Natural coping strategies: Massage
Massage is a valuable coping strategy to enhance your wellbeing in pregnancy and labour. In general terms, massage can help:
You feel more relaxed
Alleviate lower back pain
Relieve the build-up of tension in your muscles
Release oxytocin and endorphins
Help you conserve energy
It is also a great way to connect with your birth partner, β¦
Natural coping strategies: Mindfulness
Do you regularly meditate? If so, you'll know its many benefits, backed by a growing body of research.Β
If not, pregnancy is a great time to start practising and enjoying these benefits!
Benefits of Mindfulness
Reduces:Β
Feelings of fear, stress and anxiety.
Emotional reactivity (improves self-control)
Aches and pains.
Insomnia.
Improves:
Concentration and memory.
Physical and mental stamina.
Confidence.
Bonding between parents β¦
Natural coping strategies: Breath
Learning to breathe and relax during a contraction helps release your bodyβs natural pain relievers β endorphins!
Itβs entirely normal for your breathing pattern to change during labour in response to the following:
Contractions
Feelings of anxiety
Lack of control
The sensations of birth, including pressure and pain
Tiredness or exhaustion.
This may show up as holding β¦
Pregnancy conditions explained: Pre-eclampsia
What is pre-eclampsia?
Whilst the exact cause of pre-eclampsia isn't known, scientists believe it occurs when the placenta's blood vessels don't develop properly, causing it not to function as it should.
As a result of the placenta not working correctly, several issues can arise. The baby may not receive enough nutrients, and β¦
Oxytocin: the love hormone
Oxytocin is a powerful hormone that is released when we feel happy, secure and loved. It is integral to childbirth, helping create powerful contractions or surges that help us birth effectively. It helps stimulate the flow of breastmilk, and is essential for bonding. It can be triggered by massage, laughter β¦
