Hi Nicole, I am attending hypobirthing classes at the moment and what you said is exactly what they promote. They talk about breathing the baby down and screaming or yelling just tenses you up and when you are tense your cervix tightens so its becomes a never ending battle and then you get exhuasted because it goes on too long and will do anything to get it over. Its a vicious cycle actually. They also say Fear brings Tension brings Pain so I am trying to not be fearful anymore and accept it as a natural process like nature intended. In class they don't call it pain they call it discomfort and pressure.
Anyway it could all go out the window when I get there but that is the plan! :)
Thanks Kelly for your tips I like the idea of getting the foot print - how cute!
Joy, I have it on my birth plan that I want to be mobile - couldn't bear to be on the bed all hooked up to machines all the time.
i've never done this before either but in my natural child birth classes they talked alot about using low pitched/tone sounds during labor, like deep groans and moans instead of high pitch yelling and screaminging because when you scream you can actually feel your body tighten and your belly lift, try it, which actually pulls baby back up inside. when you groan or moan deeply you can feel your belly expand, which helps baby move down. just like when you poop. one of the midwifes says think of it like throwing down instead of throwing up.
but again i've never done this so who knows i'll probably be the screamer
Well when you are in labor the best position to be in is standing/walking/upright. You don't want to lay down! It will slow contractions down and compress major blood vessels that supply baby with oxygen.
For the hospital, you don't need to bring a lot. Just going home clothes for you and baby, your toiletries and camera, and you may want to bring your own pillow(s). If DH will be staying with you, he just needs his extra clothes and toiletries.
I went for a hospital tour and I leared a few things. The tour nurse that showed up around told us that the best way to push your baby out is if you sit on the bed and use a bar to hold on to(It's attached to the bed) becuase of gravity and creats more space between your pelvis area. I also didn't think about it but since this is my last baby and I've never done that before I'm gonna take a baby book where the nurses can put my baby's foot print on it. It's just little things that makes the delivery/memories more special. I'm gonna try my best to not be a screamer so I'm just gonna do some rhythum sounds instead to keep me focused and in control throughout the contractions. Also if you have a birth plan, make sure you put it in your hospital bag but go over it with your OB before your dd. Best of luck to all of you!