Watch your language
The language we use plays a huge part in determining how we feel. Just one word has the power to either make us feel uplifted or disheartened. For example if someone says to you ‘you are ‘ONLY’ x amount of centimeters dilated’ it would make you feel very differently to if they said ‘you are ‘ALREADY’ x amount of centimeters dilated’ even if the quantity of centimeters was the same.
When you are in labour it’s important to remain calm, focused and relaxed so you can produce your lovely birth hormones. Getting your birth partner and people who support you involved in simple world changes can make a HUGE difference.
You could perhaps introduce some simple word swaps like these:
Pain = Pressure or sensation
Contraction = Surge or wave
Broken = Releasing
Empowering statements and affirmations
Focus on words and statements that help you to feel safe, secure, empowered, relaxed and calm. You can say these to yourself or your birth partner can say them to you. You may want to think about how you want to feel during pregnancy and birth, or perhaps if you are feeling worried or stressed over something in particular you could turn the negative into a positive (e.g. if you are worried about having a ‘big baby’ then you may like to choose ‘My baby will fit’).
There are some examples below
· I am loved and supported now and always
· My body, mind and baby are all working together
· I can and I will do this
· I ride the waves, each one bringing my baby closer to me
· Breathe, baby, down
· Breathe in calm, exhale tension
· I will soon be holding my baby
· Calm and relaxed
· My baby will fit
Exercise
Write down affirmations during pregnancy and display them around your home when you are closer to giving birth.
Change the screensaver and lock screen on your phone to a positive affirmation.
Ask people to STOP if they start to tell you stories about labour and birth in a not so positive way. Remember that all births are different and people tend to over exaggerate when we tell a story
Drip feed your mind positive suggestions at every opportunity.
