Prepping for labour

Early days I know but I'm starting to think about how to prepare myself for a natural birth, which is my preference although i'm quite open minded about the whole thing. For those that have given birth before was there anything you felt helped, such as raspberry leaf tea, perineal massage etc? Trying to sort out what's actually worth spending time/money on as this babys already costing the earth 🤣

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I drank raspberry leaf tea and ate dates in the run up to the end, I can’t remember when they say you should start those it might be 36 weeks. I’m not sure if it actually Put me into labour but I did a long walk and lots of walking on the curb and then my contractions started that night but it could have just been coincidence :)

I’ve not given birth before but I can tell you what I am planning to do🥰 - Raspberry leaf tea asap at 32 weeks (if you start to get cramps you are supposed to slow down but it is safe from 32 weeks as it is not a labor inducer) - Yoga ball stretches - Perineal massage (i’ve brought the frida wand and MEW massage oil) - Drink 100% pineapple juice (idk how well this works but i love it anyway so why not!😂) - Pregnancy yoga positions that prioritise stretching the pelvis I know a lot of people will say these things are pointless but they cannot hurt so if you are happy to you may aswell try ❤️

I did perineal massage last time but don’t know if it did anything as I still got a second degree tear 🙈 and also dates in the last few weeks! And sitting on a yoga ball while watching tv in evening and doing certain movements to help get baby in right position x

I did raspberry leaf tea, dates and clary sage drops in the bath. Labour was straight forward and the last part was very quick, baby just pushed himself out 😅. I plan to do the same minus the clary sage this time around x

Things I did and will do again for my second birth: (I was induced unfortunately but had a very fast labour) - good quality raspberry leaf tea (hot tea mama for example) working up from 1-3 cups from 32 weeks - 6x dates a day from 32 weeks - pregnancy yoga stretches from 30 weeks, focusing on hip opening exercises - pregnancy massage to remain relaxed over the final few weeks I'm planning a home birth, and will be doing everything to avoid another induction/hospital birth in general. Personal preference, I felt like being in hospital caused me more stress. Other things to note for ftm/first time vaginal birth - what they say about oxytocin and environment i fully believe in. I am convinced my labour progress was halted by poking and prodding & the stress of being in and out of hospital until i was induced - i also believe my actual fast birthand general psoitive reaction to the induction pessary was due to my consumption of the RL tea & dates. Really focus on positive environments & relaxing experiences.