Preparing for childbirth is a very challenging task.responsible and requiring the most serious approach from the expectant mother. Unfortunately, for most pregnant women, all preparation for childbirth consists of buying everything necessary for the baby. Well, in the best case - in reading a book on pregnancy and childbirth. And as a result, childbirth takes the woman by surprise, despite the fact that she has been waiting for it for nine long months. Most expectant mothers have a particularly hard time in the last month of pregnancy. And it is not surprising - all the preparations for the arrival of a new family member have long been made, and time drags on so slowly! And right now, a wonderful, and most importantly, useful way to occupy your free time will be preparation for childbirth. And we need to start our story about such an important aspect as breathing.
Preparing for childbirth - breathing
It is correct breathing that will become the main thingassistant of a woman at the moment of the baby's birth. You need to master at least several basic types - the breathing that you will need at different stages of labor: The first stage of labor Rare short contractions that do not particularly torment the pregnant woman. In this period of labor, the best type of breathing is "candle". This type of breathing involves frequent and shallow breaths through the nose. Practice in advance - quickly inhale air through your nose, and then, almost without holding it in your lungs, exhale through your lips. To make your task easier, imagine that you are blowing out the flame of an imaginary candle. Inhalations and exhalations should quickly replace each other, almost without a break. You need to start breathing immediately after the contraction begins and continue until it completely subsides. Be prepared for the fact that in the first minute of such breathing you can feel dizzy, sometimes quite strong. This happens because such breathing leads to oversaturation of brain cells with oxygen, as a result of which a powerful release of endorphins into the blood occurs. Or, as they are sometimes called - hormones of happiness. These hormones suppress pain - in other words, frequent shallow breathing is nothing more than a kind of analgesic. The second stage of labor At this stage, the cervix begins to open more actively. And accordingly, the pain becomes much more sensitive. And here the "Big Candle" breathing will come to the aid of the expectant mother. In essence, this breathing is nothing more than a slightly modified version of the previous one. However, in this case, breathing should be a little difficult. Imagine that your nose is stuffy - inhale air with effort. And exhale it through closed lips, with a certain effort. This breathing relieves pain much more effectively, but you should not start it too early - only when the previous breathing really does not help anymore. The third stage of labor In the third stage of labor, the cervix is open as fully as possible. The baby begins to pass through the ring of the cervix, bringing it into an excited state. The consequence of this condition is frequent, very intense and extremely painful contractions. A contraction can last one and a half to two minutes, and breaks are only 30 to 40 seconds. And proper breathing is designed to make these difficult minutes easier for a woman. Doctors recommend making this period easier with the help of the "Locomotive" breathing. This breathing is very simple - the same "Candle", but with an increasing breathing rate - its maximum should fall at the very peak of the contraction. And when you feel that the contraction has begun to subside, imagine that your little train is approaching an intermediate station - the breathing should gradually subside.
Breast preparation
Have you mastered breathing techniques? Very good.But this is still not enough to say with confidence that the preparation for childbirth is complete. It is also necessary to properly prepare the entire body for such a difficult process as the birth of a new person. And we will probably start with preparing the breasts. Yes - yes, do not be surprised! Of course, breastfeeding is provided by nature itself. But you should not ignore the preparation of the breasts. And quite simple procedures will help you with this task. First, water. At least once a day, do a contrast shower of the breast. This will help not only to maintain its shape and elasticity, but also to increase the elasticity of the nipple tissue. Secondly, massage. Do you take a shower? Hold the washcloth on the nipples for a minute or two. Watching TV? Also devote a couple of minutes to the breast - rub the nipples with a soft clean cloth, lubricating them beforehand. Air baths are also extremely useful for the breast - at least for a few minutes a day. However, remember that all manipulations concerning the breast can be carried out only if you have no risk of premature birth. Just in case, consult your gynecologist in advance.
Body position
There are several positions that doctorsare recommended to be taken as often as possible before childbirth. The meaning of this is extremely simple - the poses are absolutely physiological, do not disrupt the normal process of blood circulation in the pelvic organs, do not cause any discomfort to the mother. The expectant mother can take them whenever she wants - for example, in front of the TV or reading a book, talking on the phone. And the benefit of these poses before childbirth is simply invaluable - in it not only muscles are trained, but also ligaments and skin. We offer you the most popular and effective of them:
You can do these poses as often as you like.consider it necessary - they will not cause harm, but the benefits are difficult to overestimate. But remember some safety measures. In the event that there is no one nearby, take all the above-described poses in front of a sofa or chair - if you suddenly feel dizzy, you will be able to maintain your balance. Under no circumstances take these poses before eating. And, of course, before going to bed.
Preparation of the perineum
It would also be a good idea to take care of yourself before giving birth.the condition of the perineum. It also needs to be carefully prepared for the stretching it will undergo during labor. There are several ways to do this, one of which is massage. Any vegetable oil can be used for massage - sunflower, olive, wheat germ oil. In any case, before use, the oil must be boiled and poured into a clean glass container. Before performing the massage, it is recommended to warm up the skin of the perineum properly. This can be done either with a warm bath or with a heating pad. After this, thoroughly dry the perineum, lubricate it with oil and begin massaging. In the eighth month of pregnancy, such a massage should be performed every three days, and in the ninth month - daily.
Exercises for the muscles of the perineum
In addition to massage, there is also a speciala set of exercises that are also aimed specifically at strengthening the perineum and increasing its elasticity. You will certainly choose the most suitable of them: Kegel exercise To perform them, you will need a gymnastic ball. Do not skimp - buy it. It will serve you faithfully for many years to come. For example, for gymnastic exercises with a baby. But let's get back to our exercises. In principle, it is extremely simple - squeeze the pelvic muscles as if you are trying to stop urination. Fix them in this position for a few seconds and relax smoothly. There should be at least 10 such approaches at a time. You need to do these exercises at least once a day. Although, please note - this exercise can be successfully done without a gymnastic ball. Anywhere and anytime - no one will notice anything from the outside. Exercise with a chair To perform this exercise, you will need a stable chair. Take a standing position, sideways towards the back of the chair. Place your hands on the back of the chair and slowly move your legs to the side, lifting them as high as you can. Raise your legs one at a time – 10 times each. The exercise must be done very smoothly, without any sudden movements – they can only damage the ligaments. The second exercise with a chair must be done immediately after the first. The starting position is the same – standing sideways to the back of the chair, holding it with your hands. In this case, the leg must be raised straight in front of you, and not moved to the side. There should be 10 approaches for each leg. Plie exercise Stand close to the wall so that you can lean on it if you lose your balance. Place your legs wide apart and begin to squat slowly. You need to hold this position for at least 5 – 7 seconds. Rise very carefully and slowly. This exercise must be repeated at least 10 times.
Preparation of the cervix
Don't forget under any circumstances thatThe uterus also needs to be carefully prepared before childbirth. And to prepare the cervix, you will need... your husband! Starting from the 36th week of pregnancy, doctors recommend that a married couple expecting a baby have sex without using a condom. This recommendation is explained very, very simply. Sperm contains substances that stimulate the process of softening the cervix, thereby preparing it for childbirth. By the way, this is why doctors recommend completely abstaining from sex during pregnancy, which is complicated by the threat of premature termination. Or, at least, using a condom so that sperm does not get on the cervix and does not provoke the onset of premature labor. As you can see, preparing the body for childbirth is simply necessary. It will help you endure childbirth as easily and painlessly as possible. And may your baby's birthday be remembered only by the most positive emotions, and not by pain and fear. And the future dad will be a good assistant in this difficult matter. This will help you to strengthen your trust and love even more. And for dad, preparing for childbirth will allow him to feel involved in the greatest mystery – the birth of a person. And not just a person, but his baby. We recommend reading:
