Tips for your natural labour and birth kit

Here are some tips for your natural labour and birth kit. 

1) Red raspberry herbal leaf tea
-has magnesium to help regulate uterine muscle tone
-to minimise a stop/start labour
-minimise bleeding after birth
-Provide your body with B group vitamins to aid energy for birth and beyond

2) Coconut water
-keeps you and your baby refreshed, rehydrated and nourished
-aids digestive upsets in labour
-aids metabolism and maintenance of energy 

3) Birth Ball
-aids back pain 
-opens pelvis for baby to rotate into the perfect position to be born with ease

4)Chamomile teabags
-helps to relax your nerves and ease pain before, during and afterbirth
-soak chamomile teabags into your baby's bath to help them relax

5)Homemade massage oil
-natural pain relief and reduction of anxiety and pain by up to 50%
-recipe - 100ml Sweet Almond Oil and 8 drops each of essential Lavender Oil and Clary Sage oil 

6)Lip Balm
-Coconut oil in a small container to help with dry lips

7) Tennis Balls tied in a sock
- to aid relaxation and pain relief with the use of counter pressure and massage

8) Healthy snacks and drinks which are easy to eat and digest
- don't forget some snacks for your partner and support person
- Steer clear of fatty foods as they are difficult to digest

-Try light carbs and proteins such as:

• rice cakes with nut butters, jam spread or raw honey
  
• boiled eggs
  
• cheese cubes
  
• trail mix
  
• banana and chia puddings
  
• stewed pear and apple with yoghurt
• granola bars

9) Warm packs
-natural pain relief for a sore back and labour contractions
-if your birth place does not allow microwaveable hot packs, you can access adhesive hot packs from your pharmacy.  

10) Music stored on smartphone/ipod
-aids relaxation by distraction methods 


11) Mindfulness meditation apps on smartphone
-self relaxation aid and body awareness, enabling your body and mind to work at its best

12) Birth plan/ Birth Wishes
- This enables your care providers to be aware of what your preferences are for your birth so they can best help you achieve them
-Please note that you need to be flexible with your birth plans as they do not always go to plan
-The aim of writing a birth plan is that it encourages you to find out about the many options available for your birth.  
-for more info on birth plans, check out this great article from BellyBelly http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/birth-plan-can-you-plan-birth/

13) Camera
- To capture memorable moments


14) Robe, warm socks, pillow, small blanket
-way more comfy than hospital gowns, pillows and blankets
-you will have a slice of home and comfort with you
-if you remain in the nude under your robe, you can easily move around, keep warm and don't need to undress to give birth or have examinations
- In maintaining warmth and comfort during labour:

• You will be more relaxed
• Your natural oxytocin hormones will work more strongly enabling that your natural endorphins to build aiding relaxation and discomfort during and between contractions
  

15) Pack of ice cold microfibre wipes
- wet and freeze microfibre wipe and store in a ziplock bag for labour
- helps to cool you down when you are working hard to birth your baby


16) Pack of dry Microfibre wipes
-useful to wipe up sweat
-Warm and wet compresses on your perineum during second stage will aid it to stretch for birthing your baby and reduce tearing  
-Warm and wet compresses can also be can be applied after birth to your perineum to aid healing and comfort by increasing blood flow and natural healing

For more information on how you can protect your perineum, have a look at this great article by Hannah Dahlen on the Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond website
http://www.pregnancy.com.au/resources/topics-of-interest/labour-and-birth/perfecting-the-perineum.shtml

This information is general advice - discuss this with your care provider for advice on your specific situation.