Module 2: Birth

Your contractions will probably feel more expulsive now, to help your baby move down through your pelvis and your birth canal, so he can be born.

Your contractions could be about 60 seconds long, with a few minutes in-between. This stage can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours.

You may be…Tired, energised, determined, unsure of the new sensations you are experiencing, uncomfortable, excited.
You may feel unsure to begin with as you adapt to the urge to push and the sensation of your baby moving down through your body. If you feel panicky, it can be helpful to slow down your breathing to feel calmer and in control.
This range of emotions is all normal – use your breathing to stay as calm as possible so you can focus and work with your contractions.

What birth can feel like… These contractions are mainly felt as the urge to push – some women experience a strong urge to push, while for others it is milder – be guided by your body. For many women, there is no pain/discomfort in-between contractions so take this as an opportunity to rest.
As a general guide, you will most probably get to know when your contraction is starting – it will build up, reaching its peak when it is at its most intense and then, as your uterus starts to relax, you will feel your contraction ending.

As your baby moves down through the birth canal, you will probably experience pressure in your lower back. You will also be aware of pressure and stretching as your baby becomes close to being born – don’t be scared, breathe through it to stay calm and focused and let your body do what it needs to do.

What helps when you are giving birth?

1. Movement & gravity – rock and sway as you need to so you are more comfortable, you can ease any pressure on your lower back and use gravity to help your baby to be born.
2. Drink plenty of water – this can be very physical and you don’t want to be dehydrated.
3. You might want something to eat for a burst of energy.
4. Be guided by your body – only push when it is asking you to.
5. Rest in-between your contractions.
6. Get the support you need – a massage, a cuddle, a hand to hold, help to move into different positions, positive encouragement.
7. Speak to your doula, midwife or partner for some reassurance if you feel frightened or anxious – ask for information if you need to
   know what’s happening.
8. Use your breathing as a positive distraction during your contractions. Try to keep breathing through your contractions rather than holding your breath for long periods.
9. Use your breathing to stay calm and to head off any panic or anxiety.

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What can partners do?

Women need to feel safe, comfortable and reassured and they also need to be calm, so what can birth partners do to help?

• Stay calm
• Provide support, reassurance and information
• Offer positive encouragement especially if your partner is tired or scared
• Encourage her to rest and conserve energy in-between contractions
• Help her to be more upright
• Encourage her to focus on her breathing – it’s really easy to
  breath-hold at this point.

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Head off any panic

It can be easy to panic when your baby is close to being born – you might be tired and you might be in a hurry to meet your baby. Try not to panic and rush the birth of your baby.

Use your breathing to slow everything down, to ease any panic and to take back control.

When your baby’s head starts to crown and you can feel your skin stretching – slow your breathing and let the tissue of your perineum stretch gently, this will help prevent any tears.

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Pushing

• Be guided by your body – you only need to push when your body is asking you to, let it set the pace.
• Try not to hold your breath when you push – this can reduce the oxygen getting to your uterus, to your perineum and to your baby. Focus on your out-breath to breathe through each contraction and use your stomach muscles to push.
• You need to imagine you are having a big poo because you are using the same muscles and it can feel as familiar as a bowel movement, even it is more intense.
• During your contractions, focus on breathing in gently right down to your baby and, as you breathe out, push gently with your stomach muscles and into your bum – just like you are having a poo – but keep breathing. If you do need to hold your breath, a few seconds will probably be enough.
• Let gravity work for you – the weight of your baby will help him to be born, you will be giving your baby all the space he needs to move through your pelvis and if you are able to be upright and to move as you want, you can be as comfortable and more rested.
• Being off your back allows your pelvis to expand, gently lifting your coccyx to provide more space for your baby.
• If it feels like progress is slow, it could help to move and change position. Get upright and try kneeling on one knee to maximise the space in your pelvis.
• You may be tired so it can be beneficial to find an upright position which allows you to rest in-between your contractions – kneeling and leaning against your birth ball or a chair can work well.
• If you have had an epidural try to move about on the bed so you have more gravity, which can help your baby to be born and it can help you feel in control.

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Birth might not be what you expect

TV images have a lot to answer for when it comes to what we expect birth to be like. This can range from expecting to be on a bed, with legs in stirrups – this isn’t the norm in the UK and is more likely to be associated with an assisted delivery involving ventouse, forceps or an episiotomy – to being told when to push.

The reality can be very different for a lot of women. Unless there is a medical concern or an epidural in place – you don’t need to be on the bed if you don’t want to be there. You can stand or kneel, whatever feels comfortable and right for you.

You probably don’t need to be told when to push – let your body guide you. When you need to push, your body will give you the urge to push.

In a straight-forward birth, there may only be one or two midwives in the room with you. Chances are, there will only be more medics in the room if you need medical interventions.

You might also need to make noise with your contractions – not screaming but a primal moan or roar. Again, do what feels right for you.

What you might need for birth…
*Birth ball
*Pillows
*Yoga mat/knee pad
*Music & speaker/headphones
*Snacks and water – a bendy straw and a sports bottle may be useful as well
*Food to snack on for energy
*Your birth partner

A summary of what you can DO during birth…

1. DRINK WATER: so you don’t become dehydrated and tired.
2. WEE REGULARLY: go to the loo about every hour, so your bladder is empty and your baby has more room to move into the right position for labour and birth.
3. EAT: you may need energy.
4. REST: to conserve your energy in-between your contractions.
5. BREATHE: know how to control your breathing to stay calm, focused and to handle any panic or anxiety. If you can use your breathing, you can get rid of any tension.
6. MOVE: use gravity and different positions to stay comfortable, to work with your contractions and to give your baby all the space he needs.
7. SAY WHAT YOU NEED: only you know how you are feeling and what feels right.
8. ASK QUESTIONS: so you know what is going on and so you know what your options are.
9. FEEL SAFE: have the support you need, be where you want to be.
10. DON’T FEAR YOUR CONTRACTIONS: you need them, so don’t battle with them. Try to accept them and work with them in the best way for you – breathing, movement, water, pain relief – but let them have what they need to work: relaxation, not tension & gravity, not being recumbent.
11. DON’T WAIT FOR PERMISSION: do what feels right and talk to your midwife so she can support and guide you.
12. BE GUIDED BY YOUR BODY: for movement, comfortable positions, rest, pushing, what feels right and what feels safe.

As you go through this module and the resources, you can make notes, jot down your questions and start to develop your action plan for labour and birth.

And please don’t hesitate to message me below to arrange a conversation with me to talk through your questions.

Welcome To Your Antenatal Course

1. Labour
2. Birth
3. Pain Management
4. Labour & Birth Challenges
5. Meeting Your Baby
6. Your New Baby
7. Relax & Breathe Resources