Good habits to take before work
In herbal medicine, a raspberry leaf tea taken daily during the last 3 weeks of pregnancy helps to prepare the tissues for childbirth. Concerning the massage of the perineum, supposed to promote the elasticity of this muscle which will be put to the test during the passage of the baby, “the studies which analyze its effectiveness are contradictory”, notes Nicolas Dutriaux, midwife. When in doubt, it costs nothing to do so. In practice: from the end of the eighth month, massage his perineum (small area of skin between the vulva and the anus) 1 to 2 minutes per day, with a special oil for massages of the perineum or olive oil or grape seed.
What to do on the big day?
The most effective natural solution to promote the work ofchildbirth mobility remains, as the specialist explains: “Once labor has started, it is above all moving and mobilizing that will ensure easy progression for the baby while allowing better management of the pain associated with contractions. Moving is, of course, easier without an epidural, but it is also possible by adopting different positions on the delivery table, guided by your midwife. Some maternities also offer outpatient epidurals: less dosed, it allows you to keep the use of your legs. The aquatic element is also an ally of choice on D-Day: “The water and heat of a bath or a shower can help in pain management and body relaxation, which promotes good development. labor, ”says the midwife.
THE’homeopathy will not stop the pain of contractions but, well chosen, it will boost the maturation of the cervix and help to approach childbirth more calmly. It is preferable to consult a specialist for an individualized prescription; failing that, here are the remedies frequently given:
– For the smooth running of work: Caulophyllum 9 CH (1 granule morning and evening during the last month and 1 granule every quarter of an hour from the start of work).
– To allay fear, Actea racemosa 15 CH (10 granules once a week during the 9th month) and Gelsemium 7 CH (1 granule morning and evening every day and 1 granule every hour from the onset of labor).
– In the event of an epidural: Hypericum perforatum 5 CH (1 dose before childbirth).
Acupuncture, practiced in some maternity hospitals in the delivery room, prepares both the expectant mother for childbirth and her unborn child, physically but also psychologically. “Your acupuncturist doctor or acupuncturist midwife can prepare the ground upstream. For pregnant women, a consultation at least once a quarter (traditions even recommend once a lunar month) and once or twice in the last month is to be preferred, ”explains Nicolas Dutriaux.
