Sponsored Links

Featured Links

Other Topics
Sponsored Links



Quote of the Day

"No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution."

Niccolo Machiavelli

FEATURED
HEALTH
PRODUCTS
 
Guide To Healthier Eating And Weight
 
The Ultimate Collection Of Health Ebooks
 
A Healthy Back In Ten Minutes A Day
 
Complete Guide To Healthy Eating
 
Natural Health Remedies To Help Stress
 




 


Google

 
Featured Pregnancy Articles

Breast Cancer And Pregnancy
Although it is rare for breast cancer to strike younger women, the fact remains that all women are at risk. And for those of childbearing age, the first sign and symptoms of breast cancer leading to a diagnosis can not only be upsetting and unexpected, ...

So You Think You're Pregnant? A Brief Discussion Of Common Pregnancy Symptoms
A baby begins life even before he is born - from conception until the uterus finally pushes him out of his mother's body. This is the phenomenon we call pregnancy. It starts when the male sperm unites with the female egg and develops into an embryo. While ...

Stay focused on your diet!
Who hasn't been on a diet before? Probably, at a certain point in time all of us have. Surprisingly, only some of us got what we expected after weeks or months of severe diet. The question is why does it not work for everybody? What does it take to get ...





Tips for easing the pain of chidbirth
 
The best labor tips for an expectant mother are listed below. These tips are all based on relaxation. You will see why this is so important for your body. I hope you will find these labor tips for your natural childbirth helpful. RELAXATION
Relaxation is one of the most helpful techniques for pain relief. Let your body do what it is supposed to do. While your uterus is contracting, relax the rest of your body so your energy isn't working against you. Relaxation is something that should be practiced throughout your pregnancy. There are several different ways to do this. Working with your labor partner throughout your pregnancy to find out what works for you. For me, it was to have my husband stroke my hair. For someone else is may be massage. It's funny to think that relaxing is a SKILL. The following are some suggestions to try for relaxing.
* Massage
* bathing or showering
* listening to music
* deep breathing
* meditation
* Yoga poses
* visualization
MASSAGE
Massage is a wonderful labor tip. Having your partner give you a massage not only relaxes you but it also gives your partner a chance to be a part of the labor process. It promotes closeness and intimacy. And also, as I said above, relaxing takes practice, so that means that you'll also have to practice massage. You need to find out what works for you and what relaxes you. And heck, asking for practice massage is a good way for you to get a massage every week or so? Good idea huh gals?
Bathing or Showering
Bathing is an obvious labor tip. I shouldn't need to explain how wonderful a bath feels even if your aren't in labor. Just having the feeling of the water on your body is an instant massage. Not the mention the buoyancy of the water takes the pressure off Mom, especially if she is having back labor. I have to say that taking a shower was the best way for me to deal with my labor pain. I just didn't ever want to get out of the shower.
Music
Music can be such a relaxing medium. It can take you to another plane of consciousness. It can also evoke such memories and choosing the right music that puts you in the place of total relaxation is a powerful feeling. This is something too, that should be practiced throughout your pregnancy. Experiment with different types of music and see what mood it puts you in. Try something new, you may be surprised. Another benefit of doing this is that having music surround you that comforts you during your pregnancy will make you a happier and more content pregnant woman. And we all know that a happy preggers makes for a happy baby. Your little one can also benefit from the tunes.
Deep Breathing
An often overlooked labor tip, breathing, is something that also needs practiced often during your pregnancy. Deep breathing can do wonders for a stressed out or nervous mom in labor. In Yoga it is called Pranayama breathing. This type of breathing can be detrimental in pain relief. Breathing correctly or concentrating on your breathing will help oxygenate your blood which in turn oxygenates the baby. I think this is such an important tool to use.
Meditation
Meditation is a deep form of relaxation. Being able to be still and concentrate on positive images instead of dwelling on pain can not only help with pain relief but can also help you along in your labor. For you,the laboring mom, to be able to be totally relaxed and to have a grip and feeling on what your body is doing and feeling can only speed up labor and have the body do what it knows how to do. Letting your mind relax and give your body the chance to do the work. Meditation can be anything from just sitting in a quiet room with peaceful thoughts, listening to soothing music, practicing the Pranayama breathing, or actually doing yoga. There are aids out there to help you practice meditating.
Yoga Poses
Practicing yoga during pregnancy can give you the tools you need to help with pain relief during labor. As stated above, the breathing techniques are of high value and if you have done yoga in the past you know the feeling you get right after your practice. You have a feeling of peace and inner strength. One of the most important poses to do during pregnancy is the cat or the Bidalasana pose. A variation of this pose is similar to the pelvic rock exercise. This position is so important because of the benefits to your body which in turn, benefit your baby. This exercise relieves pressure on the lower back and increases circulation and can improve digestion. But most important, is that this position gives the baby the most room for movement and can sometimes help in repositioning the baby from a breech position. This pose is also very helpful in labor. This pose was one that helped me the most. This pose is done by getting down on your hands and knees, knees spread shoulder width. Now, arch your back and then release, tilting your pelvis while doing this. During labor, just being in this position can help the pain, this position was very helpful to me during my labor.
Visualization
Visualization is a form of meditation. This should be practiced often as should all of these forms of relaxation. Try to pull out a memory of something positive, run this story over and over through your mind. Make this memory a trigger for you feeling peaceful and centered. you are getting very sleepy, you are getting very sleepy....OK Just wanted to make sure I still had ya ;) Think about the first time you met your partner and the things that made you get those butterflies... think about your favorite vacation when you were truly relaxed and content. maybe picture how you will feel when that precious little life is handed to you for the very first time.

About the Author
Heather Hill is the author of several natural childbirth articles, please visit www.hip-chick-pregnancy-guide.com

Pregnancy News



RedOrbit

Unplanned pregnancies 20 times more likely on birth control pill than IUD ...
CBS News
(CBS News) A new study shows that women who use birth control pills, the patch or vaginal ring are 20 times more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who use an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant. The statistics are especially concerning ...
IUDs, Implants Best for Long-Term Birth ControlPhiladelphia Inquirer
IUD Beats Pill at Preventing PregnancyWebMD
IUDs, implants more reliable than birth control pillsFox News
RedOrbit -Wall Street Journal -TIME
all 130 news articles »

Us Magazine

Pregnant Reese Witherspoon Hits the Tennis Court!
Us Magazine
Witherspoon--who is currently expecting her and husband Jim Toth's first child together--is doing her best to stay active throughout her pregnancy. The actress also spent some time on the court May 16, and has been going out on regular hikes with ...
Bumping along nicely: Reese Witherspoon keeps active during third pregnancy ...Daily Mail
Reese Witherspoon: Tennis TimeCelebrity Baby Scoop

all 17 news articles »

Daily Mail

Fevers during pregnancy linked to autism, but medication helps
Los Angeles Times
Women who reported having had a fever during pregnancy were more likely to give birth to a baby who would later be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or a development delay, says a major new study. But the babies of women who treated their fevers ...
Fever During Pregnancy Linked with Baby's Risk of AutismMyHealthNewsDaily
Pregnant women struck down by fever 'twice as likely to have autistic child'Daily Mail
Fever during pregnancy increases risk of autism in newbornsGlobalPost
Rocklin and Roseville Today -The Stir
all 21 news articles »

High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy May Threaten Kids' Heart Health
U.S. News & World Report
By Steven Reinberg THURSDAY, May 24 (HealthDay News) -- Preeclampsia, a dangerous spike in a woman's blood pressure during pregnancy, may predispose offspring to high blood pressure in childhood and young adulthood, a new study finds.

and more »

Counsel & Heal

Obesity in pregnancy strongest predictor of large babies
Fox News
Obesity during pregnancy is the strongest predictor of whether a mother will give birth to a large infant, a new study from Canada suggests. In the study, the more the woman weighed before pregnancy, and the more weight she gained during pregnancy, ...
Pregnant women should watch weight to avoid having overly big babies: studyVictoria Times Colonist
Pregnant Women's Diet Could Be Good for BabiesCounsel & Heal
Mom's excess pounds key in newborn weightReuters
MedPage Today
all 59 news articles »