always to vocalise. Sing and moan your way through birth. you will never feel so entitled to express yourself as loud as you like ever again :laughing:

[shell25]

Hey Sarah,

I did a "yoga for active birth" class and found it a really worthwhile experience, I'm in Brissie but I'm sure there'd be something similar in Sydney if you were interested?

The book "New Active Birth" by Janet Balaskas has info about yoga for active birth too, including photos of the different positions.

All the best :)

Hay FinnsMama,
Who did you do your class with, I was at Windsor, it made such a difference with the birth and I felt so safe to yelling "like a sick cow" but I sang, moaned, chatted through it and once I found my routine of movements and pattern that was it, I was not moving and there I stayed in our ensuite, till the ambo's came to help get me into the birth centre.
Very blissful if you can find a safe, warm, home like place.
All of the above mention books are great.
Active Birth is as much to do with the mind as it is with the body.:)