8 Secrets to an Easier Labor

Keep Fit:- Pregnant women who stay in shape tend to have shorter labors. Walk, swim, or take a prenatal-exercise class during pregnancy.

Take a Childbirth Class:- Familiarizing yourself with the stages of childbirth and practicing comfort measures before the big event will help you feel less anxious, which can make for an easier labor. Look for a small class (with fewer than ten couples), a certified instructor, and goals that mesh with yours.

Enlist Good Support:- Women who had continuous care provided by a doula (a person trained to support a laboring mother and her partner) were 50 percent less likely to need a C-section and 30 percent less likely to need pain medication, and they experienced a labor 25 percent shorter than those without this care.

Snack Carefully:- A light snack in the early stages of labor while you are home will help maintain your energy level.Drink clear liquids while you are laboring at home, and, once you have arrived at the hospital, let your caregivers know whenever you feel dehydrated.

Take a Shower:- Pain can cause you to tense muscles all over your body, which creates even more discomfort.A warm shower can counter that response.A shower is fine at any stage of labor.

Get a Massage:- Laboring women who received massages from their partner reported feeling less pain and anxiety during childbirth than those who were not massaged.

Dont Lie Down:- Staying upright throughout much of labor lets gravity work to your advantage.Movement helps widen your pelvis, allowing the babys head to pass through.

Keep Breathing:- Patterned breathing not only helps you focus during contractions, taking slow breaths between the intense cramps also helps you rest and relax.the toughest labor is probably the most worthwhile work you will ever do.