3rd trimester!!!!!! advice for preparing for labor?!

I have just started a hypnobirthing course as I'm much more nervous the 2nd time around for some reason! So I'm hoping that puts me in a good mindset ready to meet my little man 😊

Taking a tour of the facility helped my nerves a lot. Also knowing who my doctor would be or how the doctor rotations worked (hospital birth) helped prepare me. Packing my hospital bag far in advance. And remembering to keep asking for my blood pressure and vitals while at the hospital (to watch out for preeclampsia and HELPP).

But mostly I needed to remember and continuously remind myself that my “birth plan” wasn’t set in stone. My baby and I would be alive and healthy, and anything else wasn’t as important. 💕

Good luck!

Make sure you pack your hospital bag early as you never know when always pack your essentials easier to get to, the stuff you will know you will want as soon as your in the room zx

I'm doing a hypnobirthing course and it's making me feel really confident about labour and birth and I'm actually quite looking forward to it now! ❤️

I recently gave birth to my second and this time around I wanted a different mindset than the first which was very fear based due to stories from family/friends. I meditated everyday (headspace has guided ones specifically for pregnancy). I told myself everyday to view the labor and delivery in a positive way. I recommend checking out Mama Natural on YouTube, she has a great website as well dedicated to holistic pregnancy and birth. I also ate dates and drank red leaf raspberry tea (once I got the okay from the OB). Second labor was 3.5 hours in total and baby arrived after 4 pushes with zero pain meds. Looking back, I am grateful that I took steps to have a different mindset this time around and you can too! You got this far Mama and you're gonna be amazing when the time comes to meet your little one!

I’d recommend getting a doula! They’re like personal trainers who can motivate you, keep you calm, get you in a good head space…whatever you need at that moment during labor. Meditation/mindfulness also helped me…having a bunch of positive phrases to repeat over and over that relate to the process of opening and relaxing…and stocking up on lots of electrolyte fluids to get through this big marathon-like event. You can do it!!!

wow that sounds like an amazing birth 💖 good for you for deciding to do all that for yourself this time around! but thank you so much. sometimes it still doesnt feel real and then I remember I still gotta give birth and I freak myself out! I am ready to be in that positive and in-control mind set

Eat dates! It helps soften your cervix for a much smoother delivery

Hypnobirthing was amazing!!! My labor was less than 8 hours, all natural, and my husband got to catch baby. I was dilated to 9.5 when I got to the birthing center... oops 😄 I had birth affirmations on repeat while I focused on my breathing. One thing that helped me was to do the meditations at night and listening to positive affirmations while doing things like going for a walk. Do the homework! It doesn't work if you don't practice. Another thing that is cool about hypnobirthing is that they address your fears as well as your partners. Communication with your partner is so helpful! My husband knew exactly his role in our birth which I believe gave him confidence and me the ability to relax and trust him.

You got this 💪Our bodies are made to give birth 🥰

Maybe just some affirmations every day? Prepare yourself for it to go well, and to trust your body. I like to have scripts. I’m pregnant with my first too. And you could eat 3-6 dates per day starting now. I hope you have a great time!

When having contractions I stood under really hot water, I laid down, I paced I wasn’t in any pain more so pressure in my vagina that’s what made me hop under the hot water
I had my son at a birthing center I went in fully dialated labored at home had him in 13 minutes lbvs went home 8hrs later best day of my life it was perfect!Son came out 7lbs 14oz I do suggest you putting a oil down there cause that stretch (ring of fire) don’t play no games lol

Oh wow! did you not know how dilated you were? thats crazy you were able to stay home that long! but im sure it was nice also.
and thats so cool your husband caught baby. what a powerful special moment 🥺💖
my doula is ALL FOR birth affirmations so I know we will be sayin those over and over and over again haha im gonna need it!
im trying to do allllll the homework. I take prenatal yoga weekly and I wanna start doing perineal massages and listening to hynobirth stuff.
thanks for the advice! i appreciate it :)

I have to say between all the reading a googling I did waiting for labour, I found a few videos on YouTube by Bridget Teyler really helpful - especially Breathing Techniques.
I also went a bit past my due date and ate a pineapple a day for 3 days to avoid getting induced 😆
Not sure if it made the difference but I got my spontaneous labour!!?

You can never really prepare for labor. Haha. I also had a doula and was at a birthing center. I was planning an all natural birth and Practiced meditation and labor positions daily. I ended up having a sunny side up baby and a 48 hour labor. The pain was unimaginable & I was so exhausted after 26 hours that I ended up getting an epidural so that I could rest. All that matters is that you go into it with an open mind and be willing to alter your original plan if needed. I was so disappointed in myself that I needed the epidural, but after he was born ( 10 minutes from having to do an emergency C-section) I was glad I made the decision I did because I wouldn’t have had the energy to push for 6 hours if I hadn’t let me body rest.

The best piece of advice I could give you is ‘trust your body.’
I went into my labour knowing yes it’s going to be uncomfortable/ painful at times I didn’t even bother with a birth plan because it felt like a false sense of security. Every labour is different and taking the expectation away made me feel more empowered in the moment.
I did lots of walking throughout my pregnancy which certainly helped as well as exercises on the birthing ball that I found on YouTube.
Wishing you the best of luck - you have got this lovely! ❤️

Congratulations on expecting your baby, it’s such an exciting time! Tbh it sounds like you’ve already done a lot of prep work, which is fantastic. So many women just blindly follow the standard medical advice without educating themselves first.

Hypnobirthing transformed my second birth. I didn’t do any of the visualisations or meditating… simply understanding the physical biology of what was going on in my body & the breathing exercises were enough for me. I practised the breathing techniques everyday. Midwife broke my waters & 2.5 hours later my daughter was born. I breathed through the whole thing, zero pain relief. I was in total control & vividly remember feeling strong, calm & super focused. It’s an incredible feeling. Even though I was actually on all-fours on the floor mooing like a cow 🤣

Pack your bag and install the car seat! I started having contractions at 35w and was NOT ready😅

I’ve been reminding myself when I get anxious about labor/birth that you’ll be surrounded by people who literally deliver babies all day every day-you’ll be in great hands!

Prenatal yoga!

For the mental side I practiced Hypnobirthing and started to introduce scents when I was most calm that I then had during labour. Physically I can personally vouch for Perennial massage and used an Aniball/ epi-no device. I have a heavy baby and did not tear at all.

Do research on both a vaginal birth and a C-section just in case something happens you know what to kinda expect if things don't go as planned.
But you're gonna do great no matter what happens, you're gonna have a beautiful baby, and you'll be on the greatest high of your life 💕

Oh and with contractions, just remember when you have one that this will pass and you will get through it ☺️

Hypnobirthing and positive birthing courses ❤️

Pethidine was a godsend for me. Mist spray ❤️❤️ x

Hypnobirthing ❤❤❤

Hypnobirthing really helped me, the up and down breathing techniques all the way through labour. I used ‘The positive birthing company’. Good luck mama

Prenatal yoga. Also, get some rest. My water broke at about 10pm and the baby was born the next day around 8pm, so I was basically awake for 48 hours. And then you have a baby, so you will get less sleep.

Continue to do your breathing excercises. And kegal exercises. Relax and don’t stress. Drink water. You’r doing great!

YouTube is great
Check out channels :
Sarah lavonne and Bridget Teyler

Hypnobirthing really helped but I took a course for 5 weeks and did lots of resting and practice meditations to find what worked for me before the 3rd trimester.
Lots of affirmations on YouTube and playing the hypnobirthing book's affirmations every night and morning to reprogram my brain around pain. I also used positive language only and asked others to do the same. Watched lots of gentle birthing or positive home birth videos on YouTube to open my mind to the possibility of a painless birth.
I had a beautiful birth experience with midwives and my doula at a birth center 😍

I've heard dates are good x

Definitely following this post. I just started my third trimester and I'm scared shitless. I don't think I was thinking scared with my previous two, but that was 10yrs ago and I was younger and physically more active. I swear the thought of labor sends my anxiety through the roof. I'm just here reading and taking in all the info you ladies can impart.

I had my bag packed and ready to go. I also made sure I had a plan of the things that were 100 none negotiable for me. Like waiting to cut the cord for a few minutes, skin to skin right away, etc. I also planned with my husband how he could help me when things got intense, like walking or counter pressure. I also reminded myself that as long as baby was healthy and safe it was all good. I tried to not worry too much as it can slow stuff down. I’m not sure there is a proper mindset since anything can happen but I knew the things really important to me and worked to make that happen. Good luck mamma and remember you got this, your body knows what to do even if you don’t think you do!! 💛

Sleep as much as you can! You're gonna need the energy and rest.

Taking the birthing class gave me the peace of mind because I knew all my options and knowing all the possibilities of what’s to come. I didn’t at 1st but was happy I did. With my hubby

If you’re high anxiety and just overall scared. meditation and calming music really helps :) I had no clue what to expect, because i read a lot on the internet about how labor is supposed to go. But for me, i went into labor on my own at 37 weeks after deep cleaning my whole house and eating at denny’s 😂 my water broke in the toilet and i didn’t start contracting until after my epidural with my first. I slept all through labor, and when it was time to push i pushed for an hour and he was out. It was as smooth as it could have gone. I overpacked for sure 🤣 just grab your basics like hygiene, hair ties, phone and charger, and some comfy clothes. Chapstick. I nest like a mad woman, so i just super organized everything. I ordered all my post partum essentials and organized them before going into labor. Like…omg i was nuts.

I watched one video and packed my bag when contractions were starting. I was probably underprepared, but I know it helped me some too because it kept me from obsessing and making myself anxious. Birth went very smoothly. It was much calmer than I expected and I think I had a very good experience. Even when I was in pain the doctors and nurses were so good that I never felt scared. Having a mirror when it was time to push was so helpful because I could see that there was progress even when it didn't feel like I was accomplishing anything by pushing. The recovery has been longer and more difficult than I expected, but giving birth was a very positive experience. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I felt so supported and now I'm really proud of myself in a way I've never been before 😊

I watched so many videos on YouTube: positive affirmations, preparation for labor (positions/breathings etc) I even watched labor videos of several women. It helps me to feel empowered and ready for the d-day, to not fear this moment which has to be our moment. Just trust the process and your body 💪

Good for you that your gonna be taking the natural route, I wish I would have done it that way. One thing I did that helped with labor pains was using a rebozo (long scarf) and looping it around my belly and having my hubby pull and lift my belly from behind me. I also listened to meditations everyday to prepare, as well as prenatal yoga.

Rest rest rest and eat and drink fluids especially water

I did hypnobabies. I think I would have been more successful with a doula, but it was still very nice in prep for labor. Yoga and sleep are great too.