Ep 54 Navigating the Final Weeks of Pregnancy

In order to feel more at ease, confident, and comfortable in the final weeks of pregnancy, it takes significant and intentional effort and preparation during pregnancy. In this episode, Dr. Shannon and Doula Rachael share tips for preparing your mind, body, and heart for navigating the final weeks of pregnancy so that labor can begin and unfold as it should and you can feel less stress, fear, and doubt during this time. 

They share information about due dates and how you can focus on the due month instead of the due date. They also talk about ways you can prepare your body for labor, signs of labor, what to do if you experience prodromal labor, benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy and early labor, and how to prepare your mind and heart for those final weeks of pregnancy. 

There is no 1-way to get labor started so we focus on all the other ways you can prepare yourself for the final weeks of pregnancy so that you can be more comfortable and feel confident in yourself, your baby, and the normal process of labor and birth. Approaching labor in this way can help avoid an unnecessary induction which can improve overall outcomes and help you have a more positive birthing experience.  

Resources:

Spinning Babies - Daily Activities

The Guide by Ann Marie Gilligan 

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Transcript

0:00

Sorry. Hello, hello friends. This is the aligned birth Podcast. I'm Dr. Shannon and I'm here with doula Rachel today, and today we are talking about navigating the final weeks of pregnancy. We have a fun time coming up with topics for the show and sometimes we like to check in with each other and be like, okay, so what are what are your clients talking to you about, like what is immediately going on right now? Or what is something that keeps coming up or keeps coming back? And so, you know, when talking with Rachel and starting the outline for the show, navigate navigating the final weeks of pregnancy, the uncertainty the unknown, what does labor feel like? When is it going to start? What is real labor? What are the stages of labor? How can we prepare for when labor begins? Are some of the things that we're gonna go in today? There's a mental aspect to this as well. There's some chiropractic things we've taught we can talk about too. And really honing in on those last few weeks of pregnancy because there is so much unknown, so not that we're going to be able to be give you all the answers of the unknown, but more information as far as how to navigate those final weeks, and I'm really excited about this outline. Rachel had set this up, and it's really, really good and we'll have lots of good things to talk about today. So I'm excited to chat with you today about it, Rachel,

1:29

as always, so my friend and I think when people think about the final weeks of pregnancy, I think it's always interesting to hear the different like what people perceive as the final weeks of pregnancy and a lot of times they're thinking like, I don't know everything before 40 weeks and I'm always like, wow, it could be 42 weeks, like the final weeks of pregnancy is anywhere between like 3637 weeks, all the way to 42 weeks. And so for some people, it's just shifting that perspective and letting them sort of see beyond 14 weeks.

2:07

Yes, because well into there was a meme I saw recently and it's like the you know, the lady from Titanic, and it's like, I have been pregnant for years. Like you feel it can feel so long in that last little bit. But uh, yeah, he got there so quickly. So anyway,

2:22

that's right now I can so we were going to begin talking about how to navigate the final weeks of pregnancy by chatting about the due date and kind of flipping that script and we've shared this before but I can't share it enough and we I you know as a birth doula and childbirth educator, this is a conversation I have very regularly and as our clients approach the end of pregnancy, and we really try and emphasize put emphasis on this earlier in pregnancy, but towards the end, we try and remind them about the normal range of pregnancy and it's that 38 to 42 weeks is anything like 3737 38 all the way to 42 weeks is the normal range where most people will give birth. So I think the statistic is like 90 90% or around 90 between 90 and 95% of people will give birth before 42 weeks. Most first time birthing people go into labor around 40 weeks and five days. This is so much so that there's people out there trying to get the due date switched from 40 weeks to 40 weeks and five days. So that's really important to know that five days can make a huge difference. And when we know that most you know that's the that's when most first time people will go into labor. And so I mean, some people go over and some people go under and so when we can kind of normalize the due month, like I love like okay, I don't have a due date. I have a due month and that due month is that 38 to 42 weeks. And so, you know when you share this information, I think when you share that you're pregnant. What's one of the things people always ask, When are you due? When are you due? And now as I'm sure I mean I'm sure I did this a lot before I became a birth worker, but it's also like, what's the gender and When are you due and these are just like really not important things. But nonetheless, one way you can help you kind of shift your, your mindset and theirs is to say mid August, mid September around Thanksgiving, you know,

4:39

think they end march like what you hit yes, yeah.

4:41

And then if they press then you could just say you know, baby baby comes a baby comes like you can just have this language you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna let labor be on its own. I'm gonna let baby choose his birthday, you know, 14 weeks on an eviction notice you can even say only 5% of babies are born on their due date. So I'm not going to focus on that 5% I want to focus on everything else. And be open to that and when we when we flip that script, it helps you feel less anxious and less worried that something's wrong when 40 weeks comes and goes, you know, and if your baby comes at 40 weeks, awesome if your baby comes a few days before Horlicks awesome all degrees of normal your baby comes at 41 in six like minded twice, fine. Also normal right? Obviously this is assuming healthy, low risk. Pregnancy a baby like there's so many factors, right? This isn't to say, people with high blood pressure or gestational diabetes or there are a number of other factors that that don't, aren't you know, they're not safe to go beyond 41 weeks or something like that, like this isn't a one size fits all approach, but it's saying for most birthing people this range is is reasonable and that if you do have risk factors, you can talk to your provider about okay what what's this look like for me? What how do you support going beyond 40 weeks? How do you support going beyond 41 weeks but and then taking into consideration your unique situation but for you know, most people these conversations are happening earlier in pregnancy before we sort of know more so just focusing on the due month and sharing that with your family and friends will help prepare them. It'll help prepare you mentally so that when the time comes, you know I say if you if you focus on the 42 week mark, if you say okay, you're given your due date at the at your doctor or midwife. Add two weeks and literally that's your focus on that date. It is a that is a mental exercise, right? Hey, that's my due date and then baby is very likely to come before then. Yes, just helps you prepare

6:34

and that thing but that's important with it's that mental game and that mental shift what you're talking about too, because I remember too, and I've shared before just my baby was late, you know, pass that due date. I'm doing air quotes. And it was that was really hard because I felt like okay, well why isn't this happening? And it was just a lot of it just added to the already anxiety you can have as a new moms already going into like that uncertainty, you know, of labor. When's it going to begin? So yeah, I think that's really, really important for that that headspace that you're in

7:14

trouble Yeah. And knowing it's normal, safe another like normal physiological birth and like how to support that and it's letting labor begin on its own. And part of that is not focusing on the due date because that's just this like it's an to get a guest date. That's another way you can phrase it. It's a guest date. Like even even if you have a good idea when you can see if there's still some variation like there's this like average length of pregnancy it's not that even if you know conception date that the baby is going to come out at exactly 40 weeks. So it's just there's a range and and a lot of inductions occur because of due dates and no other risk factors. I always say if due date is the only reason for induction. Be sure to talk to your care provider and ask the good questions about the risk of being induced the risk of waiting longer the benefits of being induced the benefits of waiting longer. What are my available alternatives, you know, and know and trust that letting labor be going on its own is a positive sign that both you and your body and your baby are ready for labor, right? So I always like to share the cool fact about the baby's lungs. They're like the last thing to develop and when they're done developing they release prostaglandins that settle on the cervical mucus. And that's the very beginning of labor. And so when we can realize, Oh, my body will send that for most people. It knows it sends the signal that okay, my baby's ready to be born. And so trusting that and trusting your baby is really helpful and then knowing if you do get to a point and you need, you know, you've gone beyond and there's time for you know, to it's safer for baby to be born than to stay inside the womb, then okay, we can take some steps to get labor going like induction is not terrible or something to be completely scared of. Our goal is to avoid the unnecessary induction and to let for as many people labor begin on its own because there are benefits to that. And when we can avoid the unnecessary induction we can avoid some of the unnecessary interventions that come sometimes down the line. So

9:12

and see all of that based on that mental aspect of short, flipping the script on that due date, you know, and changing it to that do mind I mean all of that it can all be connected.

9:23

Oh, for sure. And when you were telling yourself your entire pregnancy, like it's normal to go to, you know, normal, safe and healthy to go to 42 weeks, and then when your due date comes and goes you're not immediately questioning is something wrong, okay? Is everything okay? Is my body going to work? Because as soon as you start having those doubts, it interferes with the flow of labor and interferes in the flow of hormones because stress and cortisol diminish oxytocin and we want oxytocin to flow so that labor can start on its own. And so when we focus on that, when we put less emphasis on the due date, it just helps us feel more at ease and, you know, opens up more opportunity for labor to just begin as it should.

10:06

Yes, so that's yes, navigating the final weeks of pregnancy, but this is something this is the mental game that we start and play with ATT you know, even towards the beginning, like you were saying and kind of shift

10:17

begins at the beginning. Yeah, and it'll help you in the end, right. If, if, if you're just getting introduced to this idea, 30 weeks, it's gonna be a lot harder for you to mentally get your head around, and your family to because it's 40 weeks and they're texting you and they're calling you is the baby here we have the baby are you in

10:35

labor still at work? And they're like, Oh, you're still here. ticked me off. Oh,

10:40

I worked at 48 He's

10:41

about to punch you. I know abs

10:44

and I told him I was gonna keep working. And then I finally I kind of hit a wall and I was like, Okay, I need to be done. And that's fine. But yeah,

10:50

because people were getting on my nerves. Oh, I

10:52

mean, I would tell people I was hit like 10 days past my due date. And one guy was like, Don't stay too far away from the hospital. Labor and I was like, it doesn't happen. That like

11:06

just gonna like pop out on the floor because at Walmart because I'm you know, I'm

11:15

when you prepare everyone leading up right when you use your whole pregnancy, then those family members are most likely on board. They're not going to be harassing you ideally, you know, they're not they're like, well, she said the end you know, are you give them the 42 week because your due date, right? That's the best tell them your due date is your 48 week mark. I wish I had done that. And then it's like they're not going to be bothering you because all well intentioned, all loving. It really is but it gets in your head every time you get a text. Have you gone into labor if the baby hear something wrong? Are you okay? Are Gone the doctor what are all the things it messes up? And so our goal here is to sort of understand that you need to prepare mentally, emotionally and physically for those final weeks of pregnancy so that you can because it's not easy, it is not easy. You want to meet your baby and you want it to happen sooner than later. But being in the right headspace best you can because it's gonna be hard, like even doing all these things. You're still going to have maybe a hard time but trying to set yourself up for success.

12:17

Exactly. Yes. So getting that that mental space, right. Okay, what are some tips for preparing our bodies for labor and birth?

12:31

So many good tips for preparing the body for labor and birth. You know, again, a lot of people towards the end of pregnancy want to know, like, how can I get labor going? What are the tricks, you know, and especially as a birth worker, I think people think I have like magic or tricks that I can just

12:46

been asked Oh, do you can you do the adjustment that gets labor going and I was like, I don't know that one.

12:56

Right. There are things that you can do that's sometimes correlate with labor going up labor starting but that's there's no way to really know like the thing that actually got labor going. So I like to tell people to focus on getting your body prepared in different ways not doing things not going on a three mile walk or on a bumpy car ride or, you know, John Delaney eat the farmers or eggplant parmesan like eat the pineapple core. There's so many things and and I've tried some of them right. Reminder I went to 41 instance of good man. So towards the end, I definitely was like, you get to a point where you want to start trying things. It's just one way to start too early with trying other things. It can wear you out, it can discourage you because the reality is, it only works when your body and baby are ready. So it's not even the thing. It's just that it happened. Like, you know the chiropractic adjustment that sends you into labor. It's just was you went to the chiropractor and then you went into labor. Now, there are benefits to doing a lot of things leading up like chiropractic routine chiropractic care, that's going to help your body be ready to go into labor more smoothly. And easily. Then not so there's benefit there but knowing that there's like there's not like one thing you can do that's going to start labor and it looks different you'll hear all kinds of so this worked for me this work for me and it might it might have but there's there's just no like exact precise thing you can do. So we say prepare the body and mind. So here we're gonna talk about the body. And I say treat it like it's your job right treat your take that time especially at the end of end of pregnancy, treat it like it's your job and really prioritize rest and releasing tension, hydration connection with your partner. And if you're not partnered up then connection with close family and friends, doing things that make you laugh, doing things that help you feel safe and comfortable and confident. So really preparing for this time and thinking through what are these things? What does this look like for me and making a list of them? Getting on the schedule. If you're able prenatal massage regularly, you know, go ahead and schedule yourself out like schedule yourself through 42 weeks. Chiropractic care upping it and you can share I know you're going to share more about chiropractic care but you know, routine chiropractic care and then upping it in those final weeks of pregnancy. You know we like to say Hannah and I when we talk to our birth doula clients if you cannot walk your baby out. You cannot walk your baby out. And people all you can do by walking and walking and walking is exhausted yourself and exhaust your muscles. So that when labor starts it is you're you're

15:44

you're coming from a place of lack already. Yeah. And you can empathize.

15:47

With this being a long distance runner is like we tell our clients it's a marathon it is not a sprint. And so when we're preparing for the end of pregnancy, treating treating your body like it's beginning a marathon so you're hydrating, you're eating well rested, and yeah, yes. I've got that plan. Yeah, so like when you're running a big race, you don't run the marathon like the day before the marathon, right? Like you don't, you don't exhaust you don't go do the big thing. So we try and encourage people and remind them that you can't walk your baby out and we use the example to like something an activity that's just as beneficial and not as tiring as sitting on your yoga ball. And doing big hip circles or big figure eight circle. You're a Yep, yeah. And so especially if it's warmer in the summer, you're gonna get dehydrated by being out in the heat. So you can drink your water watch a funny show, watch a movie you love. Have your partner nearby and sit on the ball and do some big hip circles. Now if you want to go for a walk, go for a walk. We just, you know don't want people to

16:50

have to it's it is like that intention with it. It's not like, Oh, if I'm huffing and puffing on I really push it up this hill and I exert myself, then that's preparing, you know, no, it can be that you know a gentle Walker, that's fine. But yes, it's kind of that that purpose behind

17:10

it? Right? Like we just because if you go into labor that night and you've walked three miles that day, like your legs are going to be more fatigued you're gonna maybe be more dehydrated, and you know, dehydration and fatigue and exhaustion are like some of the key factors for meeting pain management and other interventions in labor. So how can we avoid that? How can we take care of ourselves and this begins early in pregnancy, right? But also really important in those final weeks of pregnancy and focus on releasing tension clearing the emotional and mental blocks, if you're feeling some fear, feeling some anxiety, you know, talk to someone verbally processing with someone, sometimes crying it out, like if you're really tired and worn out and wondering when when labor is going to begin. Or maybe you've been having some prodromal labor which we'll talk about in a little bit which is like this kind of start and stop nature of labor. You're exhausted and you are frustrated and it's okay, it's okay to feel that way. So the speaking it out like saying I'm uncertain I'm fearful I'm scared, I frustrated all the things like get it out. That can help release tension other ways you can release tension is like dancing, connection with your partner sex if you're feeling up for it. And connection with your partner doesn't always have to be sex. It can be cuddling. It can be kissing, it can be taking a shower together, it can be watching a funny movie together. All of these things release tension, so does motional connect Yeah, huge and that's gonna support oxytocin and what do we need for labor to start oxytocin? And I mean, and sex is great, right? Sex serves a purpose to if you're having sex with your partner and that feels right to you. It's cool fact is that semen has prostaglandins in it which helps soften the cervical help soften the cervix, right. So same thing that's released when the baby's lungs are developed. So that can help prepare the cervix so that when the thing gets the signal that it's time for labor to start, then it's more likely to respond. So sex is something that can be beneficial, but if you're not feeling it, fine, if you're not with a partner, find that it's not the end all be all. You can also mean orgasm is also good too. I mean, I guess maybe warning here for anyone listening I'm talking about sex and orgasm

19:20

but it's a birth it's a birth podcast so

19:23

Lina me you know, like if if sex isn't your thing, or that's not happening for you. orgasm is also really good. That releases oxytocin that makes the uterus contract like that can help too. So some options there for releasing tension. And then I think Epsom salt baths are really good. What else and then I think moving into chiropractic care if you want to share about

19:48

Yeah, and you'd add I love the piano massage because sometimes I mentioned that to moms too, who've got that tension. That's something to help release some of that as well. Um, you know, it depends too. Yes. You had mentioned kind of upping some of those, the adjustments, maybe they're closer together. And it really does depend to what's going on with the birth but yeah, you know, I like to see mom's a little bit more often in those last little bits because we do have lots of shifts and changes going on then. And not not only seeing mom's for that physical aspect of the adjustment and really looking at the biomechanics, making sure the pelvis and the sacrum are not subluxated and that sort of thing, but also looking at it from like a stress relief and a stress management aspect of things and helping to alleviate that and to process the stressors better. Again, to while we're looking at chiropractic adjustments, and the impact it can make on nervous system function helping parasympathetic nervous system function better looking at vagus nerve and all of those fun things. So in that aspect as well, too. A lot of times that I'm in the office, we're going over like I do love saying you know, get a yoga ball, birth ball, whatever you want to call it, and you've mentioned to sitting on that, that anterior tilt to the pelvis is good those figure eights as well too, because that can feel really good and help bring some of that calm and relaxation. Something I'm going over with most of my mom's throughout the pregnancy, but I like to kind of hit him to is that like being on all fours to really help with optimal fetal positioning to we really want that occiput posterior, so making sure that the back of the baby's head is towards the mom's front and that just ensures a little bit of an easier labor and birth experience. And so all fours whether you're doing cat cow or not, I know belly gets in the way with all those things, even if you're just just on all fours can just happen you can sway side to side you can rock side to side that can feel really really good as well. I'm you know, obviously maximizing sleep as best we can. All the pillows. Use all the pillows. Towards the end. It's just like there's just pillows everywhere, which is fine, but like between the knees, even have your cradle pillows at the chest and the shoulders aren't collapsing as well. Those can help when those last little bits do something also that we're talking about through most of the pregnancy but then those final check ins with like birth prep and support team and are we supported because if we do have some thoughts and feelings and things that are coming up, and those last little bit what are the ways that we can support with functioning and helping you function better with those thoughts and

22:38

feelings? Well, yeah, and that's why it's like great to have your senior chiropractor regularly. If you have a midwife or doctor and your doula if you have one like these people you're seeing right like even a prenatal massage therapist, like people who are familiar with pregnancy and what you're going through and can help empathize and be compassionate will help you feel supported and safe. And that again, can help provide the space you need to go into labor. All that makes a difference when you have that kind of care. And then also on the note about sleeping is of course we want to maximize sleep. I think it's important to recognize you or to acknowledge that we know you're probably not sleeping. Like for super long stretches of time. It's not the same so that that idea of like okay, I didn't get a lot of sleep last night.

0:01

So where in your day are you able to find rest and maybe it's not sleep maybe you can't sleep because it's uncomfortable or you have you know, a lot of thoughts going in your head that can you get those pillows positioned where you're in a good position in the bed or on the couch and watching the show and like just really just have some rest time and then maybe you doze off and maybe you don't, but it's at least giving yourself a chance to just sort of relieve some tension relax and hopefully fall asleep and catch up on some sleep but if not, that's okay too. So kind of rest and sleep. Doing that as as much as you can. is really nice and I think taking like a warm bath in the evening before bed can maybe help provide more sleep, trying to go to bed a little bit earlier. Stay in the bed a little bit longer, if possible. If your schedule allows, again, to conserve that energy and take care of your body in a way that's going to help your body being in a good position for labor. And of course, activity is good. So I've focused a lot on rest, that activity is good too. But it's just the balance of activity with rest. And if you're you know, just Don't overextend yourself and if your body's sending you signals, like if you're having a lot of Braxton Hicks, which is like the tightening of the belly or you're feeling dehydrated, like these signals to your body are like, okay, take a beat, put your feet up, drink some water, you know, and then when you're feeling up to incorporate rest, so it's this balance. It's really important for the physical preparation for labor more so than like doing things to get labor going.

1:27

Exactly. Because when we are that rested and feel that comfortable, and in that nice space. I think it is easier for labor to begin. Yeah, and I think I mentioned

1:40

before, and it's easier said than done. A lot of the things we say but when you can be intentional, and have these tips and start planning before you get to the final minutes of pregnancy I ideally what we are trying to do is help it be an easier time. You know, when you might not be able to do all these things, but trying to focus on some of them can help you achieve the end result.

2:01

Yes. And then you mentioned while we were talking like you mentioned the word Braxton Hicks, so let's go into like what what how do we know if it is real labor, you know, and then you even mentioned prodromal labor. So what how do we define those things?

2:17

So Grace, so this is what we hear a lot from our clients and it's totally understandable. I've been there too, with both of mind wandering and experiencing these things. So Braxton Hicks can occur really at any point during pregnancy. And it is a tightening of the abdominal muscles and tissue. So they really can wrap around from your back and the whole belly just gets really really tight and they might last a 20 or 30 seconds. They tend to increase more when you're dehydrated or when you've been like overactive or Baby's like moving around a lot if if baby doesn't have a lot of space in there and is moving around that might trigger some Braxton Hicks contractions. Some people call them practice contractions, and but they don't actually make change on the cervix. So whereas actual labor is changing the cervix, and so Braxton Hicks can be more of a frustrating thing and more of a distraction and maybe interfere with sleep. Or your work day. We find that people who are working on their feet a lot during the day tend to have more Braxton Hicks and this summer, they tend to increase drinking as much drink enough water. Yeah, and

3:28

some people just have a uterus is

3:30

it's like exercising. Yeah, it's just like it's flex kind of practicing. Yeah. And so you know, again, Epsom salt baths, hydration massage, taking a load off sort of sitting down taking some deep breaths and knowing to the people who are like second and third and fourth time after you've already had one child and you're pregnant, then people tend to have Braxton Hicks earlier and more often. And I'm not sure exactly the reason. I also think part of it so you're more aware. And you were you notice more I always

4:02

wonder if I could baby movements. You know, you feel it a little bit earlier in that

4:06

sense, right? You

4:07

know what that is? Yeah, exactly. That Yes.

4:13

So that's Braxton Hicks and then prodromal labor so pajama labor is cool. It is tough, because it is more like really very, like it actually feels like a little bit deeper, like more menstrual crampy. It's less of the forearm tightening and it's deeper and it's similar to a labor contraction. However, it's not changing the cervix. It's not really fitting, softening, dilating the cervix. prodromal labor can occur a day before real labor begins. It can occur three weeks or longer before Labor began. So some people who have project labor for weeks before the actual labor begins. It's very exhausting. It's very frustrating, because it feels a lot like labor. And what we tell our clients is like, okay, ignore it until you can't or, you know, if it doesn't stop, then that's a good sign that it's really over. But then it goes on for three or four hours, and they're like, how do I know if it's not going to stop, right? There's like this. It's a mind. If it's like a I won't say the word. It messes with your mind and messes.

5:22

You're like what is going on? And so with prodromal labor, though, so sometimes you'll hear like, if you take a bath or go for a walk or something, do something like that, and the contractions stop, right. And we know Okay, that was potentially Braxton Hicks does prodromal act in that same way?

5:37

Yeah, it does. It doesn't it doesn't and we I mean, intense, like, if you're arresting and you're having a general labor, we just say okay, get up and walk around or go do something or if you're doing something and you're having it we're like, okay, go rest and usually doing the opposite will make it to slow down a little bit. Sometimes, sometimes not. Sometimes it continues and then that can also if that's not a clear indicator, so that can mess with people too because they're like, Well, I've changed position I've done a bath I've went for a walk. I've done these things. I'm still experiencing it. So the next clarifying thing is okay, are the contractions getting stronger, longer and closer together? Is there a noticeable is it are things progressing in any fashion. And if they're not, then it's most likely prodromal labor or you're just an early labor because and again, those can kind of gray and blur together. prodromal labor can lead into early labor. And so how you know is that the contractions will get stronger, and they'll get longer and they'll get closer together and prodromal labor your contractions are like maybe 3020 30 seconds. They don't last as long. They might be spread out more sporadic. And until you're really having like good, consistent, strong long contractions, that's when change to the cervix occurs. And so for generally for might help you thin might help the cervix then it might you might dilate a little bit but it's not causing a lot of change. And so it's it's just best to ignore it until you can't. So carry on with your day as normal until you're getting the clear signals that it's shifting in intensity. Or and it really hasn't stopped it's continued to go on. And so ignore it until you can't stay distracted. Carry on with your day as normal. Try and really rest as much as you can during this time. Alternate rest and activity, take a bath stay hydrated, all those same things that we continue to drive home and then I say to my clients, like let's talk about it, because you're feeling things you're feeling you are experiencing. So let's talk it out. I can remind you about what's normal, safe and healthy and can remind you what's happening inside your body. I can give you some things to try. Give you some tips, give a little pep talk and then you can carry on and we might need to do that a few times to get you through so that you don't get too discouraged because if you start doubting yourself and questioning yourself, that's gonna lead to interference in the in labor progress. And so we really want to keep you in a good headspace.

7:59

But I think that's a beautiful thing to add about the benefits of having a doula so yes, like in the actual birthing process. It's great to have that doula there to remind you like hey, remember we talked about these things? This was your birth plan and it's great with that but then the beforehand because this can be invaluable to to ease your mind so you're not constantly calling maybe your OB maybe you're getting a different nurse every time, aren't you? No, no, you're not getting these consistent answers. And you don't have that trusted source of the person that knows you. And so I think this is a beautiful aspect of what a doula can offer as well because they'll know too if I'm talking to this mom, and you can share the changes with transition, you know, the differences. So they're doing these behind the scene calculation. It's like me when I watch people walk, and I'm like, oh, yeah, their pelvis is totally out like I'm doing behind the scene calculations that don't necessarily need to be verbalized right now. But like, I'm also saying, Okay, we're able to have this conversation. We're just an either early labor pajama level, we're gonna do these things and then we'll check back in Yeah, how much comfort? Yes. invaluable. The amount of the the comfort that can that can bring you

9:10

Yeah, I mean, I think so. That's the benefit. I found that my own doula and that's what we bring to

9:15

our lives. That's what I had because I know I wouldn't have gone to the hospital early as early as I did with my first but I was like, Oh, my gosh, I was in labor all night. I've been tracking it, and we're gonna go and so yeah,

9:27

and I mean, I've had a client specifically that this has happened several times where they're having prodromal labor. It's starting stopping there around their due date right there in that window. But the start and stop nature just really got them in their head a little bit like isn't my deaf Yeah. And just feeling discouraged. And so we have talked a lot on the phone and then one day I just went over there and like we had a verbal process and we just talked about she had tears you know, got to really kind of say how she was feeling about it. And then it was like a day or two later. Just got her feeling a little bit better. And then a day or two later she went to labor and it ended up being like a very fast progress you know, in a good way, good. Progressing smooth, unmedicated uneventful birth and I do think one of the sometimes when they have that predominate over it really is priming and prepping the body so that when labor does begin when we let it began and the body is really ready to receive it, babies either have time to get into position, the cervix has began to soften and thin which is important for the rest of labor to progress. Things are happening in that time. So we can kind of receive it that way. And so she had a really great experience. And afterwards, she was like, God, that sucks. But it was great. Like, that time when she could put herself back in that time, but she was so glad that she sort of fought through it right. She chose to fight through it instead of give up and that's what I was trying. I was there for her but she did it right that's all her I was just there like cheering her on and reminding her what she could do and and then she was so glad she waited because things ended up going really well. So you know, and everyone's different, of course and labor unfolds differently for everyone. But pajama labor is interesting. And there's no clear, like, definition or reasons. There's some people that go Why am I experiencing this and then when I write out the possibilities of reasons, it's like, it could be so many things. It could be positioning the baby dehydration, just how you labor. So many things. Like yeah, so let's not worry about that. Let's you don't worry that about how you can get through this time and not wear yourself out. And some people want to like go like work as soon as prodromal labor starts. They want to like work with the contractions to get labor going. And again, if you're having worked on wiper for weeks before your birth, that's going to absolutely wear you out so it's almost like go the other direction and really focus on releasing tension, clearing mental emotional blocks, connection with your partner hydration, focus on those things and rest. And then when it sends a clear signal that we're really moving into real labor, then you can we want you to work with the labor doing positional things doing but you know, spinning babies to app and and then work with it. Of course that's beneficial. But if you do it too much, you're gonna wear yourself out. And so, you know, there's a lot of signs of labor that could also be occurring during prodromal labor. So you might have you know, you might lose your mucus plug, which is the it's exactly what it sounds like. It's a glob of mucus around the base of your cervix that protects it and it starts to come out and like pregnancy and as your cervix is making change. And some people have a lot of this some people have none of this and it can be a sign of labor but it can also just be like okay, bodies preparing but it's not like imminent. Whereas like if your water breaks, like that's a more like positive sign of labor, right like that's things that like you're going to be moving towards labor and or you need to be moving towards labor. If if contractions haven't started on their own. You know, you might have some back pain you might feel achy, you might feel a sudden burst of energy to clean the house that's back the strong nesting urge. You might have increased vaginal discharge that happens. All of these things you might clear out your bowels right you might have increased bowel movements. All of these are like body priming itself and you might be having prodromal labor all mixed in. So it can be it can be a lot happening. But that's all just your body preparing and I think it's really important to normalize this process and that for some people, this process goes really quickly or doesn't really happen in its entirety. And then for some people, they experience all of it and it takes several weeks, and both are normal. I think that's really important for people to to have that in their head when they're preparing for those final weeks of pregnancy about how it can look and all the variations of that they're not feeling like they're broken or they're not feeling discouraged or they're not feeling like happening happening. Right like

13:53

okay, I'm supposed to use lose the mucus plug and then the water break and I just I remember being confused and being like, I think my water broke or I might have just peed on myself. I don't Oh my gosh, all the time. And just Yeah, and it doesn't it was not like this giant gush of water that you see in the movies do so that's also part of I think were normalizing these normal aspects of the body preparing in that it's not gonna look exactly like what maybe what you've seen in the movies and you even did a whole episode like these birth perceptions and things which is really good to listen to because you got to get a get out of your head. There was a little bit of that

14:27

I tell people all the time if your perception of birth is only from the movies or TV it's ill informed. For most for vast majority of people, it does not look the way it looks in movies and that's fine. That's movie and TV. It's not real, but so I'm like watch videos, do the childbirth education. Like if you're able, you know, have a doula so they can help you learn about the normal process of giving birth. And when we do it feels less scary and fearful and when we feel less scared and fearful. Labor has more space to begin and that's the point of this conversation

15:01

is the point. Because I do think back on mine, I had so much fear, fear of the unknown fear of pain, fear of what was going to happen, all of these things. And I think that was a big part of my cascade of interventions with my emergency C section with my first and so how do we alleviate that fear the best way we can really just had this being overloaded with information. Yep, yeah. All right. Where are we on our list here? Anything else you wanted to add to the the aspects of labor

15:35

or while I think it's important to note to circling back to chiropractic care when we're talking about chiropractic care during pregnancy? You can also have chiropractic care during labor. I like if my clients are having either prolonged prodromal labor or like a long early part of labor, or maybe a stalled early labor. And like

16:00

I when people when I pull people that yeah, I've just did I've just a woman in labor. I think they are thinking, you know, I'm probably seen for the movies like we're yelling and screaming and in paid and we're transitioning, we're literally like, the baby's crowning, like, that is not

16:16

you ever like when are you going to adjust the baby in this scenario? Yeah, right. I mean, I just the birthing.

16:21

Yeah, I'm like, well, that, you know, that's not quite it, but and we've even shared in a previous first story that with the shared patient client that we've worked with Jessica's first story, because what I think was so fun about that is that she was in labor, and then it stalled. And so you as a doula thinking, Okay, well, what are the things we can do because that didn't her? I think her water had broken. I can't.

16:45

She had a premature rupture of membrane. Yeah. So and then contraction, I didn't start right away. And that's a degree of normal but what's your water's broken? If you do want to start on a timeline a little bit on time, but it's also not a an you don't run to the hospital as soon as your water's broken, and she was such a good testament. I'd like she stayed home she carried on as normal. And then was like, okay, in that afternoon when when contractions haven't really picked up, she went to see you, you know, she went to get an adjustment and then as soon after that contractions started and labor proceeded very nicely.

17:19

And you know, sometimes to even when water when the water does break, like I know with my second that I believe he immediately dropped down and so that's why I didn't have that big gush is because like his head immediately dropped down and blocked the rest of the flow of that amniotic fluid. So like, so when if that we have that happening, and we've had a mom who's been under care for her whole pregnancy, and then it's like, why did the labor stall if we if everything was, you know, pelvis was balanced and that sort of thing? Well, maybe when water broke? Yeah, we did drop down and it wasn't an optimal position. You know, yeah, there's could have been things there. So that's where that adjustment isn't always going to work like no but it is like we've mentioned it's one of the things variables can be very beneficial be adjusted in labor, so And yes, I've worked with several other moms too, that have been like, okay, just early stages, just knowing like, feeling more regularity to some of these contractions. They're, they're they're becoming more often, you know, frequent throughout the day, not necessarily a regularity to the timing of them, you know, tracking it that way. But yeah,

18:25

no, I definitely I did it myself. I went and saw the chiropractor when I was in early labor, and I recommend it to my clients, if they're able, and they've been usually obviously if they've already been under care.

18:37

Yes, that's a big thing. Because I you know, I do get people that come like, Oh, I've got, you know, mom and lay it. Every office is different. Every chiropractor is different. I do like to have that established relationship with the patient and I take what I do very seriously if I do an exam, and so then it's the element of time is in there too, as far as like, Well, I do need to do an exam on you because I do would like to adjust your spine. So yeah, there's that aspect too. So that's, you know, getting established beforehand, but, again, those adjustments in that last little bit before labor and birth really gets going. Again, helps look at that biomechanical physiological aspect of the pelvis and sacrum alignment, the nerve supply that's coming out from there, but then also really helping calm the nervous system down, too, and relieving some anxiety. as well.

19:30

Yeah. And that's another release of tension. Right? That's another that helps clear stuff out even if it's subtle, like somebody will just feel like they don't see the or feel the difference right away. And it's like, oh, but stuff still happening. And so that's yeah, you know, really important during again, those final weeks of pregnancy. Or in early labor, if things are kind of starting and stopping or going slowly, like it just it's a wonderful thing to do. And I will also add for other things to do or things to consider for preparing the body. kind of I guess that's going back a little bit but and I'm gonna link it but it's the daily activities from spinning babies. And that's a pregnancy you want to kind of do that throughout your pregnancy. That's not like a get labor started activity. It's like preparing the body in a really effective way for baby to be in the best position for you to have strength and endurance. And so incorporating those into your routine somewhere wherever it goes right and doing what you can what you got can be really helpful for letting labor start and proceed smoothly and and eventually.

20:31

And that can give you like, the simple thing so you know, like it doesn't have to be complicated little things you can add in right to your day now. We have mentioned to that mental component of navigating these final weeks of pregnancy. The hardest part, yes, so go let's tell us some more. Let's do some more work on what you like to call the mental Olympics. It is associated with labor and

20:59

it is mental Olympics are mental aerobics, whatever you want to call it is work and it is easier said than done. And I mean, I think it is the absolute first and greatest test of our patients as parents. I always tell that to our clients, especially if they're first time if they've already had children. They understand how your patients are tested as a parent but as a first time birthing person. I'm like this is you are beginning this is you are already a parent and it is being listened to that your first greatest test is happening right now and these final weeks of pregnancy and how you sort of approach it mentally is makes a big difference. And it's not saying like you have to be in a positive headspace or be you know, manifesting everything or you know, be perfectly mentally healthy. This is not saying that at all. It's just saying that during pregnancy, how can you prepare, so that you have the best chance at being in a good headspace during those final weeks of pregnancy? And there's far more we've talked a lot about the physical stuff, but I think it's far more mental and emotional challenging than physical. And those final weeks of pregnancy. Yes, you're uncomfortable with the mental work you have to do to sort of get up and keep going each day and be proactive in your care and not want to give up and and still continue to advocate for yourself and avoid the unnecessary induction and and his day to day it is not like okay, I have this one thing I got through it. I'm done. It is day after day after day until Labor begins that you're like having this like mental exercise. And I think things that can really help navigate this time with more ease includes deep belly breathing, so that diaphragmatic belly breathing and really as much as you can with your pregnant belly taking a big inhale and filling up your abdominal area before you kind of fill up your lungs and your chest. big deep breath nice and slow and maybe going like five or six seconds in and then like going seven or eight seconds on the exhale. And when you exhale, you're going to really empty out your lungs all the way down to the point where you're like pulling in your abdomen and your belly button and almost like your pelvic floor lifts and then you take another big inhale same way and then exhale longer than the inhale and then do that like five times. Put your hands on your belly connect with your baby. This is great to do on the potty on the toilet every time you go to the bathroom. It's a good like, you know, if you can't find time otherwise do it when you're going to the bathroom. This helps. You know bring a connection to your pelvic floor helps you relax, helps you helps

23:34

bring about that parasympathetic part of the nervous system that stimulates vagus nerve and this makes them rest and digest and gets us out of fight or flight. So it's like a

23:43

simple reset. Yeah, so I think that's a good place to start. You can do it anywhere you can do it in the car. You can do it on the toilet, you can do it your bedroom, I do it even now before I go to bed to help me and I hope it helps me go to sleep every time I do it. So I say start there. That's a good place to start. You know verbal affirmations you could do audio affirmations, you can write down affirmations and make sort of words that that help you be reminded about trusting your body trusting your baby, trusting the this whole process and you know your body's made for this like you are strong and capable. You know all of those things to help you stay in a positive mindset. Verbally processing I think is incredibly helpful. So with your partner is good, trusted family or friend doula is even better. And then like a military naval mental health counselor is also really helpful too because again, they're they're this like, non bias. Third party who can't who knows about pregnancy and birth and and can empathize and be compassionate and provide you a safe place to kind of verbally process what you're going through even if you aren't like having one. One main issue. It's still a great tool to use to help you release that stress and anxiety in a safe way. And I think it's really good to do this with your partner too. But sometimes when we do it with certain people it doesn't benefit us as much as I can redo it with that non bias party. So we do this a lot with our clients. So as a doula we do it a lot. But I also definitely, like encourage that that next level support with a trained counselor. But just getting it out just like speaking it out. Like I've told that story before where I went to my client's house, we sat in her nursery, and she let it all go, she just let it all go and there were tears again, that's, that's a release, right? So she verbally released you emotionally released. And I think that helps. But sometimes we have to do that over and over again. Like I was just talking to a client yesterday and we had a long chat on the phone. She's experiencing prodromal labor, she's having some feels, and we just talked and I'm like, so this isn't all this is going to take we might need to have the same conversation a couple more times and that's okay. And that's that verbal processing that can help people kind of incrementally get through each hurdle you know, until they get to the end, and then releasing tension. Again, we've sort of said that a few times, but finding outlets to help your body and it's not just relaxing. So a lot of people say just relax or I'm gonna I need relaxation. It's like really we need to release tension. So really release the mental tension release the emotional tension and release the physical tension to make way for labor to begin.

26:28

You know, and I think one part of it can be the, I think of the contractions. It reminds me of being in chiropractic school. And there was we take a physical therapy section and you do like you work with ultrasound and E stem. So electrical stimulation, so you put the little pads on the muscles and it contracts the muscles and I remember I was like I don't like this because I'm seeing my muscle contract but yet my I'm not consciously doing that. Right. And it's kind of the same thing with labor. Like you're not the one saying, okay, uterus, you're going to contract and then we're gonna have a contract and then you're going to stop like it's it's kind of this aspect of you. You're not out of control, but it's like that conscious control of it. You know, it's the body kind of takes over and knows and has this beautiful innate ability and way of knowing how to birth like you know how to do it, you just may not know that you know how to do it. Right. And I think that's, that could bring a lot of tension when you start to feel those things and it's like, I'm feeling out of control. This is overwhelming. It's pushing, you know, all of those things. And so, these little these little things that we've mentioned here as far as those affirmations, and doing all of these things we can to prepare to give you that mental space for that heads up of you know, it may feel like this and so those are those things that you can do beforehand. I just remember those those feelings for me,

27:58

that's real, that's real and that is so similar and that's been out I've done it myself and I support many clients through this time, and there's really nothing more challenging than the final weeks of pregnancy, especially if you're struggling with some prodromal labor or going beyond your due date. It is it's while it is finite and temporary and short lived. It is one of the hardest parts it's most people say it's harder than the actual labor. You know, depending on obviously how your labor goes but like so if we can help make that easier or just think about it in a different way or a tip that resonates with you then we feel like we've succeeded and we love this conversation and sharing in a hopefully meaningful way and hopefully we found something that you feel is helpful.

28:42

That's right. So share it with friends and family that you think could benefit from it. You can leave us ratings and

28:48

reviews. Let us know what you like and be sure to stay tuned for next week's episode.