Pregnancy is one of the most joyful experiences for a woman and it is the desire of every expecting mother to have a normal delivery. A few normal delivery tips must be learnt by every pregnant woman in order to ensure that the pregnancy goes on without any issues, especially for the first-time mothers as they have had no experience of labor before.
10 Normal Delivery Tips
Eat Right
Diet has a major part to play during pregnancy, labor and eventually childbirth. However, it is important to turn a deaf ear to misconceptions that suggest eating foods like oil or ghee can help you in having a normal delivery. The birth canal and the digestive tract are not linked to one another in any way. The only reason for eating healthy food is to make you stronger, keep you in good health and help in the development and growth of the baby in the fetus. The healthier the mother is, the easier it is for her to overcome the trials of labor and have a normal delivery. Eating the right food can help the baby in growing and positioning himself in the exact manner for labor. Having proper nourishment also makes sure that the fetus sustains the stress of childbirth and comes into this world through a normal delivery. It is important to maintain the weight since being overweight while pregnant can hamper the chances of a normal delivery.
Stay Hydrated
Since labor is hard work, one of the important normal delivery tips is to stay hydrated. When people do running or hiking, they have a sport drink or water bottle on hand to replenish the energy they are expending. In the same way, sports drinks can help you in restoring your energy level during labor. Purchase some good sport drinks before your due date, drink some and wait for your doctor’s approval.
Do Exercises Regularly
If you do not exercise regularly, you must start doing it during pregnancy without any excuse. The reason for this is quite simple: it prepares you to go through the challenges of pregnancy and labor in a much better manner since the evidence available has suggested that regular exercising does help in having a normal delivery. Walking, yoga and Kegel exercises are some of the many exercises that you can perform. Taking the help of an expert, the coach of you prenatal classes or your doctor is important if you do not know how to start and perform the exercises. Exercises done wrong can cause harm to both you and your baby.
Here is a video where you can find 7 easy exercises for normal labor.
Know Well About Labor
Another one of the important pregnancy tips for normal delivery is to know as much as possible about labor and delivery. Hypnobirthing, joining a prenatal class or Lamaze can help you in learning about both delivery and labor. This information will come in handy in the labor room.
Practice Breathing Techniques
Using breathing techniques can help in the growth and development of the baby, boost your energy and reduce the stress levels. The baby’s vitality and health will receive a major boost because of the increased intake of oxygen and she will be able to cooperate with the mother in a better way during labor. Below is a video that teaches you how to breach during a normal delivery.
Have An Experienced Doula
Among the essential normal delivery tips, having an experienced doula is probably one of the most important ones. An experienced doula can be very helpful in having a normal delivery. The doula works as an assistant as well as an advocate for the mother during labor. She can calm the mother-to-be and help moms to start the breastfeeding after delivery.
Have Support Team
Support from the family members, most importantly from the father of the child, is extremely important for the expectant mother throughout her pregnancy. They must remain with her during labor and respect the decisions she makes. This is going to reduce the stress she is feeling and help her in remaining calm and handle labor easily.
Keep Stress Free
Feeling stressed during labor can diminish oxytocin production in the body, which is a hormone that creates contractions during labor. Without this hormone, the duration of labor extends and having a normal delivery becomes almost impossible. Therefore, it is important to try and remain stress free during labor. Some ways of remaining calm and happy are to watch a funny movie or listen to good music.
Use Water
Another excellent normal delivery tip is to make use of water like hydrotherapy. It can reduce the discomfort and help you remain in control during labor. For instance, soaking in a water tub can help you relax your muscles and ease pain. Keep the temperature of the water at a normal level so that it does not harm you or your baby. This method is not recommended for those women whose water bag has broken as they might get infected while using hydrotherapy. Such women can relax by taking a warm shower.
Do Perineal Message Regularly
After the seventh month, all expectant mothers must start regular perineum to deal with the challenges of labor, keep stress in check, ease the joint pain and muscle tension and reduce swelling. While massaging the perineum, hook your thumb inside and gently pull the lower part of the vagina outward and forward. This will stretch the skin in exactly the same way that the baby’s head would do during birth.
More Tips You Should know
Avoid standing for long periods in the latter stages of pregnancy as the gravitational pull on the baby will move it further down your pelvis and create problems during delivery.
Since spice foods warm the system, they are recommended during pregnancy and can help in normal delivery. However, you should avoid them if you are having heartburn or nausea.
You can choose to stand, sway, lie on the side or sit during labor. You can keep on experimenting with different options to know which one is most suitable for you.
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