How I’m Preparing For Labor…
You guys… today I am officially 38 weeks pregnant!! Can you believe it?!?! It feels like just yesterday that I was announcing my pregnancy, but at the same time it also feels like I’ve been pregnant for years lol. These last few weeks sure do seem to last forever.
Since the beginning of my pregnancy I have done my best to implement things that I knew would help my body be prepared for labor, and as I get closer to my due date I have begun to implement even more practices! So today I thought I would outline some of the key things I have been doing to prepare for labor. I am a first time mom so I cannot say if these practices all help or not, but they are all things that my doctors and friends have recommended to me (also please be sure to consult with your doctor on what is best for you and your pregnancy)! I will be sure to keep you guys updated on how labor goes and if I feel that any of these things ended up being beneficial. So, let’s get into it!!
These first three practices are all things that I have been doing throughout my entire pregnancy! Then, the last two things I have started implementing around the 37 week mark.
Weekly Chiropractic Care
This is one thing that has already helped me TREMENDOUSLY during my pregnancy and I have a strong feeling it will be super beneficial when it comes to labor as well :) Early on in my pregnancy I started having awful sciatica pain in my lower back/glutes and it was making it hard to workout and just do my day-to-day tasks. So a friend of mine who was recently pregnant suggested I find a Webster certified chiropractor to start going to. I just researched Webster certified chiros in my area and was able to find one that I have been going to once a week throughout this entire pregnancy! She has taken so much pain and discomfort away and I cannot recommend doing this during your pregnancy enough!! Chiropractic care at the end of pregnancy will also help align my pelvis for labor. This past week we did an ultrasound, and the baby was in the PERFECT position. From day one, my chiro always told me that this has been the case for all of her pregnant mamas, so I was stoked to see that that was the case for me as well.
2. Weekly Pre-Natal Massages
This is another way that I have been able to relieve a lot of pain and discomfort during pregnancy and is also a way that I can show myself some self-care every week. Pregnancy is not easy and it can be tough on the body, so being able to work out that tension is so important.
3. Nightly Stretching Routine
Daily stretching is something that can be hard to remember to do throughout your pregnancy, but I think it is so important and will help your body so much during labor. I have found that the best time for me to do my prenatal stretches is before bed because it is when I have less going on and it helps me wind down for the night. You can find lots of examples of helpful prenatal stretches on pinterest or just do the stretches that feel best for your body!!
4. Eating dates and pineapple
This is something I have read a lot on from different pregnancy resources. By eating 3 dates a day (or some pineapple) you can help soften your cervix for labor.
5. Drinking raspberry leaf tea
This is another thing I have read is helpful to implement around that 37 week mark. Drinking raspberry leaf tea can help with blood flow to the uterus which can ultimately help strengthen contractions. I am starting with drinking one cup per day but will go up to two cups per day this week until baby boy is here!
And that covers everything I am personally doing to prepare for labor (outside of coming up with my birth plan and learning some pain management techniques with Steve). I know that everybody is different, so what works for others may not always work for me, but I figure if I am able to improve my labor experience even slightly it will all be worth it! If baby is on time he will arrive in two short weeks!! So I will be sure to tell you all more about my labor experience once he is here.
Until next time!!
