Labor Prep in the Homestretch!

As you're nearing the homestretch before your estimated due date you can be feeling all the excitement while also juggling those anxious-in-waiting-thoughts of, "What else should I be doing?" If you are anything like I was my three pregnancies, I was eager to follow any and all advice to help keep me sane and also get the ball rolling. Here's a secret: babies come when babies are ready. There's no trick. Haha!

Here are some things that you can do to keep your mind and body in a positive space while also helping your hubby/labor partner keep in step with you. ;)

1. Birth affirmation cards!! These are a great way to write positive truths regarding labor and birth for you to focus on, especially as your growing baby takes up more and more space leaving you feeling achey. Pinterest and Etsy have so many you can purchase and print from your computer. I recommend you commission a local artist like my friends at The Wright Studio!

2. Visit the chiropractor! It is quite common to experience a misalignment in our spine and hips as our bodies increase production of the lovely relaxin hormone. A chiropractic adjustment can bring our bodies back into alignment, thus giving our pelvis the assistance needed to create more space for baby to drop it lowww!

3. Girl, get a massage. Need I say more?? Haha! A massage is a great way to relax your body and mind as you ready yourself for labor to start or an induction date. Find someone who specializes in prenatal massages so that they can address any tight muscles and connective tissues in your belly, thighs, hips, etc before the big day.

4. Spinning Babies!! Any mama who has hired me to be their doula knows I am a huge fan! The FREE techniques listed on their website can help address all kinds of baby positional issues as well as increase your odds of maintaining alignment with their three principles: balance, gravity and movement. 

5. Write your birth plan/goals. This doesn't have to be a tedious job. It can be as simple as jotting down preferences in labor and birth to a more thorough list of do's and don'ts for baby and mama. Most hospitals provide a birth checklist of some sort for their patients to utilize. My favorite is the one from Mama Natural linked here! It's a fun, visual birth template that I find a lot easier for your birth team to navigate. Plus, the content is incredible and helpful for you and your spouse to make informed choices for you and baby.

6. Red raspberry leaf tea. This is probably the easiest of all things to do in preparation for labor. RRL tea is known to strengthen and tone your uterus for labor. Steep 1-2 cups a day beginning in your second trimester to drink and increase in the days leading up to your estimated due date. It is also great to pack in your birth bag if you are not birthing at home. Should your labor experience a stall, this easy-peasy labor hack can help kick it back into gear along with nipple stimulation.

I hope this list is helpful for you as you as you round out your pregnancy. If you have any questions don't hesitate to shoot us a message, and please consult any and all of these suggestions with your care provider prior to engaging.

Blessings to you and yours!

- Sylvia Scarlett