Did you know that you can do prenatal exercises to help your body and baby be in optimal shape for a quicker, easier natural childbirth? Here are tips to help you prepare for childbirth and labor.  Sharing exercises, stretches and lifestyle tips for you to practice before giving birth.

I am currently 34 weeks pregnant during my second pregnancy.

The Braxon Hicks contractions have really started and those emotions around labor are popping up in my head. I have even watched my birth story with Madison to get me mentally prepared for this marathon of labor again.

I got out my labor breathing book from my birth class when I was pregnant with Madison and am  starting to go through it again. I forgot some things so it is going to be a great refresher. Gary is helping me start practicing my breathing.

I am also working on making my list for the hospital bag as second babies can come early! Of course each pregnancy and labor will be completely different. Honor your body during this time.

I have another baby checkup with my doctor this Thursday so I am excited to see how things are progressing. Since we are in a new town and new hospital we are haveing our birth center tour this Sunday which I am super excited. I am a little nervous about it too as back in Charlotte I absolutely loved my birth experience and the hospital there.

Exercises and tips to prepare for labor

Share these labor preparation tips with your girl friends and moms. *Disclaimer: make sure to consult with your doctor before trying a new workout routine. If you feel any pain or discomfort while exercising, stop.

I am not sure what this second labor is going to be like. I am keeping a positive mindset around it all.

I am starting to get prepared for it as I have less than 6 weeks to go (give or take) which I can’t believe.

I must admit I started getting Braxton Hicks contractions and one day of diarrhea which both are signs the body is getting prepared for labor. I freaked out. I realized I wasn’t prepared for labor for the second time… just yet.

Natural childbirth is a marathon.

I am so grateful for staying active during my first (and second) pregnancy and doing some of these things with my first to really help with birth. Now I am trying to do more the second time around to help prepare my body again. After getting myself prepared these past few days I feel I am ready!

I am breaking up the tips into a few different categories of the things I am focusing on to help make this second time a little easier.

I am going into this labor like I did with my first with doing all natural. I am praying a lot this time that I am better with my breathing as with Madison it was not pretty. I was all over the place with my breathing and emotions.

Here are some simple exercises that can help open your pelvis and position your baby in a way that is optimal for childbirth.

Exercise tips to help the body prepare for labor (making labor a little easier)

• squats
• deep core work – like belly breathing
• walking
• sitting on a stability ball -be sure your ball is firm enough and high enough so that your hips are higher than your knees
• sitting on the floor in cross legged position – sitting this way pushes the uterus forward, stretches the legs and opens the pelvis more

Stretching exercises: 

• deep squat pose – hold onto something to help you get really low in this pose
• calves – helps you squat better
• butterfly – simple exercise to open your pelvis and keeps your lower back limber
• hamstring
• hip flexor stretch

Mindset:

• deep breathing – Reduces your pain and stress during delivery
• visualization of labor
• meditate
• affirmations – here is the one I am focusing on saying, “I am strong. My body knows what to do. I can do this.”

Nutrition:

• focusing on nutrient dense foods
• making sure getting good amount of protein along with healthy fats and carbs
• water
• raspberry tea – drinking 2 cups a day (I have been doing this since middle of second trimester)

When it comes to my labor here is my game plan.

I got my birth preference out from last time to have ready.

I have my support team in place. Gary will be with me but Michelle won’t be as she will be with Madison.

I am going to do my best to get rid of any negative thoughts because they make labor stressful; at worst, they’ll actually intensify pain. Since working on my own mindset for the past 2 years and knowing how powerful the mind is – I am focusing on positive thoughts.

I hope to have my essential oils ready this time. Unlike last time I had them ready but left them in the car… hopefully not this second time as I strongly believe they would help me during those difficult contractions.

These are just some tips to help having a baby more manageable. I feel it helps to know to be prepared as much as possible.

What did you do to prepare for labor? What did you think helped you most with your labor?

xoxo Lori (and Michelle)

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