When it comes to labor and delivery, the thought of remaining calm may seem impossible. You’ve waited for this day for at least 40 weeks and between the excitement of finally meeting your child and the fear of pain during childbirth, staying collected seems to be the last response possible in this situation. Yet remaining calm will help your labor and delivery progress more smoothly and allow doctors and nurses to better attend to your needs. Keep reading for a few tips to help you stay calm when your baby is on the way:
Take a Warm Bath or Shower
If your labor pains begin at home, your first impulse will be to rush into the hospital. If possible, you should take this time to finish packing and take a soothing bath or shower before leaving. Please note—baths are not considered safe if your water broke, due to the potential of infection. Also pregnant women may lack balance so ask your partner to help you enter and exit the bathtub.
If you do choose to head straight into the hospital, ask your nurse if you can use the shower before your labor intensifies. Water is extremely soothing during labor and can actually help decrease the pain of contractions.
Listen to your Favorite Music
Whether you’re at home timing your contractions or in your hospital room, listening to your favorite songs will help you remain calm throughout the labor and delivery process. Put this chore on your to-do list beforehand and have a great song list ready to go for this special day.
Walk, Walk, Walk
This is another activity you can do at home or in the hospital (depending upon your nursing staff.) Walking is an excellent way to calm frazzled nerves and it also helps shift baby lower into the birthing canal. Exercise is a natural way to lower stress levels and this low impact activity is ideal.
Try Patterned Breathing
Whether you learned a breathing technique in Lamaze class or through your midwife or doctor, patterned breathing is noted for its ability to help women relax, and stay calm during intense labor and deliveries. Another perk to patterned breathing is increased oxygen flow to both you and your unborn child.
Medications
You may not think of pain medications as being calming, but the fact remains often it’s the fear of pain as well as the actual pain itself that causes intense emotions during the labor and delivery process. While you should already have an open line of communication with your doctor in regard to pain medication beforehand, during the birth process remain open and honest with the nursing staff in regard to your needs. A Zofran birth injury lawyer suggests that you make arrangements for any medications before the actual delivery day so that you are fully aware of any side effects or risks. There are multiple options in regard to pain management and even if you ask for medicine to take the edge off labor pains, this may help you regain your calm and endure the rest of the delivery.
The day your baby is born is both exciting and a little bit scary due to the unknowns. Remaining collected as you face labor and delivery is best for both you and your unborn child. Try some of the above techniques during the birthing process and allow them to help you remain calm as you deliver your baby into the world.
*Our content is not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical advice. Users / readers are always advised to consult their Healthcare Professional prior to starting any new remedy, therapy or treatment. Your Wellness Group accepts no liability in the event you, a user of n-gage and a reader of this article, suffers a loss as a result of reliance upon or inappropriate application of the information.