Labor and Delivery
As your pregnancy nears its end, no doubt you will begin to anticipate the labor and delivery of your baby. How will you recognise the signs of labor and how will you cope with childbirth? You might also be thinking about pain relief during childbirth and even wondering whether you'll be able to cope without.
Many mothers to be worry that they won't recognise their labor pains as such and it doesn't help when family and friends regale them with horror stories about dramatic and unexpected birth emergencies! Thankfully, such stories are rare however and most mothers have a safe labor and delivery.
If you are concerned about any aspect of your pregnancy or childbirth it can really help to chat to other people about it, such as your midwife, obstetrician, gp, friends or family. Alternatively many women these days turn to online pregnancy forums and other such communities where they can share their thoughts with other mothers who are also going through the same emotions or who have experience of it.
Try to keep your thoughts calm and your lifestyle stress-free as much as possible in the run up to your baby's birth as some studies show this makes for a better birthing experience. Many women stress relief in alternative therapies such as massage and aromatherapy. Doing some gentle regular exercise and getting as much rest as possible can also be very effective at reducing your stress levels as can making time for a long relaxing soak in the bath!
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