nextmommy 
So, you have prepared your hospital bag and got a birthing coach with you. Still feeling the jitters? Well, you are not alone. It’s a known fact that almost every mommy-to-be gets nervous before the labor and are looking for techniques to help. Here’s a list of three simple things you can do to ensure that your child enters the world in a smooth manner and your pain is reduced. Remember to try these tips when you are in the third trimester.
1. Try Eating Dates
A recent study revealed by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has found that women who eat dates before labor often don’t require medications to initiate the birthing process. These women were also more dilated when compared to non-date eaters when they reached the hospital. While speaking for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Melinda Johnson said that Dates have a compound that’s just like hormone oxytocin which plays a key role in initiating contractions during childbirth. You may want to eat 6 dates daily if you want the best results.
2. Be A Sleepyhead
Another study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has stated that women who had less than 6 hours sleep during the last month had a labor that lasted 11 hours. It also added that the sleep-deprived women had Cesarean sections four times more than the women who got ample amounts of sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, you can try sleeping alone, using body pillows or you can even sleep on a recliner for extra comfort.
3. Exercise Those Legs Mommy!
An Australian study has exposed that if you stay vertical during the labor, the birthing process will become easier. To ensure that you use your legs properly during labor, strengthen them with leg exercises like squatting. If you have a problem doing simple squats, you can try this modified squat exercise shared by Erin O’Brien, who is the maker of The Complete Pregnancy Fitness DVD (acacia) as well as a prenatal exercise expert. Put an exercise ball between your lower back and a wall. Keep your feet out as far as they go, rotate your hips and toes outward and then try three sets of at least 15 squats. It will prepare you for the big day.
