Being pregnant is one of the most special times in a woman’s life. Being a mother in the true sense is a completion of woman hood.
Making pregnancy and birth comfortable and safe is every woman’s dream. Nausea and vomiting are the horrors of the first trimester. Backaches, sleep less nights and other complaints irritate in the third trimester. And the fear of a long, painful and complicated birth cause sleepless nights for many women. Women come into my classes with the fear of labor and looking for the magic formula which will eliminate LABOR PAIN. Of course that is not possible. Labor is the process in which the uterus opens and expels the baby and any muscle which exerts itself is bound to feel some degree of pain. Add to this are the different pain thresholds of different women. We cannot eliminate the above situations but we can surely attempt at making it more manageable and bearable.
What are the most important areas to concentrate on?
In my opinion a pregnancy rests on four pillars. If one is shaky then the troubles start.
The first pillar is DIET. This plays a very crucial role as it involves the overall mental and physical development of the baby. A well developed
baby can handle the rigors of labor well and hence last minute complications are averted. The well nourished mother can cope with her pregnancy as well as her labor much better. It also results in a timely birth which is really important. A baby which is born pre-term runs into many complications in the immediate post-natal period. Diet contributes to over all well being during pregnancy and proper nutrition planning can keep a number of common pregnancy complaints away.
The second pillar is EXERCISE. Exercise helps to tone and prepare your body for the task ahead. It makes the woman comfortable with her changing body. Pregnant women who find the time to follow a daily regimen of antenatal exercises report that they feel more comfortable and relaxed and are even able to sleep better. A good ante-natal exercise routine targets at improving circulation and flexibility. It is a combination of stretches and breathing exercises with special focus on the muscles which will work during the birth process.
The third pillar is PSHYCHOLOGICAL FRAME OF MIND. A lot of what we experience is controlled by our mind. More than pain it is the erception of pain which is a major down fall. Pregnancy is associated with is comfort and labor with pain. It is this association that we must aim to remove from our minds. Instead let us look at pregnancy as nurturing a new life and birth as the most special and joyful moment of our life. The association of pain with birth will end. Approaching labor with this frame of mind will make the whole experience more enriching.
The last but not the least is your DOCTOR. It is important to select your
practioner with care. You need to be on the same wave length. You need a
person who understands your needs and someone with whom you can make a connection. Once you make this connection, then comes trust. It is
important to trust your practioner. Ask questions and do not harbor doubts. It will go a long way in making your pregnancy and birth a memorable experience.
Treat the above as your training guide lines. You do not run for a marathon without training, You do not give an exam without studying, so also You do not achieve a comfortable pregnancy and birth without concentrating on the FOUR PILLARS of PREGNANCY.