how TO avoid birth trauma
Is this you?
You dream is showing up to birth with CALM and POWER, but you are terrified about tearing!
Your bestie said her baby destroyed her bottom half and you don’t want that to be you and you’re thinking, “How to avoid tearing in birth ”?
If that sounds familiar, you aren’t alone!
Fear of tearing and the associated trauma is on the the top concerns Dr. Mbong Henry helps women with at Radiance PT in Durham.
Tips for preparing for a vaginal birth and avoiding Birth Trauma
It is important to recognize that birth and labor are complex, don’t be attached to 1 thing! Trauma occurs when things don’t go as planned and while there will be many things out of your control, you can control how you prepare for birth..
Take a robust childbirth education class and talk to your friends who have had positive birth experience and will cheer you on.
Consider that, what is important to you might not be important to your provider so have a conversation with your provider about the standard practices and birthing positions among their team. Evidence supports warm compress and upright positions in labor however this may not be available to you given the circumstances at your birth.
Ask your provider what they will do to help protect your pelvic floor
Understand how fear, pain, and anxiety show up in your body. Build mental and physical resilience during pregnancy so you feel confident and can move during labor and within the Empowered and Healthy Pregnancy Program at Radiance, Dr Mbong guides you through this.
Perineal massage to get used to sensations of intense pressure on your pelvic floor
Learning a variety of effective pushing techniques and reverse kegel exercises (aka lengthening your pelvic floor), and TRUST and HAVE CONFIDENCE in that your uterus can do all the work!
Build your support team mental health therapist, doula, pelvic floor physical therapist to name a few! Not only during your pregnancy and birth, but also for your recovery so you can enjoy those newborn snuggles as you heal.
At Radiance Physical Therapy, LLC, we work together to create your personal birth safety plan to not only decrease your risk of physical and mental trauma, but help you start your motherhood on the right foot.
Do you want 1 on 1 support from an experienced pelvic floor physical therapist? Book your 15-minute complimentary strategy call today to schedule in the Durham office.