Congratulations on the pregnancy you are experiencing right now – you are a miracle in the making! Right now, your body is building an entire human being from scratch; it’s an achievement and you should be very proud of yourself for being this late in those nine months. Soon, you will be holding your new baby in your arms and marvelling at their tiny hands and feet, gasping at their perfectly formed eyelashes, and sniffing them right on top of the head where all the sweetness emanates.
Before that moment, though, you need to go through labor. Now, they don’t call it labor because it’s easy, but we’re not about to tell you horror stories that make you want to knit your knees together. Instead, we’re going to tell you things that you need to do to mentally prepare yourself for what our body is about to do.
Let’s face it: labor is possibly the most natural thing that you could do in your life. You know that your baby is coming out, and whether he or she makes their entrance the traditional way or they are lifted via the sunroof, labor is the bit before the birth – and it’s the hard part. Most are prepared post-birth with waiste trainers, or postpartum girdles from Bellefit, but before the birth, labor is the focus.
Whether you take on a Hypnobirthing Online Course, or you choose to take all the drugs possible to make this experience medically easy, you need to think about what you want for your labor. This baby IS coming, and there are things you need to know before that happens. Let’s discuss below!
- You can labor however you want to labor. Whether you want a homebirth and a doula or you want to go to hospital and benefit from an epidural, you are in charge here. It’s sad but there are many different medics out there that will try to dictate your birth. Informed is the best thing that you can be before a human being exits your body, and you are in control. We wouldn’t suggest a birth plan – mainly because plans are often thrown out. However, know what you want and have an advocate with you to enforce what you want. As long as the baby is safe, you get to birth the way you are most comfortable to do so.
- Your body – believe it or not – knows what to do. Sometimes, it tells you that you are in distress and an emergency surgery is needed to help that little baby out of you, but your body does know what to do. When you go into labor, your natural instinct is to take over and control the situation and the pain. However, the best way to do this is to let your body take over, instead. Hypnobirthing teaches you to relax and let the contractions happen; fighting them only makes it more painful.
- It’s okay to be afraid of labor, but it’s not okay to let it consume you. You are a woman and you are about to do the most natural, womanly thing that you can ever do in your life. Your body has grown and nourished a whole new person built with your blood (and sweat and tears!). The unknown is always scary, but it’s exciting to know that you are about to perform a little bit of biological magic and see your body respond to this new life.
Labor is going to change you as a woman. Knowing that you can do it is the most important thing right now. Educate yourself, and then breathe. You can do this, Mama.
Featured image: Image source: Pexels
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
