| When celebrities are asked about the best day of | | | | or one that has a special relevance, like the |
| their life, many say that the birth of their children | | | | honeymoon beach. Utilise the senses, smells and |
| ranks way up the list, higher than any other | | | | perfumes of blossom, sensations like warmth on the |
| accolades or awards that they may have earned. | | | | skin or a cool breeze, the lapping of water around |
| And yet the actual anticipation of the experience of | | | | the feet. But, at the same time any instructions from |
| giving birth, the thought of labour and childbirth is | | | | the hospital staff can be heard and responded to. |
| often filled with tension and anxiety. Even people | | | | - Pain scaling. Ask any person in pain to increase the |
| who have had a relatively straightforward birth | | | | level and turn the dial up and they can usually |
| experience are still apprehensive about the prospect | | | | manage to do that quite readily. By establishing a pain |
| of giving birth again. Some people opt for an elective | | | | dial it is possible to practise turning the dial down a |
| caesarian, others prefer to do it the natural way. | | | | little too. As the birth mother practises this and |
| There are many techniques available to help with the | | | | realises that she can exercise some control over her |
| process of giving birth, that de-stress the mind and | | | | pain levels this knowledge helps her to manage |
| allow the body to do what is a perfectly natural | | | | anxiety and become more confident about the whole |
| function and one that it has been preparing for during | | | | experience of giving birth. |
| the previous nine months. | | | | - Practical things can be planned in advance. Many |
| - Hypnotherapy can help to manage stress and learn | | | | people have a case packed and ready to go weeks |
| to breathe comfortably whilst relaxing the body. It is | | | | in advance. Usually the freezer is stocked with meals. |
| a powerful way to manage anxiety and tension | | | | It is helpful to have had a discussion with the |
| concerning giving birth. Learning to manage anxiety | | | | husband or partner. They usually want to be included |
| allows the body to do what comes naturally. Fear | | | | in the birth, but it is helpful to agree in advance that |
| and panic cause the body to tense and become | | | | if things change and they need a break from |
| stressed. | | | | proceedings then it is okay to do so. If the birth |
| - There are self hypnosis techniques that can be | | | | mother finds that she does not like something that |
| learned to manage the giving birth process. These | | | | was agreed in advance, like her back being rubbed, |
| enable the birth mother to go into a comfortable and | | | | or her head being stroked, then maybe a pre-agreed |
| relaxed trance when contractions first start. She can | | | | word or phrase can be used to signal that |
| hear everything that is being said, done and asked of | | | | discomfort, without the birth partner becoming |
| her, but is able to stay completely relaxed at the | | | | offended or upset. |
| same time. Pain usually occurs when the body tenses | | | | A little forward planning and discussion can result in |
| in anticipation. Being relaxed helps to manage stress | | | | being confident and able to manage anxiety and |
| and be able to be more positive about the whole | | | | apprehension about the whole experience of giving |
| experience of giving birth. | | | | birth. This can result in it being a fulfilling and joyous |
| - Self hypnosis techniques: imagine a relaxing place, a | | | | occasion, and for many people, the best day of their |
| beautiful beach, a garden. It may be a familiar place | | | | lives. |