| Would you love to give birth naturally, but have doubts | | | | over. Help your body during labour by allowing your |
| about your ability to achieve this without medical | | | | mind to take a 'back seat' for a change. Don't question |
| intervention and pain relief? Boost your confidence | | | | the process, just allow it to happen. Do this by focusing |
| and knowledge, with these 5 tips to help you achieve | | | | on your breath and listening to your body and your |
| your dream. 1. Be comfortable in your surroundings | | | | instincts. Let your labour find it's own pace and rhythm. |
| Make sure that wherever you choose to have your | | | | Don't be afraid. Remember that your body is perfectly |
| baby, it is a place that supports natural birth, and a | | | | designed to give birth to a baby and intrinsically knows |
| place where you will be comfortable and at ease. This | | | | what to do. Trust in this. |
| is different for everyone and could be at home, in a | | | | 4. Move Freely |
| birth centre, in a hospital, or somewhere else. You | | | | Allow yourself to move and change positions |
| might like to spread cushions on the floor and light | | | | whenever you feel you want to. You might want to |
| candles, you might like to listen to rock music in the | | | | stand and walk, or squat or kneel. Feel free to do |
| bath! The most important thing is that you feel | | | | whatever makes you most comfortable during |
| happy, safe and comfortable to completely let go, with | | | | contractions and while resting in-between them. Your |
| nothing to distract or worry you. | | | | breathing will become deeper and more spontaneous. |
| 2. Choose a healthcare provider who supports normal | | | | Use the long exhale breath to release pain as it arises |
| birth and minimal intervention. | | | | and help you to cope more easily with the intensity. |
| You will need a midwife who is completely supportive, | | | | The best positions are upright ones, where gravity is |
| so make your wishes for a normal birth clear, well in | | | | on your side. Chairs, cushions, beanbags or birth balls |
| advance. Explain that you would like to move around | | | | can all help to support you more comfortably. Try |
| freely during the birth and make sure your midwife is | | | | sitting upright on a chair leaning forward, kneeling on all |
| happy with this. Request that during the birth, the | | | | fours over a ball or stool or standing and walking. Most |
| baby's heartbeat be monitored intermittently instead of | | | | importantly, don't give birth lying on your back! This is |
| constantly. This way you are not constrained by wires | | | | by far the least advantageous position - working |
| and machines etc. and you are free to move around | | | | against gravity and reducing the space within the pelvis |
| as you wish. Also explain that you would like medical | | | | making it more difficult for the baby to come through. |
| intervention only as a last resort. If it turns out that | | | | 5. Skin to Skin |
| medical interventions are needed during the birth, they | | | | Keep your newborn baby close to you for as long as |
| can often be adapted for use in upright positions, so | | | | possible. These are your first wonderful moments |
| perhaps you can discuss this with your midwife too. | | | | with your precious little one. Sit upright and hold your |
| You will probably find that he/she is very encouraging | | | | baby skin to skin to help regulate their heartbeat and |
| and helpful. | | | | keep them warm. Allow your baby contact with the |
| 3. Trust Your Body | | | | breast. Request that the umbilical cord be left intact |
| Do not request or agree to an induction of labour | | | | until it has stopped pulsating (all the oxygen has gone |
| unless there is a valid medical reason for doing so. If | | | | into your baby). There is no rush to cut the cord, and |
| you wish to give birth naturally and with the least | | | | waiting a few moments will ensure that all the |
| chance of complications it is important to take your | | | | oxygen-rich blood from the placenta goes into your |
| cues from your body, not from the clock, or the date | | | | baby and helps to make the transition from womb to |
| or the midwife. Allow your body to go into labour | | | | air much easier. While you are breastfeeding for the |
| naturally. This is the first sign that your baby is ready to | | | | first time, gravity will be helping your placenta to |
| be born. In this day and age we understand, question | | | | separate and your uterus to contract down efficiently |
| and control so much that goes on in our busy lives, | | | | to prevent excessive blood loss. |
| that it can be difficult to switch off and let instinct take | | | | |