Cape town home and water birth
As the big day on which you hope to have your baby approaches, the questions pertaining to the “Due date” occupy more time,rightfully so, as a baby seldom arrives on his or her ETA (expected time of arrival)!
The technological era in which we live has brought along many advantages,it allows us to detect some difficulties before we are presented with them. Unfortunately technology has also given us false confidence,resulting in us abandoning, to some extent, our own judgment. This is why we believe that we can predict the due date of babies yet to be born (not taking into consideration that different people, different cultures, have different gestational periods.).
Statistics (not necessarily accurate, never the less the only ones we have!) show that pregnancies extending beyond 2 weeks after the due date calculated by the Ultrasound done around 12 weeks of gestation, show a (minimal) increase in infant morbidity (problems pertaining to the baby) and births requiring medical intervention.
Therefore, most Obstetricians will discourage a mother to be, from allowing her pregnancy to progress beyond two weeks post dates. Usually once your pregnancy has extended to 2 weeks past the nominated Due date, your Doctor will almost insist that you are admitted to Hospital and that your labour is induced.
There are however a few natural ways to prepare your body for childbirth and others to stimulate the onset of Labour. The methods described below are a mild form of stimulation and will not contribute to your going into Labour prematurely, yet it is advised to start preparing as from the 36th week onwards.
*Please do not take castor oil though it is commonly suggested by people, it is not good for your baby!
Whilst awaiting the arrival of your baby, remember childbirth requires psychological as well as a physical energy and it is therefore important that you get sufficient rest and relax….Labour is like watching a kettle that never boils!
Mum knows best
My body knows how to birth my baby calmly and comfortably
My body is strong enough to birth this baby
Every contraction brings me closer to our baby
A grand adventure is about to begin.
A grand adventure is about to begin.
Breathe
Only you can birth your baby
Focus
Even the strongest surge, doesn’t last forever
Visualise
You don’t have to birth your baby, merely allow your baby to be born
In birth nothing is ever your fault
Can you see your baby
Made with love by Sophia. ©