Preparing for childbirth

There are many ways to prepare for childbirth, both physically and mentally.

Physical preparation for childbirth begins in the last weeks of pregnancy. At this time, the body begins to release hormones that soften, shorten and begin to open the cervix. During pregnancy, the body also releases the hormone relaxin, which relaxes the pelvic ligaments so that it can open up sufficiently. The baby's head moves down into the pelvis during the last weeks of pregnancy, and when the baby's lungs are fully developed, the baby releases a protein that triggers a certain process in the mother's body and labor and birth begin.

Mental preparation for childbirth is no less important during pregnancy and something you can perhaps influence and work on yourself.

First, we would like to discuss your self-confidence and confidence in your body - that it knows what it is doing and that everything is as it should be. The uterine muscle that surrounds your baby during pregnancy has, for example, the sole function of contracting during labor so that you can give birth to your baby. Just as well as your heart muscle pumps blood throughout your body, your uterus does its job as well. It even practices contracting during pregnancy, most of which are painless and mild. It is also natural to have mixed feelings about the upcoming birth and even experience anxiety caused by the uncertainty that comes along with childbirth. In this case, it can be helpful to allow these feelings to be present and not feel embarrassed by it. It can be normal to experience anxiety before the birth, and this can even be a beautiful feeling in the sense that you want everything to go well for you and your baby. However, if this anxiety becomes overwhelming, escalates and causes you discomfort, then it is important that you discuss your concerns with your midwife in antenatal care who can give you good advice and even refer you to other professionals if needed.

Good knowledge of the birth process and realistic expectations can strengthen women's self-confidence in childbirth. If you have a good understanding and sufficient knowledge of the birth process during pregnancy and have received information that supports informed decision-making, it will also be easier for you to experience control in your birth which can have a direct impact on your birth experience.

Expectations of childbirth are also an important factor that affects your well-being and birth experience. The goal is to have realistic expectations about birth. We really enjoy a parable of expectations where the lesson of the story is perhaps the importance of experiencing the moment, where it takes place and what you are given. Let’s pretend that you are going on a trip to Italy, and you're getting ready. You learn Italian, learn all about Italian architecture and cannot wait to see Rome, lie on the beach and eat gelato. But then your plane lands in the Netherlands! You did not intend on travelling there and are not prepared for that trip. You can either grieve over your intended trip to Italy all your life, listen to everyone who went to Italy and loved the country, or you can experience the magic of the Netherlands, try to learn Dutch and experience the juicy Dutch strawberries, the beauty of the tulip meadows and Van Gogh's art. Do you understand what we mean? You can find magic and experience precious moments if you just decide to not grieve over what never existed. This story can be applied to so many things in life and was first written by Emily Perl Kinglsey when she described how she felt when she gave birth to her daughter who turned out to have Downs syndrome. We can also see how this applies when something is different from what we had expected it to be during birth. For instance, you may have lost your amniotic fluid prematurely and ended up having a cesarean. While mental preparation for birth is undoubtedly about striving for something specific - we can also focus on making beautiful memories and experiencing ourselves in a safe environment surrounded by good support. In this way, we have the opportunity to experience well-being wherever the birth process takes you, to Italy or the Netherlands. Both trips can be wonderful! 

If we take a look at the contractions that occur when the contractions of the uterus muscle become strong and usually regular, it is important to know that they are not painful all the time throughout the birth. Labor does not consist of many hours of non-stop pain. The contractions gradually strengthen, you find that the contraction is building up, maybe for about 10-15 seconds, and then when it is reaching its peak, you can experience pain that may last for about 15-20 seconds. But then the contraction subsides, for maybe about 25 seconds. At this time women usually do not experience any pain, and the uterus relaxes again until the next contraction begins. In between, you will not find any change in yourself, and you can do whatever you are used to doing - chat, laugh and just about anything. Of course, this varies greatly between women, but it is a typical process that repeats itself every 2-5 minutes during childbirth and is often described as waves. The pain that accompanies contractions is very dynamic and of varying intensity. Some women feel little or no pain while others feel more. This is something we have seen so many times in our work, and we know that pain and the experience of pain can be so very different between individuals. But there it is realistic to look at it so that the pain that accompanies childbirth is not constant at all -  it comes and goes and when you feel that the contraction is starting then it is ideal to settle into the position you feel most comfortable and use the pain-relief methods that you need In order to take on the contractions. It is also important to keep in mind that each contraction brings you closer to your baby. As the contractions require more of your concentration and you feel the need for more support, you are taking bigger steps towards the birth of your child.

 It is also important to know that pain in childbirth is not like the pain you would experience if you were to break your leg or have gallstones or have a toothache. Birthing pains are not the body's message that something abnormal is happening or that the body needs repair. Rather, birthing pains are the message from your body telling you that everything is as it should be. Birthing pains have a purpose. They release a hormone called endorphin which is nature’s pain relief and after the birthing pains, a baby is born. You can work with this natural process and find ways to increase your well-being during labor and childbirth. You can focus on the time that you have in between contractions when the uterus relaxes. But we recommend first and foremost that you listen to your body and your needs, and if you feel that you need more help with contraction pains, then that is what is right for you. We will do everything to help you, so that you experience your birth positively. We will support you and all your needs in labor and childbirth.

Some people find it helpful to make a specific birth plan in preparation for the birth. It can be very practical and can help you and your birth supporter think about all the aspects that are important to you in the birth process, discuss them - and this alone can be useful. It can also be a good foundation for education in preparation for childbirth, as you seek out a midwife in antenatal care to learn about certain topics that are on your mind.

It is especially important to write down your birth preferences when you do not know the midwife who will be providing care for you during labor and birth. A written birth plan can have a positive effect on your communication during labor and contribute to a better birth experience. When you intend to give birth with a midwife who you know, you can make good use of the time during prenatal visits to go over your wishes with her. This is exactly one of the main advantages of continuous care which we provide at the Reykjavík Birth Center.

Birth plans can contain all kinds of information - from what pain-relief methods you prefer to your breastfeeding intentions, but we find it especially useful when women consider factors such as support, what they associate a feeling of well-being with and what they need in order to feel safe and increase their confidence and what their needs are in regards to birth support.

You can gain a good knowledge of the birth process in various ways - by reading books, searching for information online, having conversations with your friends and midwife during pregnancy or attending classes. We recommend all of these things. The needs of women can be  so different, and each woman has her own special needs when it comes to learning. Feel free to read in private or chat with friends in a group. In prenatal care, you have the opportunity to ask a professional who you know - your midwife! In our classes, we strive to provide you with useful information based on the latest research on the subject. We also focus on having different options available when it comes to preparing for childbirth, and everyone should be able to find the best option for them. We encourage you to get started today. Think carefully about you and your baby, and start by dreaming of a wonderful journey where you will experience all the magical and precious moments that await you.