Follow these 6 labor tips and rock your first birth 

While their impending labor is awaited with trepidation by most pregnant women and especially those giving birth for the first time, it does not necessarily have to be a feeling of gloom. You may find it hard to believe, but it is actually possible to stay relaxed during labor and rock your first delivery. Here are 6 tips to do so:

1. C-section is a prevalent way of giving birth these days. But, don’t rush onto it, ask your doctor about trying natural birth first and understand the pros and cons of both natural birth and C-section before making any decision.

2. Regulating your breathing is crucial and can help ease out pain and stress during contractions. Your doctor can advise you on the best suited breathing technique, but ‘relax’ is a simple and effective breathing method that you can try. Take a deep breath at the start of each contraction and think ‘re’ and then think ‘lax’ as you breathe out. This will help relieve tension and also lessen the intensity of the contraction.

3. Massage has been known to reduce anxiety and provide pain relief during labor. You can ask you husband to gently massage yours back, neck, legs and arms during labor to reduce stress and pain. You can also explore the option of hiring a trained professional for massaging you during labor but with the consent of your doctor.

4. Labor pain is a reality but you have many natural as well as medical options that can help with pain relief and even eliminate pain during labor. Talk to your doctor about some of these especially epidural.

5. Your movements and position are important. Try spending as much time as possible in a rocking chair during labor as the gentle back and forth motions will keep you relaxed. Also, taking short and gingerly walks in between contractions can lower stress, reduce pain and speed up the contractions.

6. Try to stay calm and relaxed during labor even though it may be tough to do so. The more positive you are, the easier will be the whole process of labor. You may try listening to some soothing music as it can help you in getting distracted from the pain and create a relaxing environment.

So, go ahead and follow these labor tips to rock your first delivery.