I’ve seen so many clients and helped them to prepare for their birth. Well into the hundreds, if not thousands of women! I’ve also prepared for two of my own prior births and thought I would share with you what I’m bringing to the table for this birth.
Would it be cheeky of me to suggest that all mums take a two-month holiday with their family in second trimester?! I think so. I would have thought that lots of driving and a fair bit of camping would equal a sore back and hips but no, none of that at all. It was incredible how getting out of the daily grind helped my body and soul to really relax, un-wind and just be.
There was a lot of nature. Super divine gorges where you could bask in the sunshine, warmth and refreshing water after a 40-minute hike in. I did lots of that. There were also some delicious hot springs to soothe tired muscles and a growing belly that were amidst soaring palm trees and a back drop of steep red rocks.
So sure, not all of us can do a trip of a lifetime right in second trimester but getting into nature is something I would recommend. The beauty of all that Yin energy was something to behold. I felt I was able to just be, in the moment with nature, be with my family, and be with myself and my growing baby. It was either a walking meditation or a swimming meditation and there was always so much joy in the visual pleasures of the outback.
Where did we go? We drove from Sydney through Alice Springs, up to Katherine, across the Gibb River Road in the Kimberley to Broome, up to Cape Leveque and back.
Now that I’m back, I make sure I check in with the night sky and the moon to see what’s going on. It connects me back to our trip but also back to myself as a woman. Following the cycle of the moon more closely has me feeling into where my energy is at and where the moon is at, at the same time. Full moon equals more energy, new moon equals more time in, more resting and being okay with that. If I was menstruating, it would be ovulation at full moon and bleeding on the new moon (more on this in another post).
I’ve started to meditate every day. Once upon a time, before children I did that a lot, and often. With mothering it has waxed and waned and it became more about being present, more than sitting down by myself for 10-30 minutes. Since my children are older and can do so much more for themselves, I’m able to meditate in the morning and evening again, which feels great. I recommend the Calm app and also Nadine Richardson’s birth meditations from her awesome She Births course, which I did before my second child was born.
I’m now getting regular acupuncture as coming back into the city full time and having to be at places at specific times has been – well – stressful! So, to counteract that, acupuncture is serving me well. It’s helping to relax my muscles and tendons, tend to aches and pains that are now emerging, improve my digestion and immunity and keep me calm. I love it. Once I’m 36 weeks, I’ll start my weekly birth prep to start to soften and ripen my cervix, give me more calm (ha), lots of softening and releasing of tense muscles and to encourage bubs into a great position for birth.
I’ve enlisted a doula, the wonderful Jacki Barker, whom I’d highly recommend. She’s been helping me to focus on going deep with meditation and to get going with my birthing affirmations. She would normally take someone through a birth plan, what happens at the hospital and so many other things but because I normally do that with women, it’s a little different for me. I feel super supported knowing she will be there for me and my hubby throughout the birth and I’m so grateful. I’ve had a doula for each birth. Of course, Naomi will also be with me during the birth, bringing her doula and Acubirth skills, but most importantly there as a dear friend. It has been important for me to have that consistent support and I wouldn’t be without it.
I’m getting into oxytocin inducing pleasures like daily gentle massage – thanks hubby and kids. I’ll also be getting some other massages too as the fam are just not going to do that for 1 hour, try five minutes – if I’m lucky! I’m using a head massage thingy called the orgasmatron – got that from SheBirths for the last birth – can’t believe I still have it – it’s awesome though. I’m getting into nipple stimulation and a few other things. Basically, the more oxytocin you produce in the lead up and during birth, the better it goes and flows. That was definitely the case for me the second time around. First time I didn’t have as many skills up my sleeve – but you learn from every birth.
I’m also hanging out with friends and having cups of tea and catching up. That’s also been wonderful for my soul and also produces a whole pile of oxytocin – gotta love that.
Soon I will be cutting out sugar (as much as possible) and gluten and diary as I find they increase inflammation in my gut that doesn’t help with birthing.
So that’s a wrap. I hope you are well and happy. I’d love to see you in Surry Hills for a treatment before I head off to have this babe. If there’s anything you’ve been thinking about coming for, now is the time.
Take care, Bec 😊