BABY STEPS WITH ÁINE: Hi everyone. This week I will be talking about labour.
I was lucky to have a positive, natural birth.
The delivery of your little one is such a unique experience and for some it is quite a sensitive topic.
Because of this I will not be telling you what to do or how to do it. I would, however, like to share some things I think will help you through the big day.
Have a supportive birthing partner:
When it comes to choosing your birthing partner/partners, it’s important to remember that this is your decision.
The baby’s father is the obvious choice, however, this is not always the case. It could be your mother, sister or best friend.
Do not choose someone because you feel you have to or in fear of hurting their feelings. Labour is a very personal experience.
It can be both physically and emotionally challenging. For those reason you need someone you are comfortable around. Someone who will support, reassure and encourage you throughout the process.
Expect the unexpected:
For a first time mum it is difficult to know what to expect. I went to antenatal classes, watched one born every minute and read all the pregnancy articles. I still didn’t feel ready for labour.
Ultimately, we all want a pleasant and easy labour with minimal stress and a healthy baby at the end. For the majority this will be the case. Yes, there are risks but these are much lower than people perceive them to be.
Unfortunately, in labour, you are not fully in control. Things might happen differently than you’d planned. If and when this happens try to go with the flow. You’ll be scared, worried and excited all at once but keep focused.
You’ll be in good hands, so trust your delivery team and ensure you communicate your feelings.
Keep in mind that the unexpected isn’t always negative. Entonox and epidural were on my birthing plan however as it turned out, I had a 24 hour labour without any form of pain relief. You too could be pleasantly surprised.
Don’t be too hard on yourself:
No two births are the same so try to remember that and embrace this experience as much as you can. If your outcome isn’t what you’d originally planned don’t beat yourself up about it.
You might find you’d wished for a pain relief free labour but end up with every drug you can have. There is nothing wrong with that. If your natural birth dreams have ended as a caesarean section, don’t dwell on it. The most important thing is a healthy mum and baby at the end. How that happens, is nobody else’s business. 
Think positively:
I am a very strong believer in the power of positive thinking and I truly believe it helped me through my labour. Now is not the time to be thinking of horror birth stories. Yes, labour can be a terrifying thought but it is important to stay positive.
There are so many things you can worry about. But, as you already know, worrying doesn’t help any situation.
It will be hard work but your body is strong and you are more than capable of this.
Support a can-do attitude by surrounding yourself with happy thoughts of the end result and words of encouragement from your birthing partner and midwife.
When you have your new-born in your arms for the first time, you will forget about everything you just went through. Use that as your motivation.
Thanks for reading and good luck,
Áine x
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