Before, during and after labour

[nuddle]

and this one, tips from those that have done it before...

Here is my big thing, where I noticed such a difference between my first and second. Whatever happens, do your very best to stay on your feet during labour, dont let them tie you to the bed, and labour on your back, this will prolong the labour, and when it comes to pushing, dont push lying on your back, its too hard, remain upright, either sitting on a birthchair, or on all 4's, leaning over a beanbag is a good one.
I read the other day too, if you deliver as upright as possible, the force on your perineum is more even, and therefore stretches evenly, reducing the chance of tearing.

[Jodiee]

Someone once told me that with every contraction its one step closer to you seeing your baby, since then, I have always gone into labour with that frame of mind, each pain is good pain, and it has helped heaps.

Nuds, I am going to try my damndest to labour/birth upright, I have had all 4 on my back, even Charleigh who was OP, and I should have been forced to go on all 4's to try to turn her, the midwife tried to tell me, but I was in so much pain, I couldnt understand, she should have done it by force (she did flip me over tho cause she got shoulder dislocatia (sp??) and she had to get me half off the bed to get her out, but I honestly believe if I was standing or on all 4's, she would have come out heaps easier. You really notice coming from the bath/bed to laying down the contractions come harder, Im going to promise myself to go up this time!!

One more thing, try not to cut the cord straight away, let all the blood drain into the baby, its full of nutrience for the bubs!!

[BlakeNatsMum]

Again, I think let's just get that little sucker out! *LOL*.. hehe.. Sorry.. I am not being very constructive here, but I will try standing up abit more than I did last time!..

[nuddle]

one of those big excercise balls is great too, you can either sit on it, and swivel your hips during a contraction, or you can lean onto it.

[Mikeswifey]

Unfortuanatly last time in my labour, I was confined to the bed for about 15 hrs with an epidural, so I didnt get to walk, bath, toilet, try different positions or anything.

I would have loved to have got up, walked around etc.

[BlakeNatsMum]

I've just being talking to DF about the walking around part to help with the birth, and also discussed the need to maybe just have somewritten out so that he knows what I want! But I will definitely be walking around and not laying down as much as I did! If I can lessen the time I'm in Labour all the better I say!..

[SammiJane]

I stayed upright to give birth for my first child as i just didnt feel comfy on the bed and it was so much easier. The second time round the put me on the bed to see how i was going and before they did i was pushing, i found it so much harder to push. I was told by a midwife that if you stay upright it can open your pelvis up just a little bit more and also your tailbone can move too, which can be a great help.
Sam xx

[BlakeNatsMum]

Thanks Sam, I think I will be taking that option, as last time I had to have a damn episiotomy, which wasnt very nice as well, and a few damn suppositories!.. I want to try to definitely avoid that again if I can!

[nuddle]

Thanks Sam, I think I will be taking that option, as last time I had to have a damn episiotomy, which wasnt very nice as well, and a few damn suppositories!.. I want to try to definitely avoid that again if I can!
on the note of episiotomy, I had a huge one with my first, and it took a good 6 weeks to heal, was just bloody awful, with my second one, I researched, and decided that tearing was a better option, as apparently it heals better, so I put that into my birthplan, of course I did tear, as they told me, the scar tissue from the episiotomy doesnt stretch too well, but it healed so much quicker, I couldnt feel them the next day.

[mamesmumma]

wow thats so interesting.

I'll have to put that in my birthplan. I read that an episiotomy is standard for all births here. Havent asked my doc yet though so how true that is is another thing. But I wouldnt have thought to naturally let it tear.

Thanks!!!

[FourAngelKisses]

Another thing..........

RELAX, RELAX, RELAX!!!!!

I only discovered this during my 3rd labour, lol. Spent the entire time in the bath which helped me a lot but the midwife I had taught me relaxation breathing. It helped so much. Made things less painful and it seemed to make time pass faster.

I panicked during my first and second labours, ended up hyperventilating and passing out etc.

[lizzymcfizzy]

some great advice here! Keep it coming :)

[Angelmist♥]

Ok this is an after labour tip!

Wear the darkest pants possible.I had alot of visitors coming and going and was too embarassed to get off the bed in case I had 'leaked'.

[FourAngelKisses]

Ok this is an after labour tip!

Wear the darkest pants possible.I had alot of visitors coming and going and was too embarassed to get off the bed in case I had 'leaked'.

Also change your pads frequently as you do bleed a LOT.


And pee a lot too. I didn't get the urge to pee for ages after having Jacob, but I couldn't get out of bed because I knew I was going to flood the floor, lol.

[Mikeswifey]

Ok here is mine..

If you want an epidural - have it!

It was the best thing ever and saved me ALOT of pain.

:smiliedance:

[nuddle]

Also change your pads frequently as you do bleed a LOT.


.
I was actually surprised at how little I bled, with Jared the first few hrs after birth I had a lot of bleeding, actually really got me worried, but after it settled down, it really wasnt as heavy as I had always expected...