Daily interaction during pregnancy also meant I was well prepared for the first two stages of labour. An active body encourages active bowels. This will help with constipation and help keep those dreaded haemorrhoids away. If you do not top up your fuel tanks enough, your baby does not know when to stop and will not leave enough left over for you. As well as winning the battle of the mind games, if you have followed our exercise plan, set out earlier in this book, you are sure to have the extra endurance and pushing power for a faster and easier birth without the need for assistance. Labour Positions

Tussey CM, Botsios E, Gerkin RD, Kelly LA, Gamez J, Mensik J. Reducing length of labor and cesarean surgery rate using a peanut ball for women laboring with an epidural. The Journal of Perinatal Education. 2015;24(1):16-24. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.24.1.16 Yes, but in moderation. Rest is important during pregnancy but needs to be balanced with the correct movements and activity in between. Use the first and second trimester as a time to focus on building the strength you need to help push your baby down through the birth canal. Try to get confident using the ball before going into labour. Practice positions and work out which ones you find most comfortable. Best birth ball positions for labourA regular commitment to pelvic strengthening exercises can help to build up your pelvic floor muscles. They come under severe demand both during pregnancy and when giving birth naturally. Here's your lowdown. First things first. There is no requirement to be a yoga guru. We can all do it! You might be fuelling on the right amount of calcium, but a deficiency in Vitamin K might mean you are not getting the optimum benefits. The Nutrition CAVE The maximum weight the ball can resist the better. You’re safety matters! Which is the Best Size Ball for Me? Argh!?... (Again) The Natural Birth and Fitness Birthing Ball has everything you could need for exercising and relaxing during pregnancy. It’s stronger than standard gym balls and can be bought in sizes ranging from 55cm to 75cm.

When it’s time to start pushing, get into the leaning or hands-and-knees position so it takes the pressure off your bottom and gives your baby lots of room to come out. Fetal position matters not only for comfort, but it also increases your chances of natural birth, limiting your chances of labour intervention and the potential consequences for your baby.Sounds great right!? Pregnant women, we can do it! Here’s how... When can I start Using a Birthing Ball and Who Does it Help? This means, if your pregnancy has been a healthy one to date, waiting until at least 39 weeks, and waiting for labour to begin on its own has extra benefits.

We recommend that you begin learning Hypnobirthing techniques towards the end of your second trimester and the start of your third trimester.One of the many benefits of endorphins, are the fact that they act as a natural painkiller. 200 times stronger than morphine.