How to Prepare Your Body for A Safe Labor and Delivery
While moms everywhere look forward to holding their precious baby, most usually do not look forward to the labor and delivery aspect. The average woman is in active labor for eight hours and the thought of going into labor scares many women. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can prepare your body for a safe labor and delivery.
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Stay Fit
One of the best things you can do to prepare is to keep yourself fit. Women who exercise regularly typically have shorter labor and delivery times. You will also be able to improve your endurance by exercising which means you will have an easier time tolerating labor. You can exercise during your entire pregnancy as long as your doctor or midwife says it is okay. Swimming and walking are some of the safest exercises you can do while pregnant.
Get Your Beauty Rest
You may have trouble sleeping when you get closer to your due date. However, you should try to sleep for seven to nine hours every night. If you find it is difficult to sleep at night, then you should try to take short naps during the day. You will have an easier time getting through labor if you are well-rested. There are several things you can do that will help you get more sleep. Many women find that they have an easier time sleeping on their left side.
Take A Childbirth Class
Taking the time to educate yourself about labor will take away some of the anxiety that you may be experiencing. Labor will be more bearable if you are relaxed. One way that you can educate yourself is by taking childbirth classes. You can learn about different techniques you can use to make labor easier and less painful. Ideally, you should select a class that has fewer than 10 couples in it. You should also educate yourself about the process of hiring a medical malpractice lawyer in the event you experience birth injuries.
Hire A Doula
A doula is a professional who is trained to assist a woman during labor. Doulas also offer emotional support to the woman. Studies have shown that mothers who have doulas are 50 percent less likely to need a C-section. They are also 30 percent less likely to need pain medication.
Labor and delivery can be scary. It does not matter whether you are a first-time mom or already have children. Fortunately, if you take the time to prepare, then labor and delivery will likely be easier and quicker for you.
Eileen O’Shanassy is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking. Check out her Twitter @eileenoshanassy.
