Prepare for a Positive Birth with THE BIRTH CLASS
What is infertility?
The Two Week Wait
Thoughtful Christmas Gifts for your Pregnant Friend.
What is Pre-eclampsia?
Positions for labour and birth
What is Shoulder Dystocia?
Cracked Nipples: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
5 Tips for Travelling With Kids
full term pregnant mother waiting for induction
If you want to better understand the induction process, including the reasons why your care provider may recommend one, this post has all the details.
Induction is often only suggested towards the end of pregnancy, hence the sudden change of plans can take time for you to process. If you are preparing for an induction and overwhelmed by the change of plans, please know that a positive induction is possible; it’s all about shifting your mindset and working with the induction process. Yes, you will be monitored more closely and you may be restricted with your movement and your ability to use water as a pain relief option, but you can still make informed choices that are best for you.
Research shows that a positive birth experience is dependent on two things:
Your ability to make informed choices. Your care provider respecting and supporting your choices.
Here’s three ways to turn your induction into a positive labour and birth experience:
If you resist, this resistance will manifest physically and you’ll be more likely to feel stressed and be tense. Working WITH instead of AGAINST the induction is a really practical step towards a positive induction. Remember that you can’t DO labour, you just need to BE in it.
Go with the flow of the induction by:
– staying present (I am here, now) – focussing on your breath (I’m breathing in, I’m breathing out) – accepting (and welcoming) each contraction (each contraction is bringing my baby closer)
You still have options during the induction process; you can choose to space out the time between the cervical gel, the breaking of your waters and the syntocinon drip. And during that time?
move your body. Go for a walk and go up and down stairs and if you can, walk outside talk to your baby. Tell your baby that you’re working together sink into the comforting things that prompt the natural flow of oxytocin. Watch a funny movie, cuddle your partner, kiss, dance to your favourite music. be in a dark space to encourage the release of melatonin (which works in tandem with oxytocin to prompt contractions). Keep the lights dim! use your breath and sound to keep yourself grounded (deep inhalations followed by long, slow exhalations and gentle sighs). The vibration of sound also helps to soothe your nervous system.
Making informed choices about pain relief and the way it can assist your labour is empowering. The basis of informed choices is education – make sure you understand the risks and benefits of gas + air and epidural before you choose them.
#1 Hilary – episode 267 – listen HERE
In this episode Hilary details her second birth where she went to 42 weeks (and was advanced maternal age). She opted for an induction and had her waters broken but managed to avoid the syntocinon drip.
#2 Meg – episode 376 – listen HERE
Two positive inductions in one episode, consider Meg’s birth stories a must-listen if you want to make informed choices for your induction.
#3 Claire – episode 324 – listen HERE
Claire details her first birth experience which included a really positive induction. She was intent on staying active and working with her body to bring her baby into the world.
#4 Elise – episode 208 – listen HERE
Elise’s baby was diagnosed with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) so she was induced. She had an incredibly positive labour and birth experience and details all the intimate details in this episode.
#5 Avril – episode 330 – listen HERE
In her second birth Avril advocated for what she wanted; a slow release syntocinon drip and a light epidural so she had more awareness and control while birthing.
We think you might enjoy these articles
birth
If your birth education has been limited to movie scenes on the hospital ward, chances are you presume that most women labour on the bed. However, if you’re interested in having a physiological birth (without pain relief or intervention) and you want to work with your body to navigate the intensity of contractions, the advice of almost every birth education, doula and midwife will be simple: don’t get on the bed.
Shoulder dystocia occurs in a vaginal birth when the baby’s shoulder is stuck behind the mother’s pelvic bone but the head has already been birthed. It’s considered an emergency but your care provider will be trained in navigating the complication to ensure your baby is born promptly and safely.
If you’re currently pregnant, you may be feeling quite overwhelmed by the advice that everyone seems to throw at you. It’s a lot, isn’t it. And while it’s well-meaning, it often leads to confusion rather than clarity.
Regardless of where you’re birthing and your intentions for pain management, it’s a good idea to educate yourself about the benefits and risks of each intervention so you go into labour aware and informed, with a strong understanding of the options available to you and how they can help or hinder your labour progression, birth and recovery.
As you get closer to your estimated due date (EDD), ideally your baby will be in a head down position. If your baby is upside down - with either their bottom or feet closest to your cervix and their head up towards your ribcage - they are in a breech position. It’s very normal for your baby to turn from breech to head-down throughout your pregnancy.
Choosing the correct size birthing ball for pregnancy can be tricky. Here are the key things to keep in mind for choosing your yoga or exercise ball for use in pregnancy or birth.
Birth can be a positive, empowering experience. However, for some women, labour and birth (both vaginal and caesarean birth) can be traumatic and can lead to both physical and mental trauma.
An episiotomy is a surgical cut to the perineum during the second stage of labour that’s performed on around 24 per cent of Australian women during a vaginal birth. Episiotomies are used to enlarge the vaginal opening, particularly if a baby is showing signs of distress and needs to be born quickly. It may also be suggested if your care provider believes you’re at risk of a severe tear.