EMOTIONAL BAG

“When after giving birth you ask your midwife how many stitches she has put on and she answers: Don’t worry, I will make you a virgin again”.

I read a lot of posts about labour preparation, and as I read more, I saw more redundant and repetitive information. I know that every woman has a different birth experience and so do I. That is why I created some essential birth tips that I will present below.

PREPARE HOSPITAL BAG

BIRTH PADS THE SIZE OF TITANIC

Packing the bag for the hospital is extremely important, so I will show you what my secret baggage includes:

• sanitary pads, my was are similar to diapers, but you will be grateful for this choice 
• smallest diapers for your baby
• pack a toothbrush and toothpaste
• clean blouses, tops, shirts, pajamas, panties, and socks for every day new, because I was dirty all the time and there were a lot of guests walking down the corridor. 
• maternity bra but I didn’t wear a bra in the hospital, not much-producing milk for the first few days
• baby clothes, preferably 4-6 zippered bodysuits with short and long sleeves. The best 2 sizes: newborn or small newborn. With the first birth, I wasn’t prepared for a small baby uniform
• cotton balls, size large, to wipe the baby, but this is my proven method. You can also use wet wipes
• for an outfit for going home, something roomy and easy to get into
• a pair of flat, comfortable shoes – my feet become a size bigger and swallow

And less important for me, but important for doctors:

• pictures ID
• birth plan
• medical record from your preview doctor

BEFORE LABOUR

PRENATAL YOGA CLASSES

Only with my private experience, prenatal yoga helps me a lot. The first and essential thing for me was to learn birth breathing there.

Then I quickly made friends with future mothers, with whom I keep in touch long after yoga classes.

I had no major problem with stretching, but for example, I started exercising Kegel’s muscles only on prenatal yoga. Before, none of my relatives informed me that you would pee when you sneeze after giving birth.

These and other curiosities appeared during yoga classes, our teacher answered such questions without any problems.

Does poop during childbirth? 

YES

Is labor painful?  

YES

or

Is it a long time?

YES, if it is a first-time baby.

In the case of my relatives, the reaction was completely different. They ran away from the answer, summing up everything with an opinion – it would be the most wonderful experience. Is it true, my dear family?

SECOND STAGE OF LABOUR

PUSHING WITHOUT SCREAM

It sounds impossible and it is impossible. I was lucky to have a great midwife who said repeatedly that screaming was stealing my energy, so that means pushing as hard as you can, but softly. Pushing and softly sounds like a joke, which was also a joke in practice. 

The midwife is the second person after my husband who helps me a lot, but to be honest I didn’t listen to her. I heard her because she was screaming:

You are great!

You would do that!

Last push and we’re done!

 Rest between contractions 

And a lot of helpful advice that I did not pay attention to, because the pain of childbirth makes you want to beat your husband, and why listen to a strange woman who does not squeeze anything out of your vagina.

LAST STAGE OF LABOUR 

TEARING

Honestly, it doesn’t matter that your baby was the size of a pomelo or a watermelon – vaginal tears during childbirth are real.

Of the five new moms, I asked, only one had 3 stitches, most of them had 5-7 stitches and one of them had 12. Guess who the happy woman was? Only because my baby was born by forceps delivery. The tearing experience affects me more mentally than physically. 

Why did it affect me less physically?

 Because the burning when peeing, while sitting, walking, and even lying down can be overcome. I wet my vagina in chamomile infusions, wore panties with chamomile-soaked diapers, and the pain passed and disappeared.

However, mentally, it worried me a lot. The stitched piece of leather was hard and it disgusted me, I was afraid it would never heal. And to my surprise, from week to week, the sutured wound healed and returned to its normal appearance, from before the birth, at least that’s what my husband says. 

So ladies, let’s keep our virginity until the next baby delivery.