We are going through a lot of material! We have set the stage for this section. Now that you know about the "fight or flight" response, how to break the cycle of fear, the anatomy of pain, the importance of support, and how your own emotions, values and attitudes affect the birthing experience, we'll explore the "tool box"!
We are now going to learn skills to apply to the concepts reviewed so far. Remember, these will not stay with you if you don't PRACTICE them. If you don't practice, you will forget how to do them and then wonder why these techniques didn't work. What's wrong with THAT picture? Also, taking an active role may also increase your personal satisfaction, and your confidence by knowing how to help yourself during your labor experience, and afterwards.
Now, what is the tool box? Just that. A box of "tools", or skills that you will choose from to use during your birthing experience! There are many! You will choose what works best for you! Some you will like, others not, it doesn't matter. What is important is you will use what you are comfortable with, because if you use what you like, you will most likely use it more often.
(Do the self-assessment in you book on pg 87) What book?
positive attitudes - visualization - touch - warm compresses - relaxation - cold
the birth ball - position changes - music - warm showers - massage - pressure
gentle exercise - breathing - support - love - environment - pleasant smells
focusing - medications
There are many more as you will see in your book!
T r u s t i n S e l f ....
Let's begin with the most important one: trust in self. This is not a skill, but an awareness about yourself. It is the innate ability to trust your own judgement, your intuition, to be able to "tune" into your body. Our bodies send us signals when we need to shift in a chair. When we feel cold, we automatically grab a sweater, or blanket for warmth. When we have the chills outside in the cold, we know that when we move around, we generate heat to help keep us warm. These are just a few examples.
This is also present when women are in labor, but what happens? Fear gets in the way and throws everything off. If you can accept the physiological changes that your body will make to accommodate the birth process, you can work WITH your body to accomplish its goal - to birth your baby. How? By just allowing your body to do what it needs to do. The uterus needs to contract. It has a purpose and a job to do, as discussed already. Try to relax, this is the best you can do to help. Relax, and breathe, and go with the contractions. If you are getting "inner" messages to change positions, do it. If you feel the urge to moan, go ahead! Don't fight it. When you start to fight, your body will be in conflict.
Trust your intuition, and nurture your self-confidence in birthing your baby. You have the ability. Besides, you have no choice! So, why fight it. It will only cause more distress.
A positive frame of mind will also help a great deal Don't underestimate the power of the mind. Here is a true story for you:
Ina May Gaskin is a Midwife and also wrote the book: Spiritual Midwifery. She once had a couple in labor who had also planned to marry, but the woman went into labor before the ceremony was performed. The labor was going on 72 hours, a concerned Ina May asked the woman if there was something on her mind. There was indeed!. This woman was worried, because she had not married yet, that her partner would leave her. Ina May arranged the marriage at the bedside. The couple exchanged their vows, and the baby was born an hour later!
This woman was holding on, she didn't want to deliver the baby because of the anxiety of not being married. What you bring to the birth experience, unresolved issues, concerns, and your own views of the birthing experience can influence your experience. If you expect the worst, it will most likely happen, or you just may be pleasantly surprised that giving birth was a great experience afterall !
B r e a t h i n g..........
Why are breathing exercises so important? Relaxation techniques using breathing is not only found in childbirth education, but in stress managment, and other activities focusing on relaxation.
The vagus nerve runs through the chest cavity, influencing nerve receptors in the lungs. These nerves are directly connected to the limbic center in the brain, which influence our emotions. Think about it: when you're upset, you breathe in short bursts. Breathe deeply and you calm down.
The goal is to stay calm, maintain adequate oxygenation to you and the baby, and avoid hyperventilating! Speaking of which, what is hyperventilation? Defined, it is the imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. There is more oxygen than carbon dioxide in your body which will lead to the sensations of dizziness, tingling in fingertips, mouth and nose, tightness in the chest, visual disturbances such as "spots" or "specks" , and feeling disoriented. How does it happen? Rapid, or deep overbreathing and/or anxiety.
Now, these breathing techniques are not written in stone, meaning, if you don't like one, or want to adjust them in some way or another, that's fine. BUT, breathing should always be comfortable, not forced, relaxed, rhythmic, and oxygen intake is never compromised. NO hyperventilating allowed! These techniques should be slow, easy. and paid attention to. They are calming and help to DISTRACT you from focusing on discomfort. They work!
The three breathing techniques I teach are: slow, "blowing out the candle", and patterned (Hee Hee Hoos) Practice them daily, just before bed with your partner. Pretend your contraction is lasting one minute. Do each breathing technique. Always start and end with a "cleansing" breath - a deep breath Inhaled slowly through the nose (or mouth), untill you fill your lungs comfortably,and exhaled slowly through the mouth. Then start the breathing exercise, be it slow, combined, or patterned. If you are having Braxton-Hicks (practice contractions) you can use these breathing exercise with them too. Breathing Methods
Partner: While you are sitting with her, as she does her breathing exercises, at the same time, touch her in some way, massage her shoulders, her hands, etc. Speak to her as well: "you're doing a good job", "you're focusing real well on your breathing", and so on. Be very positive and supportive. When you are done, ask her what she liked that you did, was it the massage, and so on. Get specific feedback on what you did.
Next, both of you are to discuss with each other, likes and dislikes of what your partner did while you were practicing a contraction with a breathing technique. What felt good and what didn't, be specific. This simple exercise is very important because you are getting to know each other in a different way. Finding out NOW how your partner likes to be touched, if at all, during a contraction, or in between one, will help you on delivery day because you will know how to help her, and what she likes. This will also help you to feel confident in helping her because you will know what to do.
Breathing techniques can be combined with other techniques, such as visualization, sound, and so on. This will increase the effectiveness of distraction.
