Preparing for Birth

The female body is truly amazing as it can create and grow another human being or several at one time.

However, with the demands of modern societal living we are now becoming further and further from our traditional pregnancy and birthing rituals and practices. We often work right up to the due date, sometimes very stressed and tired and physically in not the best shape.

We certainly don’t think about practicing for birth we think or bodies will “just do it”.

That may have been the case when we were living a more traditional culture but we are not. We are not working in fields, walking to the well for water, washing our clothes in the river or dancing in traditional ceremonies. We also have shifted much of birthing over to our medical providers and have trusted that they will be making the best decisions for us and mostly they do.

Women have all the power they need to birth. It is about being women being connected and in tune with their bodies during the pregnancy with their changing body, growing baby and birthing process. Like preparing for a game of sport… but better! The outcome will be more positive if you are practiced, physically and emotionally prepared and well supported.

Overall, we a busy with many women working more and moving less. Less incidental exercise and less formal exercise often results in the body becoming very stiff with less muscle endurance and overall general fitness. We are have also become very disconnected with ourselves rushing around or falling in a heap, exhausted, taking no time to have self-care or to listen to what our bodies are saying to us.

To allow the ever-changing foetus to grow and fit comfortably in the woman’s body her tissues need to shift, widening, lengthening, softening and relaxing. This includes the internal organs, soft tissues such as muscles and ligaments and also the boney structures.

During pregnancy the baby needs room to suitably move into the ideal positions for growth and for various stages of the birthing process. The baby needs to be able to rotate and move through the birth canal and out the birth door.

Being active throughout the pregnancy, doing regular exercise and birth preparation movements as well as relaxation/meditation style practice can allow the body to change for the continual growth of the baby and for upcoming birth. This can allow the baby more ease of movement within the mother’s body and thereby making it a more comfortable pregnancy with less aches and pain.

Being physically and mentally prepared for the birthing can reduced fears, potential exhaustion, additional birthing complications and injury to the mothers and babies’ body. This is for both modes of delivery, vaginal birthing or C-section.

The pelvic floor is an area that often gets injured with vaginal birth or attempted vaginal birth that may end up as an emergency C-section. The woman’s body can be physically and emotionally exhausted and sometimes traumatised with the toll of a birth adding further to the postpartum 4th trimester recovery coupled with the demands of mothering.

We have less “village” than ever. This has never been so more apparent than during the pandemic. Many women are birthing alone and recovering alone or with only a partner to support and often just for a few weeks. Women have been trying to do zoom mother groups, postnatal exercise programs, virtual breast feeding and nursing consults. Don’t forget home schooling, toddler wrangling and online shopping (oops. maybe too much of this!), trying to sleep and to do basic functions like taking a shower.

Sure, there have been some benefits of lockdowns less expectations of the extended family lobbing over or the need to take the kids to all the after-school activities… sitting at Netball training with the newborn in the car. However, we somewhat lost our social fitness and disengaged with the village of support.

Hopefully, we are through the worst of Covid 19 and coming back out into the world.

This in time should mean re connecting with our families, friends and birth workers learning about how to prepare for birth. Such information can come from a wide range of folks experienced in the birth space. Such people who may guide you are your Midwife, Doula, Psychologist, Physiotherapist, Acupuncturist, yoga instructor, family members, friends and your medical team.

Physiotherapy can help with any pains of pregnancy (no, it is not normal so don’t put up with it) and any bladder or bowel issues. Physiotherapy can also check your bodies mobility to make sure your body has the freedom it needs to allow the baby to have adequate space to position itself appropriately for the pregnancy and upcoming birth. A Women’s Health physio can guide you through your pregnancy.

A women’s Health Physiotherapist can also check the pelvic floor. Most women think of “Kegels” when thinking about their Pelvic floor but what really needs to be checked is how relaxed and soft and balanced the pelvic soft tissues are for birthing.

A vaginal examination checking the pelvic floor can be somewhat predictive about if a woman is at great risk of pelvic floor injury with a vaginal birth. A strong pelvic floor can be an asset for birthing and preventing urinary incontinence later in life. The pelvic floor muscles can assist in supporting a pregnant uterus but also must relax, lengthen and widen as the baby grows and prepares for vaginal birth.

The pelvic floor is one of the first muscle groups to tense up with stress, fear or pain. With that in mind we need to check to see if this might be an issue for you. Once you have seen a physio you should be armed with appropriate exercises, relaxation and confidence to further assist you through your pregnancy. A women’s physio can also direct you to other suitable services such as education classes, resources and other suitable birth workers who may turn out to be a valuable team “village” member.

There are lots of things that can be done to prepare a woman’s body for birthing. Be proactive and prepared. Educate yourself on as much as you can and seek the guidance of birth workers to help you navigate this awesome power within.

Get regular exercise, move more and seek professional advice even if you don’t have any issues.

Share the love of seeing a Women’s health Physio so I don’t have to hear “Why didn’t anyone tell me physio was a thing “.

Let’s make this journey together both antenatally and postnatally and optimise the experience allowing you to unleash your power.