My work with clients (and family/friends) who are pregnant often includes the question, “What did you do to prepare for labor? Did you take classes?” Preparing for labor is a unique experience, and only you will know what is best. I can only share from my experience in hope to empower you as you enter one of the most amazing yet vulnerable experiences of your life.
I personally decided not to enroll in formal birth classes for the reason being that my work is in the birth world and I already have an abundance of information. I knew that information overload as a practitioner was only going to keep me in my my mind, when in fact prepping for labor requires being fully grounded in both the mind-body. Knowing the stages of labor, contractions, and the timing of, my real work was to practice progressive relaxation of my body with the utilization of my breath. It helps to know your level of pain tolerance and where your sweet spot is. I have quite a high pain tolerance yet I also know when enough is enough. Also, one point that I cannot stress enough is the power of support during labor. Labor is intimidating, there’s no way around it, and the only way through is through. We don’t know how one’s labor will unfold, but if you go in with the right tools and quality support, you will be in good hands.
Determined to experience labor naturally for the first time, I had cultivated a mindset that anything is possible along with the affirmation “Girl, you got this.” What I didn’t know was that I’d be walking into 13 hours of back labor (p.s….back labor is pain in your lower back that begins with labor and is related to the position of the baby within your pelvis). The pain that I experienced in my back with each contraction was like nothing else I have ever experienced. I leaned on my support, the strength of my body, the power of my mind, and the healing of my breath to make it to 9.5 cm before I got to my sweet spot and with the guidance of my team opted to receive an epidural as the best next step. My body was exhausted, but I was proud of myself for how far I had made it with back labor. Receiving the epidural allowed me to sleep for an hour before I woke to push and birth my beautiful daughter on 10/13/22.
As any pregnant woman would say, “I would do it all over again” and despite any level of pain, I full heartedly agree with this statement. As I always remind my clients, pain is just a perception between your two ears. Let the strength of your body and the power of your mind be your guide, not fear. Once it’s all over, the day of your labor will forever be imprinted in your heart.
Key take away points as you prepare for labor:
-Enroll in childbirth classes that align with your goals for labor.
-Practice utilizing the breath to relax the body.
-Get to know your level of pain tolerance and all options, medicated and unmedicated, for pain control.
-Create a personalized affirmation to repeat to yourself when the going gets tough.
You got this mama!
~Juliana
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