“Mindfulness”…to be honest, it’s a term I’d not previously thought about much, you know, with the usual distractions of being a busy, working Mum. Ironic really.
And being “mindful” is not a word which any of my family or friends would use to describe me. In fact, they’d probably laugh at the thought.
But, with an open mind and a desire to have a really positive labour with my second baby, I went along to the Bean2Baby MummyNatal Pregnancy Classes.
My first labour went ok (ish), but for some reason, I felt like I had lost confidence in myself the second time around. Maybe it was because my first baby was big and the thought of another large baby scared me, maybe it was because I knew what was coming or maybe it was because I’d left a 4-year gap, who knows.
Anyway, I really wanted to do something to help build my confidence and make me feel empowered and ready to tackle labour again.
I had been to something similar during my first pregnancy but somehow I got into it a bit more this time. Perhaps it was just the luxury of having an hour totally dedicated to me – those of you who already have children will catch my drift!
The six-week course I took ran in Otley (although there are classes elsewhere in Wharfedale & North Leeds) at the Health & Martial Arts Centre. And that “post-pilates smell” (that class took place before ours!) actually became a familiar and welcome smell each week. (Weird, I know…must have been a pregnancy thing. Clean things, like washing powder and softener, literally made my stomach flip at that point).
So…each week I went along armed with my ridiculously large birthing ball to have some “me time” and prepare myself for bringing my second baby into the world. And honestly, it was great.
We learnt lots of mindful (there’s that word again) breathing techniques to help us through contractions, got to understand and practice the best positions to be in during labour and how these could help us dilate.
But for me, one of the most invaluable things I took away from the class was how to use the birthing ball before and during labour to help your body prepare for delivery.
I met a lovely bunch of ladies (a few of which I still get to see at baby groups/clinic etc.) and it was nice to be in an environment where we all felt comfortable and able to ask any questions we had in a non-judgmental place.
The course was run by a lovely, local lady Amanda – who has the most calming voice ever. Great when you’re trying to forget about the humdrum of day-to-day life and really concentrate on your breathing.
Don’t get me wrong, giving birth still hurt an insane amount and I still scared my husband with a look he said he will never forget during the throws of labour, but you know what – the classes REALLY helped my experience and restored my confidence in myself and you can’t say fairer than that! It was definitely £50 well spent.
Pain relief is a really subjective thing, but personally, I wanted to avoid an epidural (if at all possible) and I genuinely feel the class gave me the tools to do this. That and being a tough Northerner!
Nicola Horner
Mum to Annis (4) & Ada (2 months)
