Ep 131: Due Dates and The Holidays (rebroadcast)

If you are pregnant and due around the holidays, this episode is for you. When it comes to navigating the end of pregnancy, there are several mixed feelings and emotions and likely some degree of discomfort and eagerness to meet your baby and for the pregnancy to be over.  Every path is unique for each birthing person.

What works for one person may not work for you and what works for you may not work for someone else. The goal is for you to feel as confident and prepared for this time of pregnancy and that you’ve had conversations withs with your provider leading up to your birth to fully understand how they support letting labor begin on its own and this includes going beyond your due date and learning about medical and non-medical reasons a provider may recommend an induction. 

In this episode, we will discuss:

• What is the “estimated due date” and how to know what is normal, safe, and healthy for the length of pregnancy. 
• Rates of inductions and birth surrounding major holidays
• Avoiding the unnecessary induction
• Informed and shared decision making
• Why it’s important to let labor begin on its own
• Navigating the final weeks of pregnancy

Episodes mentioned in this podcast:

• Ep 26: Due Dates and Holidays
• Ep 40: Lamaze 6 Healthy Birth Practices
• Ep 54: Navigating Final Weeks of Pregnancy
• Ep 65: Gentle Induction
• Ep 71: All About Prenatal Massage Therapy with Tara Thompson
• Ep 77: Informed and Shared Decision Making

Transcript

0:05

Hello, hello, this is the Aligned Birth Podcast. You've got

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Dr. Shannon here today, and you have doula Rachel. We are the hosts of the show. And today's show is a little bit different than what we

0:18

have done in some of the past. So we're talking about due dates and the holidays. And there's some things that can come up with that when you're working with your provider. And so in clients that Rachel's work with patients that I've worked with, this is something that comes up and so it's a very relevant topic. But we've already done that episode. So we've done a due dates in the holidays episode, but today we're going to revisit it because when we do that episode way back in the day when we first started this podcast, we have a plethora of other episodes that have come out that we want to kind of linked together with this. So that's what we're doing with our episode today. So again, we're revisiting our due dates in the holidays and then Rachel is going to tell us why we are actually talking about this and what are some of the issues that can come up with dealing with your estimated due date

1:11

and a potential holiday situation. Hello, and welcome to the alive bird podcast. We are so glad you're here. I'm Dr. Standing a prenatal chiropractic

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and I'm Rachel a birth doula and childbirth educator and we are the team behind the live birth podcast.

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Between us we have experienced necessary in birth a VBAC, hospital birth and home birth. Our personal experiences led us to where we are today. We share a lot of comments

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with our friends from high school who reconnected through our work. We both changed career paths after the birth of our own children. We line up with talking about health and birth and we are both moms to two young boys.

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This podcast was created to share conversations and interviews about topics from pregnancy and birth to motherhood and the importance of a healthy body and mind through it all our goal is to bring you fun, interesting and helpful conversations that excite you and make you more calmer and more.

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We believe that when you are aligned and body, mind and your intuition you can conquer anything. We hope you enjoyed the episode

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so, hooray, you're here today, Rachel.

2:33

Yes. Hi, Dr. Shannon, thank you for that beautiful introduction. Yes. So we are sitting here right now kind of mid November. And this will probably come out soon. And this comes up a lot this topic. So the topic of being having a due date is either really close to around like Thanksgiving, Christmas, maybe the new year but really specifically Thanksgiving and Christmas. So the rate of induction before a major holiday skyrockets and hospitals across the US. The rate of birth on actual holidays dramatically drops. And I just think that is interesting to note and I think that's because doctors and midwives have lives and families to lots of birthing people have lives and families too and a lot of people are like they're excited to have a baby or on a holiday but they don't necessarily want to have it like on a specific holiday and then you combine that with doctors not wanting to have a baby on a holiday because you know families online. So this leads to I think a greater increase in more like elective inductions versus truly medically necessary infections. And indentions are not bad. This is not about saying don't get an induction it's about really figuring out or for really embracing your guest date embracing kind of those final weeks of pregnancy, trusting that your your baby and body will go into labor on its own and that that is better for mom and baby in most instances and really trying to avoid the unnecessary inaction because typically with an unnecessary infection that you're gonna end up with more downline, maybe undesirable interventions that maybe you didn't want and maybe you end up at the hospital for up to four days or longer, because inductions take time especially if your body's not ready. And so understanding that you might say, oh, I want to not have the baby on Christmas. So I'm gonna get induced and then you end up there on Christmas because it takes longer than you thought, right? Are you in that witness's area and then you definitely have to be there for a longer recovery or your doctor is really only there for 24 to 48 hours, usually is when they're on call. So you might go in thinking I want this doctor or whatever, and then they get to go home. And then you have to say, and so making decisions with all of that in mind is the goal. Again, it's not about not doing an induction or doing it or whatever. It's just really about understanding why it's important to let labor start on its own and then embracing those final weeks of pregnancy and some some ways to feel more at ease during that time. Well, and

5:15

I think too, it's it's awareness of these things and like what you're comfortable with because I've had moms. I had one she was do it maybe it was Thanksgiving because this was like last year the year before something I can't remember. And she really wanted that specific doctor because they had multiple doctors in the practice and so she was totally comfortable with Okay, I'm gonna go in and we're gonna do this scheduled induction, you know, like, it's kind of she was good with that. Right? So it's also knowing the risks and benefits and it's making that informed decision and having that conversation with your provider. So if there's certain things that you know, are like that, then that's when we're going to talk about some of the other episodes to maybe help navigate that induction a little bit easier, a little bit better the options that you have, but it isn't I kind of like what you were saying it's not so much like Boo inductions you know or this isn't actual birth or something like that, you know, like it's not that aspect of it, but it really is making that informed decision and say okay, this is what I feel most comfortable with. With the induction potentially Exactly,

6:30

yeah, there's a lot of things you have to weigh in and that's that is that gentle induction episode, which is episode 65. We do talk about that a lot. Kind of wasn't necessary reason for an induction was an unnecessary reason for induction and then how to, to navigate that induction if you do need it or choose it. And so that's why we do reference that episode 65 Because that goes into more depth on inductions themselves. But as a doula I see lots of things that quote unquote come up as reason to induce around the holidays, and it's hard not to be a little skeptical, or question like the motives behind the recommendation for induction when it feels like it's really close to a holiday. So really familiarizing yourself and having conversations now with your provider about necessary reasons for induction and unnecessary reasons for induction so that you can be prepared if it comes up and so you can advocate for yourself. Part of advocating for yourself is normalizing like the due date or the guest date, estimated due date, you know being open to a due month as a thought process and being like if you are due at the end of December you can just say I'm due at the end of December and really focusing on letting labor begin on its own and knowing that the 40 week mark is just a guesstimate is like right in the middle of when most babies are born so they most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks with 37 weeks being full term. Most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks and they said 40 is in the middle. So that's what we're gonna that's not only hydrogen babies are born on the actual duty. So we don't need to focus on when you get there and labor can begin at any point between 30 and 40 employees and my baby will most likely be here in that time. First time working people average day gestation is 40 weeks and five days. This is so much so that they've considered actually adjusting when they hear the due date to be 40 weeks and five days, not four weeks.

8:48

That's interesting.

8:50

Yeah, and I like that a second time working people around 40 weeks, three days. And then again, only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date. And then the goal is to reach full maturity so the baby is as developed as possible to sustain life outside of the womb that we don't try to rush this process unnecessarily there can be problems. If we it's too soon or before baby's ready. You know when labor begins that's that's a signal the baby has signal to the body by releasing the hormone prostaglandins that they're reading their lungs have developed. Let's do this. And so trusting that process is part of it. And I completely understand the little the element of control around wanting to know when baby's going to be born. Or even scheduling an induction is a bit like okay, I can pack my bag I can get myself ready. I can let my family know I can secure childcare pet care there. I totally see

9:47

Yeah, exactly. Like I can see and understand that where you do feel that sense of like not complete control. But saying like, Okay, I have a say in this. Yeah, right.

9:56

I think that's the world we operate in mostly, but understanding birth is unpredictable. It's mysterious, and that you're not gonna be pregnant forever. It feels like yeah, and letting labor begin. on its own is one of the number is part of the healthy birth practices is laid out by Lamaze international because it really does protects the health IT ensures usually a better outcome for mom and baby reduces use of unnecessary interventions. So there are many benefits to letting labor began on its own. So that's why that's part of this conversation is when we're talking about unnecessary inductions, especially around the holidays is understanding the due date understanding why it's important to let labor begin on its own.

10:42

And I know that's what we went into in that the original Episode Two was a little bit more of like okay, where do they even come up with that due date and how it's calculated and even to I know they do those ultrasounds and weapons are like measuring like femur length and those types of things for for estimated due dates as well too. But even that isn't exact which I think I don't know, I think that's kind of cool. Honestly, it's like you need to live in that world of of that range. But I do know we I remember that when we were talking and kind of going through that little bit more.

11:17

Well, it's pretty incredible that they can get the due date as close as they do. Right. And that is it's a tool and that it is important to know about when the baby should be done developing and about when the placenta might stop functioning optimally like that information is helpful. It's just not the end all be all for like okay, baby has to come out now. Because I mean, you might say they might say okay, you're due on December 24. Like so let's induce and then baby doesn't come until December 29. What was the rush? Yeah, right. Like I mean, even I

11:55

know I was in December. I was supposed to be a December baby. But I waited until January.

12:01

Oh, there you go. Sorry about the taxes mom and dad and actually

12:03

but you know, you have Christmas and then you have your birthday that's very separated. We have a January versus a December. Yeah, yeah. And hey, is it's an insurance thing. Or, I mean, you gotta make the decision. that's right for your family, right. I mean, certainly like the insurance thing is a big because insurance starts over again and for some people based on the calendar for their insurance company at the beginning of the year, so you know, if that's really important to you and your family, then you got to consult with your doctor and make a plan. So, again, no right or wrong, just trying to provide information to help you navigate that decision making process because I think it's if you're due around the holiday days, it is more likely to come up than not especially if you get to the 39 week mark because as soon as you're at 39 weeks a lot of doctors are going to begin offering inductions and that might come off as well. We're not saying they have to get induced, but as soon as they offer it, people are more inclined to take the carrot. Because if they paint the picture, they're like, Well, you could have the baby before they made the calculation report before Christmas, or I'm on call so you can have the baby with me this weekend or week or whatever. There can be some or you know, a benefit to getting a deuce they might say is good to meet your baby sooner and who doesn't want that like for the most part like it can be tempting, but then the part that's left out of that conversation a lot is the possible long induction, the possible risks of unnecessary downline interventions and the risk of an unnecessary cesarean. So, you know,

13:49

now you we have our little outline here that we pull from when we're going through these episodes, and then you've added like, because you even wrote in here like choosing that elective induction. The goal is for it to be because that's what you want. And so again, that's kinda what we're saying. And again, we have the gentle inductions, episode two, which is really, really good. So episode 65. But you also mentioned the brain tool. This is one of my favorite things that you talk about. So what is that?

14:15

So the brain tool can be used at any point during pregnancy, birth and even beyond? Once you learn this tool, I feel like it can be applied to many different scenarios that let's say an induction is being brought up with your provider. You can use the brain decision making tool to to assess and gather information and then make a decision in support of conjunction in conjunction with your doctor or midwife. So, the brain tool is what are the benefits of doing this procedure. You can also say what are the benefits to not doing this procedure. So getting the benefits of both what are the known risks to doing or not doing this recommended procedure? What are the available alternatives to this and sometimes it's just waiting. Sometimes it's doing nothing. The eye in the brain is what is your intuition telling you? This is a big one we'd recommend a lot with our clients. Because in a lot of the world we live in, we're not always exercising the muscle of checking in with ourselves and with our intuition, our gut telling us so you've got to gather some information. And so what's the what's your gut telling you and trying to listen to that and find to that now? And then the end is doing to do this now? Or what if we do nothing? And those are very powerful questions too because they can say, well, you'll just be pregnant a little bit longer. You might be like, Okay, well I'm okay with that. And then asking for some time or taking some time. So this is before Labor has to be done, then which that's what inductions are, then taking some time to think about it stepping away from the provider asking for some time to think about even going home sleeping on it. Talking with your partner talking with your diverse support team, your family and loved ones, and then making the decision that's best for you. And you can always ask for a second opinion too.

16:07

And that kind of ties into I know I really liked that tool but that ties into the one of our other episodes like your informed and shared decision making. So that was like a solo one that you did episode 77. So I feel like when you're doing that brain tool and that exercise that it kind of goes hand in hand with that informed and shared decision making so instead of the dialogue being one sided as in like the provider say, this is what we do, it's more of that like conversation piece and so the brain tool can give you the ways to navigate those conversations. Because I've even had to change my words. I've learned that from you as far as like oh well it fill that fill allow this and you're always like, no, no, you know, like, how can we ask this in a different manner, you know? And so that episode, I think ties into what you were, what you're saying with the brain tool.

17:12

The informed decision making is really important that we talk more deeply about the brain tool as well in that episode, but the thing is a new method that they have all the information then they'll know what to do and the reality is is everybody's so different and unique. They've they have their own medical history, their own unique circumstances, their own history, their own personal preferences. So what informed decision making does is it helps have a conversation with the provider who you've hired is the professional, the train provider professional to help look out for the health and well being of you and your baby. And it's not just them telling you what to do, right because that's not informed your disability and that doesn't leave us feeling empowered or satisfied. Or as the person in charge of our own body it actually takes away that power. And by asking them these questions that you're not being needy or bossy or any other negative thing it's you're advocating for yourself which is what we will deal with. It's what you do when you buy a house or buy a car or or making any sort of big decision in your life as you try to evaluate the information. And then you talk with the professional and does the provider the midwife or doctor and you ask these questions, you share what you're feeling and they sort of are like this is what I think and this is why I think it versus like oh this is just what we do. Let's start doing it weeks this is we induce everybody at 39 weeks. No, that is not how it works. What it is is saying okay, well we see that you have XY and Z factors we have this is what's going on with your baby. This is what the recommendation these are your options. How do you feel about that? How would you like to move forward? Wow, isn't that nice? Saying you're 39 weeks? We're gonna go ahead.

18:59

We're gonna schedule you. Yeah, like it's almost like that not even conversation piece. It's just that that dialogue? Yeah,

19:05

the conversation piece is really important. And what I want to remind people is that with providers, we might feel intimidated or unsure about how to talk with them. And what I see what we see working with working people and providers is that most of the time when you try when you ask some of these questions, and in this way, it brings softens them. It reminds them that you are human, and sometimes they need that reminder because they are helping lots of people have lots of babies and it's easy to get into a routine mode or you know, handling robotic everybody the same because sometimes that's what's needed in order to help as many people have been many

19:46

people that said the other issue too.

19:49

So they're not out to most are not out to harm or hurt or be bad. They're trying to help a lot people have a lot of babies so but they got into this work because typically they love helping people who have birth like their birth and women and body they use in bodies and all of that. So remembering that they're human remembering that that's probably why they got into this and then when you ask them these questions, they will solve them for the most part and oh yes. Okay, yes, we need to talk more about this. And typically that's what happens and then you can have that conversation. And if that doesn't happen, if they're dismissive, rude, or fear mongering or you know, anything like that, then that's a red flag and I would use that as an indication to maybe look at another provider because any good provider is going to be open to this conversation and these questions.

20:45

Exactly, and that, that brain acronym, is what you can use to if you are feeling intimidated by speaking to the provider, so your roadmap Yeah, yeah. So you're like I don't know how to navigate this question or ask without seeming that you are, you know, questioning their intelligence and that type of thing. Like it's, it gives you that roadmap there so, so yeah, definitely episode 77 was informed and shared decision making. Now some of it too, is we did an episode navigating the final weeks of pregnancy. And so this is another good one to mention. Now, that was episode 54. Because you can use some of those tools that we mentioned there in if you are having an approaching your estimated due date that is close to a holiday. So because we talk we talk a lot in that episode of like, different things to do you know, like what foods to eat exercises to do. Like we kind of cover a whole wide range of things in that. So begin focusing on that do mum?

21:58

Yeah, and navigating the final weeks of pregnancy is not easy for a lot of people. It comes with a whole host of emotions, physical discomforts, worries, anticipation, excitement. Lots of people like also around you excited and asking about when the baby's going to be here like you know. And all of that can just create the unnecessary tension and stress and so that episode is really helpful because it breaks down some actual things you can do and it's not about inducing labor. It's not about getting labor going necessarily. But I believe that when you are focusing on preparing your mind and your body for labor to begin on its own in these ways, and we'll just share a few tips here, but that episode really does dive into it. Then it makes that those final weeks of pregnancy a little bit easier. You feel a little bit more confident, more easy to kind of like not fall into the temptation of an induction if your provider being 4373 concepts. So some of those things, is include releasing focusing on releasing tension, and I know that sounds very ambiguous,

23:09

but just don't stress.

23:13

Just relax. And so it's more about releasing tension. So if you do like any sort of virtue, you could try to knock out progressive relaxation over your whole body where you're like, you tense up your face and you scrunch up your nose and your eyes and then you let it go. That's releasing tension. If you raise up your shoulders and tense, tense your arms and then you let it go. Clench your fists. hold on real tight, and then let them go. clench your butt cheeks together, then let it go to curl your toes. That's working through bringing awareness to the tension and then letting it go. So that's what I mean when I say release tension, and that can be really beneficial in helping your body have the the space and energy it needs for labor to begin on its own. Also part of that is clearing emotional and mental blocks. Connecting with your partner during this time having communicating conversations connection can really help prepare your mind for giving birth you know, the the clearing emotional mental blocks can be done by verbal processing with a trusted friend or family member here.

24:27

I like the word I like verbal processing. I call this like word vomit in the Mean Girls, maybe I like that where it's just like yeah, just get it all out. Thanks so much.

24:38

Yeah, and I see it a lot with our clients. I've I've, we tend to see a lot of communication from our clients during this time of the, they'll have it. They're having moments and it's slowly of feeling a lot of stress and tension, worry anxiety, uncertainty. doubt, fear, it all comes and we talk with them. We let them get it all out. We affirm, validate, give them some maybe things to try or do or not just more listening, and it's a wash and repeat. And usually at the end of those conversations, I'm like, you know, you might feel good for a couple of days and then it might come back up. No, that that's normal. And that's part of this time and having that opportunity to verbally process with someone you trust or a birth professional can really make a big difference to help you sort of inch toward the finish line without feeling like you have to completely like give up and the goal is to be more at ease and have all that confidence and as much as you can. I mean there's gonna be fear and doubt for sure, but feeling healthy and confident feeling prepared. That's the goal. Doing some breathing techniques, and I know you did a great episode on these. Oh yeah, I didn't need to write that one down and include it but the one I really like to share belly breathing, or you take a big inhale for like four or five seconds, and you're really going to push out the abdominal muscles really fill the abdomen first and then your lungs and then you exhale long and slow for like six seconds. So you want to go longer on the exhale than on the inhale. And when you're emptying out your lungs, you're lifting your pelvic floor and all happens on it. So when you really push out all the final breath, and doing like five of those can really help bring on relaxation, you might well get this working and then you do it and it does and you're like

26:23

oh wow. Yeah. So the key is that really making sure that exhale, that breathing out is longer than the inhale that helps activate that parasympathetic mode and then even just being in that seated position you can place your hands like at like your ribs like the side of your ribs, and like along the side of your body. You can feel your breath expand, which sometimes that's really nice to actually feel and then you can even visualize like telling your breath where to go in your body and those kinds of things too. So yeah, I do like that. I call it that parasympathetic, breathing. So when you and I count, I typically count so I'll breathe in for four and then out for six. So that lets me know that like I've had exhale for longer. Yeah, I don't know what that was. But yeah, I went over some other ones too. So

27:10

yes, that's a very helpful one and that shorter on the inhale longer on the exhale is the key. So that's gonna help release tension. Labor squats, if you're looking for like a next really good exercise to do is doing labour squat. So that's getting all the way down with your butt towards the floor, your toes pointing out your knees kind of out wider. And staying in that position for you know, a couple minutes if you can, or or starting with 30 seconds in the morning up to a couple minutes. And then you can go up and down, you know, like a regular squat like 10 times and try and do that a few times a day. So this is going to help lengthen and soften your pelvic floor and strengthen your legs to help prepare you for labor. So it's a really good labor preparations good for pushing and all of that. hydration and nutrition. So if you're wondering, Hydration is

27:59

key because that's sometimes you'll even go towards the end. It's like oh, you got love fluid and I'm like, I'm promise.

28:06

If you go home and drink a bunch of water, you'll go back to the doctor. They'll be like, Oh,

28:09

everything's good. Like

28:11

yeah, right. You have your amniotic fluid is directly correlated to or can be correlated to your level of hydration. So staying hydrated can help reduce the chance that low amniotic fluid comes up as an issue unless you have true low amniotic fluid but if that does come up we encourage going home drinking all the water you can drink soaking in the tub, and then going and assessing again and if it's still the same or lower, then that might that's an indication of true low amniotic fluid and then More times than not it actually balances out and the amniotic fluid has returned. to normal. So that's a super cool factor for people to know that hydration levels are related to the amniotic fluid. So that's really important. Awesome Chiropractic,

28:59

chiropractic care. I

29:00

know my mom. Yeah, with my

0:00

For the moms that are coming in, sometimes we're bumping up care a little bit more in those final weeks. And so sometimes yes, like if you've got more aches and pains because the growth rate of baby is pretty intense in that last trimester so and like moms and kind of feel those effects as well too, but even if like we're feeling good, you know, chiropractic care can really help balance out the nervous system and so really trying to take us out of fight or flight mode, and really help you know, vagus nerve activation and calming and so that's where sometimes I look at it too in the aspect of like, we are super stressed and we're having a hard time like Well, let's try to get to adjustments in you know, this week or something along those lines now sometimes too. It's also like, you know, maybe positioning or whatnot, but that's kind of the focus with that.

0:54

I guess that those navigating, you know, the final weeks of pregnancy with chiropractic care Yeah,

1:02

we I mean see a lot of benefit to increasing you know, being under care for pregnancy of course with an increasing those adjustments in those final weeks. It's going to help with with aches and pain. Common aches and pains help ensure optimal fetal positioning, help get labor going and align uterus and align pelvis and everything once. It doesn't necessarily start labor but it's like when the body's is taking the signal that it's time to start labor and everything's in alignment. It's more likely that the body's gonna receive it and labor is gonna progress effectively and smoothly. So knowing that our grandparents huge, and if you can incorporate prenatal massage with chiropractic care, that's just double whammy benefit. And I

1:45

just did an interview, Kara Thompson who's now therapist, so we'll we'll link that episode too. And so she goes into a lot of the benefits

1:57

of prenatal massage because it is it's very helpful. Um, yeah, I'm constantly talking about that.

2:06

Yeah, we're like it's we always, you know, preface it by we know, it's a lot like we only talked about all these things that you can do, but I'm kind of like, you got to treat it like it's your job. Really. You got to take it seriously this time in pregnancy and it's a finite amount of time. You know, this is the thing you have to deal with our friends from get prenatal massage, three, four times a week for the rest of forever. It's just knowing that all of these things where you can fit them in where you can afford them. What you can do, can help make this time easier. And the reason I talked about it specifically is because if we see birthing people, those final weeks of pregnancy are the hardest of the whole thing. You know, for most people, I mean, everyone faces different challenges, but just the mental, emotional, physical Olympics and the robots that are happening in your body in your head. Like it's a lot and I think it can be a really wonderful time. It is not that it is a doom and gloom, miserable time. It doesn't have to be with some of these tools. I think pick what resonates with you and that you can do and do them and try and do them consistently, and you have a greater chance of labor. Starting on its own and avoiding the unnecessary to searing or being in the right mental in the unnecessary induction and being in the right mental space to to not be too tempted to jump on and get an induction you know due to the holidays or provider availability or whatever. So some other quick little things to share to help that you can kind of navigate those final weeks and prepare your mind and body for labor to begin on its own is using the yoga ball, doing big hip circles daily. And when I say big, I mean draw the biggest circle you can with your booty on the yoga ball and go in both directions.

3:57

Directions. Yeah, and I like even like the figure eight or you know, or whatever. Like really any all those movements are good,

4:03

that's gonna help baby get engaged. It's gonna provide relief to your hips and pelvis. It's gonna it's moving in a way to that's not totally exhausted by going on a big long walk. You know, doing some big hip circles on a yoga ball while you watch a show in the evening or whatever can be just as effective movement movement as key. Being on all fours when you can is going to help help ensure babies in that good position to let labor begin on its own. And then resting, so balancing activity with lots of good rest during this time conserving energy. It's a marathon not a sprint. And earlier I did that connecting with a partner so there's like connecting with the partner and like the let's talk and like you know, communicate and all that and then there's like sexy time. That's right there like it's time. That can benefit there's lots of reasons that sexy time it's beneficial during those finally, discernment is if they're their semen, if your partner semen that has prostaglandins in it and that helps soften the cervix, just like the prostaglandins that the body releases to help soften the cervix naturally. It's also found in Zemun. So that's super cool. Orgasm helps the uterus usually contracts when you have an orgasm, and that can help jumpstart labor or prepare the uterus for labor. And then oxytocin. So oxytocin is the love hormone and that that thrives during sexy time usually, so that the trifecta of those things together can really help help you hopefully feel better during those final weeks and help prepare the body for labor to be on its own. And it's actually evidence based to about dates. Eating six dates a day can help shorten the length. What about seven? What have you seven days not five. I don't know what happens if you it's what happens. I love it. This is how research works. Day to day it's evidence based actually shorten the length of pregnancy by like four days,

6:12

when I first read that in our outline, though, I wasn't thinking like dates, isn't the third I was like, I got six dates.

6:21

It was like a dad I mean, yes, you can get sick of things. Your partner Yes, I like that two dates are great dates, all the dates That's hilarious. So these are the fruit.

6:38

I mean, you need to go on a date you need to need we're Dr. Seuss. We're gonna be

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drinking red raspberry leaf tea, three cups a day. No more, no less. I'm just getting no more or less as you will make like one cup a day and think it's gonna be as effective to Yeah, three cups a day which is a lot and then spinning babies daily activity so we'll link their website as well again, some some exercises stretches things to do to help ensure babies in an optimal position so that when labor, it's time for labor to begin and your body will receive it and things can proceed as they shouldn't. So I want to talk about that time. I think it's a really important time then there's lots of things to focus on and consider and prepare for and the more you can do this before you get to that point, the better. And again, pick what works for you do what you can with what you got and and use some of these tools and things to help help you navigate this holiday season. If you weren't around this time. Hopefully, hopefully this helps.

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I know this was I like revisiting all of these things. So be sure to check out all the episodes that we mentioned here that's going to be linked in all in the show notes as well. So because we talked about some good ones, and then even ones that we'll figure out the other episode numbers as well for some of the other ones we talked about. Put all of those there and then we also have some other resources mentioned at the end because I know we talked about spinning babies, which is another really

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another good resource because I'm constantly sending that to mamas as well for navigating not navigating just the final weeks but also navigating like the entire pregnancy as well too. So,

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again, we'll put all of those in the show notes. We're so happy that you listened today. Hopefully, you have learned something new and be sure to share this with friends that might need to hear it. We love ratings, reviews, feedback, all of those good things you can follow us on social media as well to at aligned underscore birth and we thank you so so much for listening