Why not let us help you relax in labour

Now I make no apology to be talking on the subject of relaxation yet again, but it is an important subject when it comes to child birth! Let me explain an adaption your body has that allows us to stop our babies being born until we feel safe and out of danger. When you are fearful and anxious your body immediately activates the nervous system to produce adrenalin. The adrenalin release is to enable you to either fight or to run away from this “threat”.  The changes that then occur in your body are the following:

• Your cervix tenses to prevent your baby from being born.

• Adrenalin will decrease oxytocin thus slowing or even stopping contractions

• Your heart rate goes up, your breathing increases and your blood pressure rises

• The blood is directed away from your uterus and into your limbs so there is less oxygen reaching your baby

These physiological adaptations are not going to allow labour to progress it doesn’t stop the contractions, just prevents them from dilating the cervix!

This is where we midwives come in; we have been trained in how to encourage and to relax you! We have the experience of supporting you to be relaxed in labour and as a result your body responds positively:

• Your muscles are soft and your body is limp
• You conserve energy , oxygen is channelled to your uterus allowing it to work efficiently
• Your cervix is soft and opens easily
• Your labour progresses as it should.

I am amazed at just how aggressive the language of birth is, all so negative and linked to the idea of pain! There have been a lot of studies done on neuro-lingustics and there is a link to this negative language around birth and the feelings of fear and poor outcomes.

With this knowledge in mind, you need to start early on in pregnancy to learn the techniques of positive affirmations and relaxation and having your own midwife working with you, who is also going to be at your birth is a powerful and positive way to achieve a safe birth outcome.

OK, to sum up you simply need to be relaxed in labour and your body responds positively. Contact us to find out about how we can help you prepare for birth or check out our Antenatal Care pages.