Birth Prep - What you can do to prepare for labor
It’s common for people to ask what they can do to prepare themselves for labor and birth. On today’s episode, we will talk about it all…exercises to do, foods to eat, things to drink, and practitioners to see!
Summary
In this episode, Ciarra and Samantha discuss how to prepare for labor and birth. They emphasize the importance of education, knowing your options, and taking a well-rounded childbirth class. They also talk about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, including walking, prenatal yoga, and strength exercises. The hosts highlight the significance of nutrition, such as consuming high protein and high fiber foods, and getting essential vitamins and minerals. They also stress the importance of staying hydrated with water. Overall, the episode provides valuable information and tips for preparing for labor and birth. In this episode, the hosts discuss various methods that can help prepare the body for labor, including drinking red raspberry leaf tea, eating dates, and practicing perineal massage. They also touch on the benefits of chiropractic care, pelvic floor therapy, and acupuncture. While some of these methods have limited scientific evidence, they emphasize the importance of listening to your body and finding what works best for you. They also acknowledge that not everyone has access to or can afford these methods, and suggest alternative options like spinning babies exercises and self-performed perineal massage.
Takeaways
Summary
In this episode, Ciarra and Samantha discuss how to prepare for labor and birth. They emphasize the importance of education, knowing your options, and taking a well-rounded childbirth class. They also talk about the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, including walking, prenatal yoga, and strength exercises. The hosts highlight the significance of nutrition, such as consuming high protein and high fiber foods, and getting essential vitamins and minerals. They also stress the importance of staying hydrated with water. Overall, the episode provides valuable information and tips for preparing for labor and birth. In this episode, the hosts discuss various methods that can help prepare the body for labor, including drinking red raspberry leaf tea, eating dates, and practicing perineal massage. They also touch on the benefits of chiropractic care, pelvic floor therapy, and acupuncture. While some of these methods have limited scientific evidence, they emphasize the importance of listening to your body and finding what works best for you. They also acknowledge that not everyone has access to or can afford these methods, and suggest alternative options like spinning babies exercises and self-performed perineal massage.
Takeaways
- Take a well-rounded childbirth class to learn about your options for labor and birth.
- Engage in regular exercise during pregnancy to build stamina and strength.
- Focus on nutrition by consuming high protein and high fiber foods and getting essential vitamins and minerals.
- Stay hydrated with water and limit caffeine intake.
- Be in tune with your body and listen to its needs throughout pregnancy. Drinking red raspberry leaf tea, eating dates, and practicing perineal massage are thought to help prepare the body for labor, although the scientific evidence is limited.
- Chiropractic care, pelvic floor therapy, and acupuncture can also be beneficial in preparing the body for labor.
- It's important to listen to your body and find what works best for you, as not all methods may be effective for everyone.
- Alternative options like spinning babies exercises and self-performed perineal massage can be helpful for those who cannot access or afford other methods.
Mentioned articles:
EBB 216 - The Evidence on Prenatal Perineal Massage for Preventing Tears in Childbirth with Dr. Rebecca Dekker - Evidence Based Birth®
EBB 216 - The Evidence on Prenatal Perineal Massage for Preventing Tears in Childbirth with Dr. Rebecca Dekker - Evidence Based Birth®
February 9, 2021, systematic review published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies evaluated 6 databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and AMED database)
Mentioned Instragram people to follow:
MamasteFit: Gina & Roxanne (@mamastefit) • Instagram photos and videos
PUSH fitness (@pushfitmom) • Instagram photos and videos
Mentioned Instragram people to follow:
MamasteFit: Gina & Roxanne (@mamastefit) • Instagram photos and videos
PUSH fitness (@pushfitmom) • Instagram photos and videos
Please feel free to reach out to us with any recommendations for show episode ideas. If you'd like to be a guest, email us with some information about yourself and what type of podcast you'd like to record together. Thank you for all of your support and don't forget to follow and review our podcast, Birth, Baby!
Intro and Outro music by Longing for Orpheus. You can find them on Spotify!
- (00:00) - Preparing for Labor and Birth: Education and Options
- (07:50) - Exercise During Pregnancy: Building Stamina and Strength
- (11:54) - Nutrition During Pregnancy: High Protein and High Fiber Foods
- (24:55) - Being in Tune with Your Body: Listening to its Needs
- (30:51) - Preparing the Body for Labor: Red Raspberry Leaf Tea, Dates, and Perineal Massage
- (33:02) - Additional Methods for Labor Preparation: Chiropractic Care, Pelvic Floor Therapy, and Acupuncture
- (44:10) - Perineal Massage and Scar Tissue
- (50:52) - Balancing the Body: Chiropractic Care, Pelvic Floor Therapy, and Acupuncture
- (58:23) - Alternative Options for Labor Preparation: Spinning Babies Exercises and Self-Performed Perineal Massage
