Labour tips? 🫶🏻

My hospital didn’t allow an epidural to be given in the birth suite (aka the room with a birthing pool) epidurals were only allowed on the labour ward so that might be worth checking beforehand. I was always anti epidural anyway so it made no difference to me but it might be worth you to check. I had a water birth and gas and air :)

You can try a tens machine too x

I thought of a contraction like a mountain - I’d count until I’d get to the peak before it started easing off again - so when every contraction came I used counting as a technique to ride it out and knew once I got to for example 12, I’m out of the deep end 😂 coupled with breathing ofcourse - went 48 hours on just gas and air, needed a c section in the end tho as I wasn’t dilating quick enough as my waters had already broke😭 xx

I had my both of mine as a water birth.
I used a tens machine and comb until I got to the hospital/in the pool. Then once in the pool just gas and air. I found the water really relaxing and just kept saying to myself during each contraction that I was one contraction closer to meeting my baby.
Also I made a playlist of sing along songs so I could just sing/hum along to take my mind off the pain, even the Midwife joined in with the some of the singing! x

Positive affirmations and right breathing techniques!! I made some positive affirmations up beforehand and told them myself quietly with closed eyes at every contraction. Breathing helped me a lot as well to distract from the pain. And sugary snacks! I didn’t know how tiring it was so didn’t take any but my midwife gave me some sugary drink and it helped me a lot and gave me energy. There’s this amazing YouTube channel that helped me massively ‚Bridget Teyler‘! And a positive mindset telling Myself that with every contraction I’m closer to meeting my baby and that my body was made for this.
You’ve got this mama!!

I had a water birth with my little one. What helped me was breathing techniques, focusing on the gift (my gorgeous baby) after the hard labour and positive affirmations. The water was also relaxing, I didn’t use any pain medication. Yeah I second Bridget’s YT as I learnt so much

Moving around helps too. Helps you to focus on the movement instead of the pain. I used the birth ball too, rocking etc. Deep breathing and counting with a partner. I read the book about hypnobirthing, very interesting and useful tips.

I used a tens machine, comb, and then I opted for a water birth. When I was about 6cm I requested pethidine and this carried me through to babies arrival. I didn’t want any meds initially but in the moment I felt I needed something to take the edge off the pain. Having this meant I had to come out of the water but I was fine with that. Comb for me wasn’t beneficial, I could have done without. I would recomend looking at some of the positive birth company techniques as I did find the breathing super helpful. I also had a playlist with some of my fave calming songs, and I took battery operated tea lights in as well!

I initially wanted to birth as natural as possible and was against epidural as I went to every antenatal class and attended every hypnobirthing/birthing lesson so I was very confident when my water broke. I used comb and breathing until I got to the hospital and I was 8 cm, I was begging them to give me drugs. I used the pool which was very nice and gas however it was doing nothing for me. I tried walking, squatting and every position possible but nothing helped. No amount of positive affirmations or hypnobirthing techniques worked for me and was begging them for C section. When I got the epidural for c section I was so relieved.
We never now how our body will react to labor pain and how it will progress. The best tip I can give you as to be open minded and not be set on a specific birth experience and push really with all you’ve got. The best goal is to simply give birth and be healthy you and the baby, regardless of it will be delivered. For my 2 nd baby I plan to take epyou'v

I got really hot! Damp paper towels really helped keep me keep cool. I used the comb for the beginning but it progressed quicker for me as second child. You’ll know in the moment! Don’t panic you’ve got this😍❤️

Just be open minded to all options! I was the same as you with my first baby, started off in the birth pool but didn’t like it and then a few things happened which meant after a very long labour I ended up having an epidural and instrumental delivery, but the epidural was the best thing for me at the time! With my second baby thankfully things went much smoother and I managed to give birth in the pool with no pain relief. I used a birth comb (actually just a wooden one I already had) and combined it with breathing techniques to get me through each contraction