People are always asking, “How do I get through labor?” They want to know about the latest fad that will magically make their labor effortless and easy. First, labor is hard work; that’s why it’s called labor. That doesn’t mean that it can’t still be an amazing experience. Luckily, getting the body, mind and spirit ready for birth doesn’t require a lot of newfangled equipment or airy-fairy remedies. All that’s needed is P.E.N. – Preparation, Exercise and Nutrition!
Exercise: Laboring and birthing a baby is some of the hardest physical work a human body can do. No one would run a marathon or climb Mt. Everest without training first. The same goes for labor. Walking 30 minutes a day is a great way to prepare for labor; in fact, it’s one of the best ways. Swimming, yoga, pilates, and other gentle to moderate exercises are all great for labor and birth preparation, too.
When people really focus on these three areas during their pregnancy, results are seen time and time again. They are better prepared for labor and birth, and they have an easier time in the postpartum. It’s really that simple!
Sky Connelly LM, CPM, is a certified professional midwife offering home birth, water birth, VBAC, fertility consultation, at-home IUI, and Ayurvedic postpartum wellness to all of Maui County. Learn more at growmidwifery.com.