Preparing Your Body for Childbirth

I am due any moment to experience natural childbirth for the fifth time, so preparing my body for this amazing event is of utmost importance to me. I am not one to try to induce labor either naturally or otherwise; but I do want my body to be ready for the easiest, safest, and healthiest childbirth possible.

Physical activity is an important step in preparing your body for childbirth, although I will be the first to admit that exercise (or any activity) does not seem too tempting at the fortieth week of pregnancy. However, mild exercise such as walking or housework is very effective for preparing your body for an easier and quicker childbirth. For the past couple of days, I have even found that I have several contractions during activity; and I know that this is preparing my cervix and uterus for the upcoming childbirth.

You can avoid many pregnancy and childbirth complications by simply staying very well hydrated and nourished throughout your nine months of bliss. Lots and lots (and lots!) of pure water is essential for keeping the body flushed of toxins and the cells hydrated. This shouldn't be too much of a problem, if you, like me, are constantly thirsty throughout pregnancy. If you are not a great fan of drinking water, try using a straw. For some reason, our tendency to consume fluids increases with straw usage. And please avoid sodas and alcoholic beverages, which are very harmful to you and your baby.

Education is a very important step in preparing your body for childbirth. I prefer and recommend the Bradley method over Lamaze. However, regardless of your preference, it is so helpful to learn some relaxation techniques that will carry you through labor and delivery so much more easily. Try reading the book Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon. I wish I had stumbled across this book while preparing my body for childbirth the first time instead of the fourth!

Try to minimize stress in your life. I realize that much stress is unavoidable, and I personally have had to experience childbirth during some very stressful seasons of life; but learn to handle and minimize your stress as much as possible for your baby's sake as well as your own. I believe that a key part of preparing both your body and your mind for childbirth is letting go of stress and trusting the Lord to work His miracle in your body.

One way to reduce stress while preparing your body for childbirth is to simply have everything done way ahead of time. Sit down with a calendar during your sixth or seventh month of pregnancy and schedule a time to complete all of the necessary preliminary tasks that need to be accomplished before childbirth. Pack your bags, prepare the nursery, do your deep cleaning, and stock the freezer with simple meals to make postpartum life so much easier for yourself. I even went as far as to make a daily checklist of simple routines for my husband to maintain for a couple of weeks after childbirth, so that our lovely organized home doesn't complete go down the chute!

You will definitely want to prepare your body for childbirth by resting up as the time approaches. I can be so OCD about keeping house that I am tempted to stay up half the night to keep everything "perfect;" but that is stressful, ineffective, and foolish. Don't deprive your body of needed rest. You are going to need a lot of strength and energy to get you through childbirth, so be sure to take appropriate measures to get quality sleep each night (in spite of the discomfort of an ever expanding body and the need to pee every hour); and take all the naps you need.

Now that I have accomplished all of these tasks of preparing my body for childbirth, I can relax, enjoy my other children, and eagerly await our new addition!