Expert: Dorothy H, LCCE - 2/12/2010

Question
my husband and i were dumb enough to wait until the last minute to sign up for childbirth education classes, and now i'm getting contractions and dilating and my OB says it's unlikely i'll make it to the class we have scheduled (i'm 38 weeks and 5 days, my class is a week from now).  is there anything i can read to try to prepare myself for childbirth?  this is my first kiddo and i'm pretty nervous, especially since, due to religious beliefs, i'm doing a natural birth -- no epidurals or pain relievers.  i've looked online but i can't find anything that i can read in one day -- they're all 5-12 week classes and i just don't have that time!

Answer
Take a deep breath!  There ARE some things you can do to prepare for your birth in the very short time you have.  

First of all, get to a bookstore TODAY (or tomorrow) and pick up these two books...and read them!!

The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence by Judith Lothian
(This book encourages mothers to trust their ability to give birth without needless medical intervention. It’s an excellent resource not only for Lamaze students, but all expectant parents who want a childbirth that reflects their informed choices and results in a healthy, happy, and fulfilling birth.)

The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth by Penny Simkin
(The different sections include preparing for the birth, helping labor begin (in certain situations this is necessary), early labor , the stages of labor, strategies for special situations, the medical side of childbirth, and ways to assist after the birth.)

Things you can do:

Practice relaxation. Take deep breaths, focus on relaxing the various parts of your body. Do this every day.  The better you can get yourself relaxed before labor, the better you will be able to relax during labor. Visualize your ideal birth.

Get yourself a 65 cm birth ball (exercise ball) Great to sit on now, and great to use during labor.

Watch these videos online:
http://www.lamaze.org/OnlineCommunity/LamazeVideoLibrary/tabid/810/Default.aspx

Read through as many of the links on this page as you can - lots of GREAT info that will help you be more informed:
http://magazine.lamaze.org/

When you go into labor:
Assuming there are no medical issues - Stay home as long as possible. It will give you the best chance of having the kind of birth you want to have.

Take your contractions one at a time.  Labor can seem overwhelming, but taking your contractions one at a time helps a lot.  And don't be afraid of "What happens when labor gets stronger? How will I handle it?"  Your body makes endorphins, and in an unmedicated birth those endorphins will increase, helping you to handle your labor as contractions increase.

Stay active - stay out of bed as much as possible (contractions are easier to handle when you are not on your back) Even with monitoring, you can be sitting on the ball, standing next to the bed,etc.

Rocking, moving, swaying, vocalizing during contractions, especially as they get stronger, can be very helpful.

Water - shower or bath - can be very helpful for pain management.

If there is any way that you can swing the cost of a doula, I would strongly encourage you to look into that. Your doula can sit down with you this week and go over the basics of childbirth ed (and many of them are also childbirth educators as well), plus then you get her right there with you the day of labor to help you and your partner through your contractions.  Having a doula also increases your chances of having the unmedicated birth you want to have.

Another option would be to go to www.lamaze.org and look for independent childbirth educators in your area, and see if anyone is available to give you a private one day class this week.

I hope my suggestions help you and I hope you have exactly the birth that you want to have!

Sincerely,

Dorothy Haines, LCCE