| Many women feel that natural childbirth is less | | | | Hypnosis To help ease tension it is important to |
| traumatic for the baby and gives them more | | | | practice the necessary techniques from early on |
| control over the birth. Start preparation for this | | | | in pregnancy. Permission from the hospital where |
| early in pregnancy by taking regular gentle | | | | you are giving birth will be needed if you want a |
| exercise, such as swimming and walking, which | | | | hypnotist to attend you at the delivery. |
| tones the muscles and improves overall fitness. | | | | Torn Perineum |
| Eat a sensible diet and take supplements or folic | | | | The perineum is the skin between the vagina and |
| acid in recommended amounts. Draw up a birth | | | | the anus. It is stretched during childbirth and may |
| plan which sets out how you want the birth to be | | | | sometimes tear. In some cases, stitches will be |
| managed. If it is your first baby, join a natural | | | | needed to repair the damage. |
| childbirth class to learn breathing techniques. | | | | Prevention |
| Relaxation and Breathing Concentrating on | | | | Massage the area regularly before your estimated |
| breathing can have a soothing effect and help you | | | | date of delivery so that it becomes more supple. |
| relax. | | | | Aromatherapy Rub half a teaspoonful of jojoba oil |
| Water Birth Immersion in a pool filled with warm | | | | into the area daily for eight weeks before your |
| water helps relieve the pain of contractions, and | | | | expected delivery date. |
| some women go on to give birth in the water. | | | | Treatment |
| Find out if your hospital provides a birth pool, or if | | | | If you had stitches after delivery, apply a cold |
| you can hire one. Herbal Medicine Raspberry leaf | | | | compress to the area (try a bag of frozen peas |
| tea drunk over the last three months of | | | | wrapped in a face cloth), then dry the area |
| pregnancy helps tone the womb. | | | | thoroughly. The warm air from a hairdryer works |
| Aromatherapy Rosemary oil, lavender, and | | | | well. Aromatherapy Add two drops of lavender |
| camomile, rubbed on your wrists, forehead, and | | | | and two drops of cypress oil to a warm bath and |
| neck, relieves pain during labor. Massage Gentle | | | | soak the area for 10 to 15 minutes. |
| downward strokes can ease pain, especially in the | | | | Stretch Marks |
| lower back. | | | | These are pink or reddish streaks on the skin |
| Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for: | | | | which eventually fade to silver. They are caused |
| Acupuncture Permission from the hospital where | | | | by overÂÂstretching the skin. |
| you are giving birth will be needed if you intend to | | | | Treatment/Prevention |
| use this form of pain relief. | | | | Massage Essential oils of frankincense, lavender, or |
| Tens (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) | | | | rosewood should be rubbed into the abdomen and |
| This is a version of acupuncture. It works by | | | | upper legs during pregnancy. |
| sending electrical impulses to the brain. These | | | | Homeopathy Biochemic tissue salts Calc. fluor. |
| block the pain messages and stimulate the release | | | | Diet and Nutrition Increase intake of vitamin E, or |
| of endorphines, the body's natural painkillers. | | | | alternatively rub vitamin E oil into the skin. |