3 ways to naturally prepare your body for labour and birth
Preparing your body during pregnancy for labour and birth can have some major benefits and really help to support your recovery. Check out these 3 relatively easy tips below.
Red raspberry leaf tea
Red raspberry leaf tea is widely spoken about by those in the pregnancy space due to its benefits in preparing the body for birth. It is used to help strengthen the uterine muscles and the pelvic floor in preparation for birth. If you have had it before you may notice that it increases the strength and frequency of your Braxton Hicks contractions, it is for this reason that I do not recommend consuming it until at least 36 weeks.
3-4 cups of organic tea a day is ideal.
Benefits include
Shorter labour
Decrease the likelihood of preterm and postterm gestation.
Reduce the risk of artificial rupture of membranes.
Decrease the likelihood of cesarean and the use of forceps/ vacuum.
Date fruit
This is one that I got on board with very quickly when I was pregnant. I love dates and they are amazing for preparing the body for labour and birth. The reason that dates are said to be so beneficial for preparing the body for birth is because they make the body more sensitive to oxytocin, which is the major hormone needed to initiate labour and birth.
Studies have shown
You have a 77% chance of a shorter first stage of labour
74% increased rate of dilation
21% increase of spontaneous labour
43% reduction in having a cesarean
51% reduction in the use of vacuum/forceps
55% reduction in an artificial induction of labour
How many? 70-75g of dried dates per day has shown to be effective. This is about 3 medjool dates. I recommend simply adding them to a smoothie each day. They are super sweet and add a nice caramel flavour to your smoothie. You can also find heaps of bliss ball and slice recipes which use a lot of dates.
However, dates have a lot of natural sugars in them, as a result they can raise blood sugar. I recommend consuming them with healthy fats and protein. For example if you have a smoothie just make sure you add heaps of nuts and seeds. If you make bliss balls make sure they have some coconut, almond butter or another kind of nut in them.
If you have been diagnosed with GD I would not recommend eating dates due to the effect they have on your blood sugar levels, also if you have GBS or frequent yeast infections the sugar will feed this bacteria so it is not recommended.
Perineal massage
The perineal is the space between the vagina and the anus, this is the space where women can experience tearing during labour and birth. Though, perineal massage has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of tearing, and for those who are birthing vaginally for the first time it has been shown to reduce perineal pain for up to 3 months postpartum.
How to do a perineal massage
From 35 weeks 1-2 times a week until baby is born
Use a natural organic oil as lubrication (I used coconut oil)
Insert your thumbs or 1-2 fingers, 3-5 cm into your vagina. Firmly sweep your thumbs in a downward and side-to-side motion for about 5 minutes. You can hold the stretch for 40-60 seconds. You may feel a stretching or burning sensation to start with, this will lessen over time.
Do not massage if you have active gentital herpes, a vaginal infection or low-lying placenta.
