By Hannah Mearns
When I had my little girl, I planned to have her at home. I was lucky and my home birth went as planned and she was born in our downstairs bathroom – although that bit I’d not expected! Even though I was hoping for a home birth, I still had to allow for the situation where my labour didn’t progress as expected. I used these simple tips to make sure I could take my mellow, home-like setting with me to hospital.
- Make a playlist
Now I look back, I actually have no idea what track my daughter was born to. I wish I’d noted it down but my mind was elsewhere… In the months leading up to her birth, my husband and I spent an hour or so each week creating a birth playlist. Some of the tracks were calming, some faded into the background and some were more upbeat. Your energy during labour will ebb and flow so a mixture of styles you can pick and choose from will be just what you need. Familiar sounds which drown out the background noise in a more medicalised environment will help you focus and relax. You could even bring a wireless speaker with you.
- Keep the numbers down
I was adamant that I wanted no family apart from my husband with me. I didn’t tell anyone else that I was in labour until my baby had arrived. I didn’t want to feel obliged to provide updates or answer text messages or manage the presence of anyone else. I also asked that we have as few caregivers as possible. This meant saying no to student observers and asking the midwives to give me a little space. I’m not sure I even noticed when they left my house. Feeling unobserved in a private space is an important part of relaxing and allowing your body to do its work.
