Mind-Body Connection
The mind-body connection is something you've really been working on throughout your pregnancy. As you've practiced your relaxation and listened to your body, you've probably noticed a greater connection between the way your mind and body work together. The healthier you feel physically, the easier it is to feel better mentally.
Preparing for Labor
Your strong mind and body, which you've spent the last nine months or more preparing for this grand adventure, will not fail you. Remember to listen to the signals as you have done throughout your pregnancy fitness sessions. Follow your body's lead and be prepared to go with the flow. Mind and body, and flexibility and knowledge will go a long way toward making your labor and birth experience a great one to remember for the rest of your life.
Essential
The confidence you've gained from your fitness routines and the strength in your body will give you strength and faith in the same body for labor, birth, and parenting. Remember to draw on these strengths as you go forward.
Relaxation
Mental imagery is one form of relaxation that can be effectively used in labor. As with all of the relaxation techniques you learn, practice makes perfect. The mental imagery requires a bit more imagination or recollection on your part, however.
Using a dream location or a previous vacation spot are frequent scenarios couples choose to use in doing mental imagery. While this works for many people, don't be concerned if going to the beach or into the forest doesn't work for you. There isn't a right or wrong answer for what mental images you use.
Another popular technique for mental imagery is to think of what your body is doing during labor. This works really well if you are someone who needs to focus on the process and be aware of what is going on inside your body. Examples to think about might be an image of a cervix opening up or of your baby moving down into the pelvis.
Fact
According to a long-term study of women's memories of giving birth to their children, childbirth educator Penny Simkin found that even after 25 years, the memories of what was said or done on this day stuck with the women as if it were only yesterday. This will be an important day in your life.
Problem Spots
Don't be concerned if you've tried a variety of relaxations and not all of them work. Remember, we are each different individuals who respond differently to different situations. If you're particularly good at one, keep that one ever present. If there are some that don't work or sound funny, try them once or twice in case they do work in labor. Otherwise, you can skip those once you're familiar with them.
