Does anyone have any natural ways during pregnancy to help make labour and birth easier?

Keren - posted 3 days ago

I know this is an old post, but for people googling this...I would recommend Gentle Birth by Mountain Meadow Herbs:

Less Pain during labor and delivery
Advanced Dilation before discomfort was felt
Shorter and Easier Labor
Shorter Recovery Time

Over 90% of women who tried the Original Gentle Birth Formula recommend it to family and friends!

I would recommend Bradley classes to teach you how to relax during labor, but also the exercises they recommend are specifically for preparing your body to give birth.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth is also awesome.

Naomi - posted on 04/19/2010

I had reflexology for a few weeks leading up to my due date, it was amazing. I really felt like it helped with the later pregnancy and with the birth. The idea was to prepare my uterus for the labour and to help bring on labour....I found it so helpfull

Barbara - posted on 04/18/2010

Reliv is a food science company that has patented products. Completely safe, no warning labels, no side effects. Reliv has been around for 22 years. Thousands of women have taken Reliv as their prenatal and all rave about how wonderful their delivery & recovery time was. It is also great for the baby! Moms that have used Reliv during pregnancy also say that their children have very few (if any) ear infections, asthma and other child ailments. Very healthy children! I do a lot of homeopathy and do not include the word medicine with it. Reliv is completely natural, I highly recommend it.
The best of luck in what ever path you choose.

Anoushka - posted on 04/18/2010

Hi Rebecca - I have used homeopathic medicine for years, including when I was pregnant and I had a terrible pregnancy because of my kidney and uterus. I also hamoraghhed badly after my daughter was born. But that is because of lack of medical care and the state of my uterus. Anyways homeopathic medicine is completely natural and safe to use during pregnancy (Raspberry tea also helps with labour pains - as you can see from other people). Find yourself a homeopath and trust me it will make such a difference. Despite my experiences during pregnancy etc - especially after birth - homeopathic medicine helped me so much after my daughter was born, so i swear by it.

Anoushka - posted on 04/18/2010

Definitely try homeopathic medicine and find yourself a homeopath. Homeopathic medicine works wonders during pregnancy (completely natural) and will help with the labour.

Angie - posted on 04/15/2010

Stay healthy! Exercise and eat a very healthy diet so that you gain enough weight build a healthy baby but don't use pregnancy as an excuse to eat too much. I walked and did water aerobics with my last 2 pregnancies and delivery was pretty easy. I never had any pain meds even though I had to be induced in the last pregnancy. Recovery was a breeze too!

Danielle - posted on 04/15/2010

self-hypnosis. I used hypnobabies and had a nearly pain-free delivery. We had wanted a home birth, but after two miscarriages decided midwives at the hospital would be safer. good thing because Peeps was born 5 weeks early. My water broke at 3pm. By the time I was admitted at 4pm, I was 3cm dialated. She arrived at 7:01pm. I did have an episoiotomy because she was so fast, and because at 5 weeks early I hadn't started conditioning, but that was the worst part of the delivery.

Emma - posted on 04/15/2010

I went to aqua natal classs with my third child wish i had done it with my first 2. I had a c-section with my first also then forsepts then natural at home (not planned). I think it helped my child get into position. God luck

Wanda - posted on 04/14/2010

Yes! I do believe that any type of exercise which strengthens the muscles used in child birth is most helpful and useful. I used swimming in my second pregnancy as a way to make my muscles stronger for child birth...I went into labour @ 4:00 p.m and gave birth @ 7:19 the same day ...no epi, no drugs @ all..just plain ole exercise. My daughter weighed 9lbs..& 7ozs. My obi could not believe that I did not tear . Why? Because I conditioned my muscles and prepared for a wonderful experience without drugs or epi.I truley believe that this was a contributing factor in the birth of my daughter. Keep on exercising those muscles girlfriend. P.S. I won't lie..I did ask for a pain reliever ...but I was 8 cm dialated before I felt any pain at all... Hope this helps Congratulations!!

Naza - posted on 04/14/2010

I had 3 natural birth.no epidural, no entonox, no nothing! Attending pre-natal classes-about the birth position, the breathing technique and staying calm during the labor...everything helps.and yeah,mine is out-of the world pain!...don't worry too much...you can do it. all the best!

Sharil - posted on 04/14/2010

honestly? Vitamin E oil rubbed on your vagina opening every day, stretching it and 'lubing' it , getting it ready for all kinds of stretching. i would take a big dose of advil when you go into labor...AND have a beer or glass of wine to relax you...and this is the honestly part...i would have a stick near the bed or birthing place to bite on...there is a reason they did this in the past...mine was out-of-control pain. some women, not so much, mine....for sure...just be prepared to feel pain like you've never felt and be prepared to not be scared of it and know it is bringing new life with it....just have a stick ready..i wish someone told me that---congrats and you can do it honey!!!!!

Lauren - posted on 04/14/2010

Rebecca, I would also recommend this book, I thought it was awesome! "The Natural Pregnancy Book" by: Aviva Jill Romm. She provides SO much helpful information on everything! Best of luck!

Brian N Christy - posted on 04/14/2010

My first was a natural, but had an episiotomy. Then two c-sections and my last was a homebirth. I drank raspberry leaf tea, which I believe helped strengthen the uterus and also used Arnica Oil. I massaged a little of the oil where I had the episiotomy after each shower and ended up only having a small tear.

Lee - posted on 04/14/2010

I had a lot of back problems during my second pregnancy and found a great chiropractor who kept me mobile for the duration. Afterwards, massage was the best thing for me. Post-labour contractions were the most uncomfortable thing in my third pregnancy - I had no drugs during delivery, but had to take ibuprofen a few days later because of the uterine contractions.

Shawna - posted on 04/14/2010

having sex helps soften the cervix. I did it with my second child and I was 2 cm dialated at my last appointment and didn't even know it. Something in the sperm is a natural cervix softener.

June - posted on 04/14/2010

I heard on the Doctors show that you weren't supposed to use herbs at all during pregancy!! You should go to their website and check it out for yourself, as well as getting some answers from the OB, Dr Lisa.

Lauren - posted on 04/14/2010

During probably the last 3-4 months of my pregnancy I took Alfalfa, Kelp, Stinging Nettles, and Rasperberry Leaf ( and I think something else but I can't remember) all in caplet form. I went into labor at 5 a.m. and had by daughter at 1:29 with only a half hour of pushing. And very little bleeding. I was expecting heavy bleeding after the birth because of what I had heard from other people and how my body typically is. But it really was not bad at all. Now whether the short pushing time was affected by the herbs, my big hips, or I am just lucky I don't know. I like to think they helped. Taking them definately didn't hurt anything though. And they offer SO many healthy benefits.

Rabab - posted on 04/14/2010

try to have breathing ex 1 2 3as if you ar having birth
just before giving birth as it is expected u can eat honey and dates do you know it and in the last m try to walk as much as you can it is very important

Diana - posted on 04/14/2010

Hi Rebecca,
Absolutely yoga or pilates will help you.
I did a 20 minute Pilate routine right up until 3 days before giving birth to my first child.
I also continued to go to the gym and as the pregnancy progressed the routine became easier and shorter. Walking was something else I maintained right up until my delivery day.
I had a horrid delivery and my Dr. made the comment that it would have been n emerg c-section if I had not been in good shape. It definately helped with the stamina!
Be careful with the herbals. Some are really bad for you during pregnancy. We have a wonderful naturpath/herbal shop in our town, if you can find somewhere like this close to you, then they will be able to help you out a lot and point you in the right direction.
Good luck and best wishes to you and your family.

Melissa - posted on 04/14/2010

I don't know if herbs help with labor, but I do have great vitamins for pregnancy and after. I refer people to shop online at a great company that does not contain any carcinogen chemicals that is safer for your home and environment. I can showw you about it online if you would like. MH

Natasha - posted on 04/14/2010

I was told raspberry leaf tea was good to drink in the last four weeks as it helps to strengthen the muscles and make it eaiser to push. I did yoga as well to maintain my flexibilty and posture and continued after the birth to bring everything back to where it should be including your posture as it is often thrown of during pregnancy, hence back ache sore hips. During labour a hot shower or heat packs are great natural pain relief and remain upright and walking for as long as possible as gravity will help as well as the swaying of your hips as you walk. I had two babies over 9lb with no chemical pain relief, just heat packs and concentrate on your breathing and drink plenty of fluids. Last thing you want is to become dehydrated and need a drip to rehydrate, It makes it difficult to move about. Good luck.

Carmen - posted on 04/14/2010

I used Aloe Vera gel from Forever all the way through my pregnancy and post Pregnancy. The gel crosses your milk. My little baby boy is the only one out of five children who does not get many colds and has a great immune system. The folic acid in the Gels also protect your unborn baby as well as giving you a little extra energy.

Amii - posted on 04/14/2010

There are plenty of positions that can be helpfull and raspberry leaf tea I have heard of before. Read 'Ina Maes guide to child birth' She taught me that more than anything it is about your state of mind. The book really hlped me, my first birth was a fairly easy clinical yet natural birth but my second was even better because of my state of mind, best of luck and congratualtions on your choice!

Rebecca - posted on 04/13/2010

I think he was stuck. He was also very big and I also believe that if there were no interventions from doctors and monitoring belts then I would have had a better chance at birthing him naturally.

I only live around the corner from the hospital and I'll have a midwife present so I can get to the hospital quickly if I do need another c-section. I'll be doing my pregnancy completely different this time around to ensure that both of us are healthy enough and fit enough.

Bernie - posted on 04/13/2010

There are a lot of different products out there that are not natural. How they are made makes a lot of difference. I took herbs, natural vitamins and protein with my last two pregnancies and they both went very well. But I can not trust just any products.
I'm also a OB nurse and to have a home birth after a c-section is probably not the best idea, What was the reason for the first c-section?

Teresa - posted on 04/13/2010

having gone thru 4 births plus seeing many other people deliver babes as my profession i can tell you that learning how to control your breathing is the best medicine!! There is no special medicine that will take the pain 'away". (other than epidurals). But if you can relax and focus on your breathing and use your contractions your labor will go so much quicker. I recommend showers, music, dim lighting, if you have a medicine ball at home that you can sway back and forth with (helps bring babes head into the birthing canal), have your partner rub your back, aroma therapy...anything that will relax you and bring you into a state that you can focus on your breathing and not on the pain.

I don't know too much about herbal "natural pathic" meds but i was told rasberry tea will help contractions. This might intensify your labor pains and make sure that your are at term before drinking it.

Good luck with your experience and congrats to you and your family for your soon to be addition :)

Rebecca - posted on 04/13/2010

Thank you for helping but here is an example of what I'm looking for:



Someone told me in another post that they used herbs in the last few weeks of pregnancy and their baby was born complete within the bag of waters.



Another thing I've heard is that raspberry leaf tea strengthens the uterus and helps with the pushing.



I also heard somewhere that citrus fruits helps in producing a strong bag of waters. (can someone confirm this one?) Last time my waters broke It didn't even get through to the bed I'm guessing it was only about 100ml!



I went through 60hrs of labour last time and I don't think it was too bad. I found the hot shower the best natural way of reliving pain. So I'll be doing that again this time. I'm just searching for opinions on what you did during your pregnancy that you think helped when it came time to give birth.



Thanks.

Leanne - posted on 04/13/2010

marlene- you wold have the after effects of a c section than the pain of labour? you could get an epidral lol i have had both natural and c section and I prefer natural any day, pain is over when the baby is out c section longer healing and scars :(

Rebecaa- if your doing a home birth you obviously have a midwife or doola, ask about water birth. They do this often with just a kiddie pool in your living room many women find it very helpful :)

Marlene - posted on 04/13/2010

maybe a c-sec before labour pains

Sheree - posted on 04/13/2010

Yeah i think the breathing works really well too, and also a warm/ hot shower or bath depending on if you feel you can stand in there and how hot you can handle it. I personally was expecting the worse pain of my life as im the biggest sook and cringe at having to get a needle and it really wasnt as bad as i thought it would be. Congrats on your little one and all the best with the home birth :)

Katherine - posted on 04/12/2010

I always think breathing excercises are helpful. Breathe in 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 and exhale. It made my birth alot less painful. walking alot also helps in the ease of labor pain.