Q1) Prince William and Kate Middleton had two great factors for natural birth:
- One to one, continual, known midwife care, and
- Hypnobirthing knowledge/power of the mind and beliefs.
Q2) The cervix is part of your uterus, it is the lower circular muscle bands/zone of the uterus, the lower “neck” of the uterus and when we talk about our cervix dilating (opening), we are also really saying “my uterus is opening”.
Q3) The sound of a baby crying triggers a hormone response that can bring lactation to a breast in later pregnancy. This will also cause an actual milk let down once baby is born and can even cause a re-lactation in women who (think) they have completed breastfeeding/lactation!!(biologically women are designed for wet-nursing others babies as well as our own! If the need arises!)
Q4) “Head Molding” means:
- When the babies’ rubbery cartilage skull plates fold over and move through the pelvic opening with more ease due to their ability to mold.
Q5) YES! Your heart grows during pregnancy – wider and longer (this is because the – the walls of the ventricles grow thicker).
Q6) Yes, womens natural gestation length can vary GREATLY, some women gestate to 44 weeks! Some even gestate longer and also, babies can gestate much earlier and be completely ready for their life outside the womb, eg some women naturally gestate and birth at 35 weeks. How long/short will you be naturally?
Q7) Pain In childbirth:
- is normal and part of the stretching and movement processes, although some women perceive it as simply pressure or tightening.
- Also, pain is GOOD for birth, as it brings natural endorphins from your pituitary gland and these hormones assist with pain, but can also create relaxation, joy, pleasure and a sense of timelessness and super woman power. (What combination of endorphins will you get and how will your unique mix of endorphins help you to labour?)
Q8) A rebozo is:
- a beautiful, long, woven piece of fabric (traditionally from Mexican midwives) that when used to jiggle your hips, helps relax the muscles and the mother.
Q9) Contractions happen at the uterus muscles during orgasm (you might not feel it or be aware of it, but you are much more likely to realise and recognise this once you have birthed and you have experienced the feeling of uterus/birth contractions.
Orgasms can be a great way of toning the uterus for birth 🙂
Q10) Breathing for Birth:
Yes – all of the answers!! All of the below:
- It is common that many women naturally tense when they feel fear or pain, these women stop breathing as they tense.
- Some women tend to keep breathing even through painful feelings or intense physical challenge. (these women are what I call a “natural breather”).
- Some women can LEARN and practise to deliberately keep breathing long and deep during contractions to assist their labour to be more effective and bearable.