Normal Delivery - 18 Things You Must Always Remember!

Giving birth is a life-changing event for every mother and it leaves an everlasting impression in your life. Every delivery is unique and you can just gain from the experience of others, but don’t expect it to be the same. 
You will experience many changes in your body and will learn to take care of yourself and your growing baby as soon as you find out that you are pregnant. Pain is a part of labour that every woman has to undergo. It is the fear of labour pain that make many pregnant women opt for c-section. However there is no denying the fact that c-section is a major surgery and requires several days to recover.

Keep in mind the following tips to go in for a normal delivery:

1. Try to get prenatal education, which guides you about labour, birth and natural labour pain management techniques, such as breathing, self-hypnosis, relaxation and other coping mechanisms. You should check with your hospital too as most of them offer an evening or weekend course.
2. Consult a gynaecologist who has a history in delivering babies naturally.
3. Keep yourself physically active by doing mild exercises throughout pregnancy.
4. You should keep a calm environment in your labour room.
5. Don’t gain too much weight as women who aren't overweight do not have much difficulty in delivering babies vaginally.
6. Opt for fewer rather as more tests, treatments and interventions during your pregnancy tend to interfere with normal birth. Whenever tests or procedures are recommended, you should ask about the need of undergoing such tests.
7. Continue with your walks as it helps in relieving the pain.
8. Go in for a water therapy. A shower, bathtub, birthing pool and hot compresses are other tools for easing pain and helping you relax. Spend as much time as possible in water.
9. Use various positions such as sitting on the toilet, kneeling, and squatting to ease vaginal delivery.
10. Massage/back rubs equally help in easing the pain.
11. You can also go in for Effleurage which is a light massage of the abdomen to ease your vaginal delivery.
12. Apply warm or cold compresses.
13. Avoid hearing negative stories about labour.
14. Eat a healthy balanced diet as the health and development of your baby depends on your nutrition.
15. Stay away from stress and anxiety. Read good books about parenting and be in the company of good lively people.
16. Use relaxation/breathing techniques to keep yourself calm.
17. Guided meditation and prayers undoubtedly will reinforce your faith in yourself to deliver a baby vaginally.
18. Have adequate sleep. Avoid drinking tea or coffee two hours before going to bed in order to have uninterrupted sleep.

Following these tips religiously can definitely increase your chances of having a normal delivery.