How to prepare for childbirth? Courses for pregnant women before childbirth

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Fear of childbirth is experienced by absolutely all women, regardless of age and experience. Primiparas usually suffer from a lack of information, are afraid of pain and are afraid of the stories of more experienced friends and relatives. Women who have already had a chance to give birth before are no less afraid of the birth process. Most likely, they have a psychological trauma, and unpleasant impressions and negative experiences do not make it possible to tune in a positive way. Experts say that fears prevent a woman from trusting doctors and relaxing during contractions, which noticeably slows down the birth process and makes it more painful. Therefore, every pregnant woman should know everything about childbirth and preparation for childbirth. This can be done by reading specialized literature and attending courses. Today we will try to clearly and simply tell women how to prepare for childbirth correctly so that thisthe process was as easy as possible and without negative consequences.

Aspects of preparing for the birth process

Anxiety in the last months of pregnancy is a completely natural feeling, which is often accompanied by panic and all sorts of fears for your life and the he alth of your unborn child. But it is precisely these feelings that become that kind of lock that does not allow a woman to fully realize how to behave before childbirth and at each stage of the birth process.

However, even the listed knowledge cannot guarantee peace of mind to a woman, which, however, is quite natural. After all, childbirth is still a responsible process on which the future of a newborn baby depends. If you do not know how to properly prepare for childbirth, then you are literally risking your life and will not be able to help your baby be born. And therefore, even in the second trimester, it is necessary to address this issue and gradually move on to studying all aspects of labor activity and readiness for them. Experts highlight the following nuances:

• Psychological preparation for childbirth.
• Physical preparation for childbirth.
• Courses for pregnant women.
• Self-training.
• Preparing things for the trip to the hospital.

As you can see, this process is not only quite long, but also extremely complicated. Therefore, it is not worth neglecting information on how to prepare for childbirth. Moreover, experienced mothers advise using all possible sources to the maximum, since already in the maternity hospital, most women in labor have many useful recommendations and advice.heads. But still, some skills developed over several months are preserved, and the woman begins to use them automatically. It is especially good when a partner childbirth is coming to a pregnant woman and a loved one will help her remember the information she has learned. In this case, it will be useful to attend courses for pregnant women, where partners can learn not only theory, but also practice. We will talk about all these nuances a little later.

Psychological readiness for the birth process

How to mentally prepare for childbirth? Many people think that this is impossible. However, it is psychological maturity that is an indispensable condition for successful and painless childbirth.

As practice shows, a woman who is mentally prepared for the birth of a child is more likely to give birth to a he althy baby and not harm herself. But do not forget that any pregnant woman experiences some discomfort in the last trimester. It can be described as follows:

• Emotional instability. In the last months of pregnancy, the expectant mother's hormonal background changes again. This becomes the cause of frequent tearfulness, an oppressed state close to depression, and a change in mood. Also, physical fatigue that has accumulated during the bearing of a child contributes to a similar state.
• Setting priorities. In nine months, a woman manages to conduct a serious reassessment of values, most often they are driven by the pregnant physical changes that occur in her body. ButHere are the psychological moments of the upcoming motherhood with women, few people stipulate. As a result, they experience insecurity in their abilities, they are afraid of becoming bad mothers and experience a lot of negative emotions that they supposedly should not experience.
• The appearance of phobias. A large percentage of pregnant women, even knowing everything about childbirth and preparation for childbirth, acquire a lot of phobias in the last trimester. Some do not trust doctors completely, others are afraid of the upcoming pain, others are afraid of possible injuries, and so on.

Of course, many fears and anxieties are quite justified, but still they should not be emphasized. After all, a positive psychological attitude is very important for a mother and her unborn baby. Today it has been proven that a child who is born experiences much more severe pain than his mother. So, her mood can be decisive for him. How to mentally prepare for childbirth? The first step is to find out what level of readiness you are in.

Levels of readiness for childbirth

Even on her own, with the help of our information, a woman can determine at what level she is now and what additional actions she needs. Psychologists identify three stages that indicate one or another psychological preparation for childbirth:

Low

At this stage, a pregnant woman experiences mostly negative emotions. She is constantly in a state of excitement and fear for herself and the unborn baby. The pregnant woman is very much afraid of the upcoming pain and cannot come to terms with it. This is what creates in heraggressive behavior towards the father of the baby, sometimes with a low level of psychological readiness after childbirth, the woman also rejects her child, considering him the culprit of the suffering suffered. Initially, the pregnant woman is not ready to listen to doctors and follow their recommendations, confident that they want to harm her.

If you notice these symptoms in yourself, then immediately contact a professional psychologist. He will explain how to prepare for childbirth, and will provide moral support to the future woman in labor. A few sessions will help stabilize her.

2. Intermediate

Usually, women at this stage oscillate between optimism and fear. They are quite positive about the upcoming process, but still doubt their abilities and experience great uncertainty that they will successfully cope with the birth of a baby. In addition, they are very much worried about all the stories about their stay in the maternity hospital, heard from their girlfriends and relatives. Of course, most often these impressions have a negative connotation and have a serious impact on the psyche of the future woman in labor.

In such situations, it is not enough for a psychologist to tell how to prepare for childbirth, and to speak out the fears of a woman. Close people should also be involved to help her. They are able to surround the future mother with love and care, thanks to which fears will gradually recede.

3. High level

Psychologists and obstetricians believe that every woman should be well aware of how to prepare for childbirth. Pregnancy allows you to perfectly prepare for the upcoming process andtune in positively to him.

If the expectant mother is at the stage of high psychological preparation, then initially she has a positive attitude for all nine months of pregnancy and childbirth. She tries to maintain a good mood and understands very well that a lot depends on her behavior. Such a woman is active, she knows how to prepare for childbirth on her own and as part of a group. She is interested in various breathing techniques and methods, she enjoys going to classes for pregnant women and is ready to work in a group. A trained woman at all levels cooperates with medical personnel and is determined to breastfeed.

In this case, the help of a psychologist is not needed. A pregnant woman is able to regulate her condition herself, and if necessary, she can turn to her relatives for support.

How to solve psychological problems before childbirth?

It is especially important to understand how to prepare for the first birth. In this case, the woman has no idea at all about the process ahead of her and therefore experiences many fears and has a lot of misconceptions about what awaits her in the hospital. Psychological preparation will help courses for pregnant women. They are conducted in every city, and in many localities women have the opportunity to choose between different programs. In some, the emphasis is on labor, while in others, on caring for the baby. There are also partner courses and women-only classes. In the process, the pregnant woman will receive quite extensive knowledge not only on the stages of childbirth, but alsowill master the techniques of anesthesia and master the technique of breathing. All this will give her confidence in her abilities and help her act correctly in a critical situation.

If you do not have free time to attend courses or do not like group classes, then educate yourself. Today you can find quite a lot of information on the topic of childbirth on the Internet and on the shelves of bookstores. Women have the opportunity to learn different techniques to go through this process as quickly and painlessly as possible.

It will be useful during childbirth and visualization techniques. If you learn to relax in any environment and imagine yourself somewhere on the ocean or on a green lawn, then the pain during childbirth will not seem so strong. Auto-training works great too. Even before the onset of contractions, you need to work out a certain phrase that you will pronounce during childbirth. It should be quite short, have an affirmative characteristic in the present tense. In this case, this technique will be very effective.

If you feel that you are panicking and the positive mood is starting to disappear, then do what you love - listen to music, take a walk, go shopping and so on. Don't let negativity seep into you and disrupt the mental attitude you've created.

Features of physical fitness

It's no secret that pregnancy is a serious burden on a woman's body. And the well-being of the future depends on how prepared he is for this.mother and her labor activity. If you were actively involved in sports before conceiving a baby, then you should not stop during pregnancy. Of course, you should reduce the load a little, especially in the first trimester. But in general, physical activity should correspond to the well-being of a woman. Those who have never played sports during pregnancy should be very careful about exercises, but they must be present in life. After all, feasible physical activity makes it possible to perfectly prepare the body for childbirth.

The most common types of exercises for pregnant women primarily include special gymnastics. It strengthens the walls of blood vessels, allows you to recover faster after childbirth, reduces the risk of complications and contributes to the proper development of the baby.

It is also worth paying attention to the complex for preparing for childbirth. In such exercises, those muscles that will be directly involved in labor activity are involved.

Very beneficial load on the body of a pregnant woman is swimming. It strengthens the back muscles, allows the body to relax and master certain breathing techniques at the same time.

Many experts refer to physical activity and massage. Despite popular belief, massage procedures are very useful for pregnant women at any time. They are carried out in a special technique that excludes pressure and active rubbing. Massage improves blood circulation, relieves swelling, pain and improves mood. Such a load has a very favorable effect on the statepregnant and positively sets her up for childbirth.

Breathing exercises

Breathing techniques play a very important role in the question of “how to prepare for natural childbirth”. Many women underestimate their capabilities, but in fact, proper breathing can significantly anesthetize the period of contractions and help push the child out at the stage of attempts.

You can learn these techniques on your own or in the process of attending courses. Among a large number of different methods, one can single out those that are used directly in contractions and during the period of attempts. If we are talking about contractions, then here you can be offered options with holding your breath. They are based on several deep breaths (there may be two or three), holding for a few seconds and exhaling through the mouth. In this case, it is important that the pregnant woman breathes with a diaphragm or stomach. This is what helps the baby get the oxygen he needs during childbirth.

During the attempts, many advise to breathe like a dog. This technique consists in frequent and rhythmic inhalations and exhalations through the mouth. They allow you to temporarily hold back the attempt until the doctor allowed you to push. In the future, it is necessary to draw air into the lungs and begin to push down. There should be at least three such breaths on an attempt. You can then relax and breathe normally.

Preparing for childbirth ourselves

We have already mentioned that not all women are ready to work in groups. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with preparing for childbirth on your own. But in this case, it should be borne in mind that all your actions must beagreed with the doctor. It is he who approves the level of physical activity and can advise a psychologist in case of a low level of moral readiness for the upcoming process.

Collecting things for the hospital

In the case of a successful delivery, a woman spends about three days in the hospital. Therefore, she must provide for a lot of little things that will make her life more comfortable. Experienced women are advised to pack a bag in advance in order to already feel calm and confident in anticipation of contractions. Usually, by the beginning of the third trimester, the pregnant woman and her family are already determined with the maternity hospital, and therefore they have all the information on the list of necessary things.

Most often, they are recommended to be placed in different packages that are worth signing, so that, if necessary, the husband can sort out your things himself and not confuse them. First of all, assemble a kit for the birth itself. Includes:

• comfortable nightgowns;
• robe;
• washable slippers;
• clean socks;
• drinking water without gas;
• bananas, biscuits or dry biscuits for refreshment.

Don't forget the documents too:

• exchange card;
• birth certificate;
• contract for services in the maternity hospital (if it is concluded);
• medical insurance policy;
• passport;
• SNILS.

After giving birth, you will need the following set of things:

• personal hygiene products (toothbrush, toothpaste, regular care products without strong odor);
• two towels;
• setdisposable underpants;
• postpartum pads;
• bra pads;
• phone charger;
• camera (if needed);
• creams to prevent cracked nipples.

Your baby will also need a special bag in which they will lie:

• disposable diapers;
• a few hats;
• socks;
• pair of bodysuits and sliders;
• pacifiers;
• bottles (if you don't plan to breastfeed);
• baby cream;
• talc.

Depending on the rules of the hospital, this list may be adjusted.

Packing things for dad

If your plans include partner childbirth, then take care of clothes for your husband. He will need washable slippers, clean trousers and a T-shirt. They also need to be put in a separate bag.

In order for the newly-made dad not to mix up some things in excitement, prepare a package of things for the newborn for discharge in advance. Do not rely on your man to choose the right suits, hat and other necessary accessories.

Also take care of your discharge kit. Put the things you plan to leave the hospital in in a separate bag and sign it. In this case, you will be sure that your husband will not confuse anything.

Birth after cesarean: how to prepare

We left this nuance for last, but it excites a considerable number of women. Manyof them who have gone through a caesarean before, dream of giving birth to a baby naturally and are trying to find information on how to prepare for such a birth.

In fact, all the features of the upcoming process must be discussed with doctors. First of all, the midwife leading the pregnancy should give her recommendations. She knows all the features of a woman and has the necessary data in order to decide whether to prepare for a natural birth or again have to go through a caesarean.

Secondly, pregnant women who plan to give birth on their own need to choose a maternity hospital in advance. After consultation with his specialists and on the basis of the analyzes provided, a conclusion is made about the possible course of childbirth. If you have no contraindications, then the second cesarean will be cancelled. Otherwise, do not insist on your own, as this can harm you and the baby.