Lying in the bath the other night, I realised that I need to change my mindset when I think about childbirth for a second time. I’ve been feeling increasingly more anxious about labour; my memories of those six(ish) hours just over two years ago are pretty hazy, but I’ve been able to reach in and pluck out a few key moments and emotions… and what I can remember is a combination of terror, pain, mis-communication and judgement, but also a huge sense of empowerment during pushing.
I don’t want to spend the rest of my pregnancy fearing the worst.
I don’t want to spend labour fearing the pain.
I want to enjoy it. Well, as best as I can!
I need to enhance the empowering feeling once more.
So I’m going to be embracing the positive.
Every Wednesday I’m going to post a quote, image, song or video on the blog that I’ve come across that has made me stop and think “You know what? I can do this!” or has made me question my mindset and why I’ve felt like that. I’m hoping that it will also help the other lovely pregnant ladies who read the blog to feel positive and motivated.
My first Positive Inspiration post comes from an unlikely source – author Stephen King. I came across this in Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth book that I’m currently devouring, and thought it was spot on; it just makes total and utter sense!
What helped you remain positive during childbirth? I would love to hear your positive inspiration!
Hannah
Great idea Hannah and what a great quote to kick it all off with. It’s so true, I went in knowing it would be painful but also knowing it’s a necessary pain to drive labour on and also it can’t be too bad or else our bodies would give up. I’ve told you before I loved my labour and would do it again in the blink of an eye. You’ll be fine, we are designed to do this and as long as you stay positive you’ll fly through it. Xx
Author
Thanks lovey 🙂 Bring on the labour (well, in 10-14 weeks) xx
What got me through labour differed with the two babies. With my son the support of an incredible student midwife without whom I would have ended up drugged to the eyeballs and quite possibly with an assisted delivery made all the difference. She offered constant reassurances and refused to give up on my birth plan!
With my daughter who was a shockingly fast labour, knowing that the end result made it all worth it (that and a LOT of gas and air) helped me through. I went into my second labour with the knowledge that I had survived a drawn out back to back delivery on gas and air, if I could do that I could do anything!
I tried to think of labour as being the only positive pain I will ever experience. Even though my labour was 36 hours long, it was still just 36 hours compared to a lifetime of being a mummy and the happiness that brings. Easy to say now its all over but this is what I would try and remind myself of if I ever experience it again!
With my first I was basically coached through labour by two excellent midwives but second time around I just retreated into my own head. I used the gas and air but didn’t really say much at all. I didn’t even really push, I just breathed down every time I felt the urge to push and she came on her own. It totally worked for me but I think that was only possible because I used what I wanted to change from my first delivery in the second.
Love this! I was hugely inspired by Ina May Gaskin’s book too- such aicy positive way to approach it all!
Thanks for linking to #MaternityMatters x x
Loving this idea. Sounds a bit like hypnobirthing which I’m (somewhat skeptically) researching for my first pregnancy at the moment. Will certainly be heading back to check thud out every week!