Are you wondering how best to prepare for labour during pregnancy? Preparing for labour during pregnancy is one of the most important things you can do whilst growing your little human because it can help you have a more positive birth experience, both physically and emotionally as well as a smoother transition into new motherhood.
During my own pregnancy – especially in the last trimester – I spent a lot of time preparing for labour and while not everything went to plan (when does it ever??!), it really helped me feel calm and confident about my upcoming labour and choices, as I knew more or less what to expect and was better prepared for the myriad of unexpected outcomes.
As most people who have had a baby already will know it’s impossible to predict how labour will unfold and preparing for different scenarios helps to better equip you for whatever happens when you finally go into labour.
Midwives are your best friend here as they have seen and done it all. They are literally the front line of childbirth and have unparalleled expertise and experience. They are the linchpin of emotional support during your pregnancy and labour, and are our advocates during labour ensuring our wishes and concerns are respected and addressed.
With that said, we asked the team of midwives at My Expert Midwife to share their top tips on how to prepare for labour in pregnancy so that you can lay the foundation for the best possible start to new motherhood. Here’s what they had to say….
How to prepare for labour during pregnancy
As your due date approaches you may start to feel quite overwhelmed as the focus on everyone’s conversation with you is if you have any signs of labour starting. You are likely to start worrying about getting your life in order; cleaning, filling the freezer for after baby arrives, washing and drying those beautiful baby vests and sleepsuits, packing your hospital bags, and making sure you and your birth partner knows how to contact and how to get to the place where you plan to give birth.
Prepare your mind and body
Approaching labour with a positive mental attitude is key to avoiding panic and maintaining a calm and focused mental health. “Labour is a marathon rather than a sprint” is a familiar saying that is so true; being mentally and physically prepared will help you to take back control and feel empowered to deal with what lies ahead:
- Prioritise sleep so you feel rested.
- Consider hypnobirthing techniques to help release fear, stress and pent-up worry allowing your body to work effectively during labour and birth.
- A healthy, balanced diet is vital during your pregnancy to ensure that you and baby receive all the benefits of the nutrients recommended to keep you both fit and healthy.
- Gentle pregnancy-specific exercise such as yoga, Pilates, or aqua natal classes can help to keep your body strong and prepared for the mental and physical stamina required.
- Pregnancy massage can reduce pain during labour and make it quicker and easier, as well as helping to relax your mind and body, and improve your wellbeing so look for classes and encourage your birth partner to join in as well.
- Consider perineal massage from week 34 of pregnancy. Regular perineal massage is proven to encourage the skin and muscles around the perineum to stretch more easily during childbirth, reducing the severity of tearing or the need for an episiotomy.
Antenatal classes
Sometimes the maternity journey can be bumpy and challenging but being informed and having knowledge about labour and birth can help you to be confident about the choices you make. Antenatal classes are recommended from around 30-32 weeks of pregnancy so that you have plenty of time to complete all sessions, hopefully before your baby arrives.
Participating in or attending antenatal classes can be invaluable whether this is your first, second, third or fourth baby when helping to make choices and in birth planning. Choose the type of class that suits you. As well as traditional in-person classes there are now virtual live classes and on-demand eLearning courses that can help prepare you for labour and birth. One of the perks of on-demand eLearning is that you can learn at your own pace, recap information and complete your course at a time that suits you.
Look for antenatal classes that are developed and run by experts who can give evidence-based, clinically accurate information and that are up to date with current maternity practice. The new On Demand eLearning course from My Expert Midwife was developed by midwives and doctors and contains over seven hours of evidence-based videos covering 137 topics which can be watched, paused, and repeated at any time to suit you. It includes interactive quizzes, e-books, guides, and checklists to help with your learning.
Keep mobile
In your final Trimester of pregnancy, try to keep yourself mobile; walking, bouncing on a birthing ball, yoga, aqua natal, squatting. Be mindful to also balance this with listening to your body and resting too.
- Being upright can enable baby to find its optimal position with the aid of gravity.
- Light, low-impact exercise releases endorphins to boost your mood, help you sleep better.
- Even gentle exercise throughout pregnancy can help you to recover more effectively and efficiently.
Make a Birth Plan
Once you have gained the information from your antenatal classes, you can use it to make your birth plan. This will map out and inform those caring for you about what matters to you and what you want during your birth and recovery period. You can include all your preferred choices for labour, for example:
- How you would like your environment or hospital room to be for labour.
- If you want a waterbirth.
- If you want a home birth.
- How you would like your baby to be monitored during labour.
- Whether you want vaginal examinations.
- Whether you want your baby to be born vaginally or by C-section.
- Birthing positions.
- If you would like delayed cord clamping.
- Any pain relief you do or do not want to be offered.
Understand your options for pain relief
There are many types of pain relief available to use during labour, including non-pharmacological and pharmacological pain relief. It’s important to know what types of pain relief are available so you can make the right choice for yourself when you’re in labour.
Pack your bags and prep your equipment
From about 34 weeks of pregnancy, you may be thinking about getting your hospital or home-birthing bags prepared and we advise that you do this before 37 weeks. That way, you know you have everything you need ready to go should you go into labour early. You’ll need a main bag containing everything you need for labour, post-labour, and your baby. Plus, your baby’s changing bag and your birthing partner’s hospital bag. If you are hiring, borrowing, or buying equipment such as a birthing pool, TENS machine or breast bump ensure you know how to use it, have the right batteries, pumps etc and have tested it to make sure it’s working!
Ask questions
If you have questions or concerns in the lead up to your labour and birth, you can ask your midwife or doctor for advice and information.
Overall, preparing for labour can help you feel more informed, confident, and in control, which can lead to a more positive birth experience. It’s important to remember that every birth is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for labour. However, there are a variety of resources available, such as childbirth classes, books, and online resources, that can help you prepare for this important event.
If you are currently pregnant we hope the above advice will help you better understand how to prepare for labour during pregnancy. Wishing you the best of luck for this exciting journey ahead!
