6 TIPS TO PREPARE FOR LABOR
There are a few tips to help prepare for labor that I found VERY helpful when I was in my last few weeks of pregnancy.
I talked with my provider about all of these things and she gave me her blessing BUT, please make sure you discuss these with YOUR provider to ensure they are healthy for you and baby.
I have included some affiliate links in this post of products that I have used. If you use any of these links to buy something, I may make a small commission.
During my first pregnancy, I spent a ton of time researching ways to prepare for labor and they really proved beneficial.
I am not in the medical field, just a mom sharing what worked well for her during her two pregnancies. Not only will I definitely be doing these again, I will also be encouraging all my friends to also!
Both of my pregnancies have gone really well and I think part of that is due to these tips to prepare for labor.
Your labor story might be completely different than mine.
Sometimes things come up that we can not plan for or control.
These things might not work for you. You might do these diligently and require a c-section.
Do what you can to prepare for labor, and leave the rest to God.
1. EXERCISE
I cannot say this enough. YOU NEED TO WORKOUT WHILE YOU ARE PREGNANT! (Again, make sure you talk with your provider)
I know a lot of times throughout pregnancy we feel tired and lousy and the last thing we want to do is workout, but it will make you feel so much better in the long run!
Having a strong heart and strong muscles will make pushing feel easier and in many cases go faster!
I knew that labor was going to be very intense. As with any race or major physical event in life, I decided I needed to “train” for labor. I decided I would take those nine months to prepare my body, and it paid off!
There are SO many prenatal workouts that you can do to help you prepare for labor. Because they are low impact and easy on joints, swimming and walking are great options.
When I was pregnant with my first, I bought a membership to Beachbody on Demand and loved it! (Checkout my post here . They have a couple of different programs that are specifically designed for each trimester.)
*Before you start any workout program, you need to check with your doctor.
2. RESEARCH & LEARN
There are so many resources out there to help you learn more and prepare for labor.
Many hospitals offer childbirth classes. Ask your friends who have taken them to see if they think it is worth it. I heard from multiple people that our local hospital’s program did not impress and was not worth the money.
My husband and I bought an online birthing class through Lamaze. It was SO helpful that it was online and we did not need to give up our time to go to a physical class. It was also very nice that we could do it when we had time, but it was very outdated and definitely not enjoyable. I think that there are other programs out there that would have been much better!
There are a TON of videos on Youtube for free that we found very helpful! I LOVED watching Sarah Lavonne’s childbirth videos. (Check out her channel here). She is a doula and is SO knowledgeable and fun to watch!
Another doula I found very helpful on Youtube is Bridget Teyler. (Check out her channel here). I learned so much from both of these women and highly recommend them to every first time mother!
If I could do it over again, I would have skipped the paid course and just used Youtube’s free videos to learn the basics.
3. PERINEAL MASSAGE
Before I was pregnant, I had no idea what a perineal massage was. Let me tell you, we learn a TON about anatomy during pregnancy and labor.
Not the most pleasant of topics, but perineal massage is another great way to prepare your body for labor.
I had multiple people tell me that this really made a difference in their labor experience.
After doing some research to see if it was worth it, I didn’t come up with a specific answer.
There are a lot of factors that go into whether or not you tear during delivery and there are a variety of tears. Doing perineal massage is believed to lessen the chances of a severe tear, but not necessarily tearing. If that makes sense.
HOW TO DO PERINEAL MASSAGE
I read multiple articles and watched multiple videos to teach myself how to do it properly. (I found this video helpful). It is recommended to start around 35 weeks, and to do these massages 4-5 times a week.
There are many different lubricants you can use. I broke 1-2 Vitamin E capsules (like these here) and used them as a lubricant for the massage. You can also use coconut oil.
4. EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
Make sure you talk with your doctor about this one too. Some say that it can help induce labor naturally.
I used Evening Primrose Oil to prepare my uterus for labor during my third trimester. They also say that it can start thinning your cervix in preparing your body for labor.
Evening Primrose Oil is something that can be taken orally and used vaginally. I started using it around 36 weeks during my first pregnancy. You can also break the capsule open and use this for your perineal massage.
Again, make sure you talk to your provider as this might not be safe for everybody!
5. DATES
I had never eaten dates before in my life, until I was 35 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I had read in multiple places that dates help prepare our bodies for labor.
They can aide in a natural induction for us and ripen our cervix, getting it ready for birth! How cool!
I thought “Hey, they are healthy and decently inexpensive so why not give them a try?” I ate six dates a day during my last couple of weeks of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love them, but I made myself eat them to get ready for labor. I told myself if it would help with labor it was worth it.
(FYI- Another health benefit of dates is they can help prevent constipation, which many of us deal with during pregnancy.)
You can check them out here on Amazon.
6. RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is a tea that is known to strengthen the uterine wall.
It is also believed to help decrease labor time! Who doesn’t want a shorter labor?
I drank 1 cup a day, but you can drink 1-3 cups daily. I am not really a tea person, but again, I heard it was good for me and my pregnant body, so I drank it. I liked to add a teaspoon of honey.
Many people start drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea during their second trimester, but I waited until my third trimester.
Again, keep your provider in the loop on what you are doing to prepare for labor.
DON’T FORGET TO TRY THESE 6 THINGS TO GET READY FOR LABOR
- get active and moving
- learn about your body and your baby
- start doing perineal massage
- take evening primrose oil
- eat 6 dates daily
- drink raspberry leaf tea
I hope this post was able to help inspire you to get your body ready for labor!
OTHER POSTS I THINK YOU MIGHT ENJOY
- What to pack in your Hospital Bag with a free checklist
- Tips for Being More Productive as a Mother
- Creating a Morning Routine so you can say goodbye to stress and constantly feeling behind.
- Affirmation Cards for Moms when you feel like you just can’t catch up.
- The workout programs I do to help me stay sane.
- A Daily Prayer for moms
