I’m just over here doing my best to get as prepared as possible for the big event that is on its way: labor! As I’ve mentioned before, in the times of COVID, all of us expectant mothers have had to get a little bit more creative in finding resources as so many have been cancelled.
I’ve included some of the things I’ve done so far below.
BIRTH PLAN
This one was hard for me. I felt completely lost. What even goes on a birth plan? I looked up templates and generators online and they were all so very different. What is actually necessary? What is overkill? Do I even need one? I feel that it’s important to have at least something for the nurses to look at, or for Mike to know just so that when we are in the thick of things I won’t have to be answering a ton of questions. I wanted something super simple though. Not like pages and pages of information that would be too hard to decipher. I finally ended up liking the one that came from the Baby Center App. They have some pretty basic questions that you answer; some for labor and some for after delivery. Once you check the boxes that you want to happen, it will generate a PDF that you can email to yourself to print out. It also has a box for notes on the bottom for anything that wasn’t included in their questions. I did make a few notes of items I had seen on other birth plans, and most importantly wanted to include that while these are some of my birth preferences, I ultimately just want a healthy baby and mama, so whatever needs to be done to achieve this, I will be open to (within reason).
Of course I’ve never done this before, and haven’t yet, but do feel comfortable having a little something down on paper to help out and am hopeful that some of the things will go accordingly to plan, but know that if it doesn’t, that will be okay too.
BIRTH CLASS
We actually have two birth classes coming up that I signed up for virtually through our hospital system. I was a little bit nervous that these were too late, but as long as I haven’t gone into labor yet we should be good! 😂 We did end up taking a newborn care class online, and I also took a breastfeeding class (both through the hospital). I don’t feel that either of these were super helpful or had any breakthrough information, but I am hopeful that the birth class may have a bit more. I’m mainly interested in learning some breathing techniques and pushing techniques, but I am sure there is a whole lot more to it that I don’t even know! This is certainly the most foreign topic, so hopefully these will be good!
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Heck! There are some great (and free) resources on YouTube that have been so great to take advantage of. Many Doulas, Nurses, health professionals, etc. have YouTube channels and upload videos on all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and more that have been so great to watch!
A more recent favorite find is Bridget Teyler. She is a doula and childbirth educator, and has some really amazing videos. I have watched almost all of them and just love her calm and comforting demeanor. She truly makes me feel like I can do this and has so many wonderful tips. I’m just hoping I can remember them while I’m in the hospital!
Nurse Zabe is another really great channel to watch. She is currently a labor & delivery nurse, as well as a childbirth educator. I find her videos so helpful because she comes from the nurse side of the picture so she has truly seen it all and gives you the truth from the opposite perspective of my mindset, which I love! It’s comforting to hear that we shouldn’t be embarrassed by things they might see or help with because while this is so new and foreign to us, this is everyday to them and they just want our healthy baby here as well.
These are the two that I’ve probably watched the most and have really enjoyed. Sarah Lavonne also has TONS of videos that I should probably watch more of, and of course I can’t forget random vloggers that post their birth vlog or birth story. I just love hearing how other women’s experiences went. Searching positive birth stories also comes up with a plethora of videos that can help to ease the nerves.
If the birthing classes fail, I’m sure YouTube will get me prepared with all of the breathing techniques I could hope for!
BIRTH AFFIRMATIONS
This is something I’ve heard about before but didn’t know if it was something I saw myself doing. Birth affirmations are positive quotes that you can print out and put up on the walls around you so that you are surrounded by positivity, or you can keep them as more of flash cards to read them off to yourself and repeat while you are in labor to keep you going.
Some that I found that I really like are:
- I feel confident. I feel safe. I feel secure.
- My mind is relaxed, and my body is relaxed.
- Each surge brings baby closer to me.
- My body was designed to do this.
- My baby is strong and healthy.
- I am present. I am doing this. We are doing this.
- I trust my body and my baby.
- My body and pelvis open wide for my baby to pass through.
- Good, strong contractions will help me meet my baby.
I think these will be a great aid in staying calm and getting into the right mindset. Our bodies were made to do this, and I think telling myself some of these things in a hard time when I might just want to give up with help get me through it. If not, there is nothing wrong with some extra positivity!
LABOR PLAYLIST
I have absolutely no idea what mood I will be in come the thick of labor. I’m assuming a really bad one, but in trying to prepare and finding as many ways to make it a positive experience as possible, I am trying to set myself up for success. I’ve heard that making your environment a comfortable one is key to staying calm and having that positive birth experience.
Music is an incredibly powerful tool. There are so many songs that as soon as they come on, you can’t help but sing along and do a little shimmy. I have been doing my best to think of as many as possible to compile into a playlist that might just help give me that extra motivation to push (literally).
This list will probably look vastly different from person to person, but I am a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, so definitely had to get a few of her songs on there, some old school N’Sync and Backstreet Boys, and you of course can’t forget All Star by Smash Mouth. Do any 90’s babies not know all the words to that song?! And some for fun like ‘Push It’ because you can’t miss an opportunity like that.
Though I’m trying to be extremely optimistic and have a very positive mindset for this experience, in bringing things back to reality, I also am creating a second playlist of more relaxing, instrumental songs. I love the Piano Guys, so I have added many of their songs to this playlist, and my current favorite relaxation song is River Flows in You by Yiruma. I just find it so calming and could listen to it over and over.
So hopefully despite my mood, I will have some great options, and who knows – maybe I will just want some peace and quiet, but at least I am prepared!
After writing all of this out, I am starting to feel a little bit more prepared than I thought I was! I can’t wait to see how my experience goes, and will definitely do a follow up with what helped and what didn’t.
Laugh Often – Rachel
Simply Stoops 
😘
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