The way in which women now give birth to their little ones has changed a lot over the years. And this is due both to the advances that have occurred in medicine after research and studies, as well as to other newer ways of giving birth. After nine months, it is time to give birth and a series of concerns begin to appear, it is normal. Today, we are going to explain a series of exercises or activities for you to learn how to dilate faster during childbirth.
There are cases, in which the due date has been reached and the waters have not broken, or the dilation has not begun or other types of situations. In these cases, It is essential to be accompanied by medical personnel and follow the advice they give you depending on your situation.
What is dilation?
The dilation process is physiological, caused by oxytocin hormones accompanied by contractions in the area of the uterus. This causes the cervix to shorten and can dilate up to the 10 centimeters necessary to start pushing.
The moment of dilation We can divide it into two phases; one of them is when they reach 4 centimeters, which generally tends to go at a slower pace. And a second one that is when you advance to the 10 necessary, this phase usually goes at a faster pace. This depends on each woman and her physical and mental state.
In the dilation process, one of the most important things is that the baby is well placed. If this is not the case and it is very high, the dilation can be prolonged and even paralyzed. That is why the postures or exercises that the pregnant woman does are essential.
How to Dilate Faster in Labor
If the medical staff consider that your dilation process has slowed down, you can try some of the exercises that we are going to mention below. Take note and with this you can help your dilation take a good rhythm.
Normally mothers when the time has come to give birth are advised to wait until they can no longer ask for an epidural. On certain occasions, it may prevent you from getting out of bed. Knowing this, we advise you to practice a series of exercises or movements to facilitate dilation as we have previously mentioned.
Before the epidural
Some exercises to dilate at a faster rate before the epidural are the following:
- Stand up, take a few steps to move your body, or swing your legs
- Sitting on a fitness ball, making circular movements with your pelvis, movements in the shape of the infinity symbol or taking small jumps keeping both the buttocks and hips relaxed
- On a mat get in a quadruped position, leaning on a ball and making circular movements from your hip
As soon as you feel the pain of the contractions, you should stop doing these exercises., and opt for a posture leaning forward and resting on a surface, it can be the bed, the back of an armchair, etc.
after the epidural
The anesthesia that is administered in the epidural, it helps reduce the intensity of contractions, it is a minimal dose so it should not have any consequences. It may be the case that when placing the epidural, women have a sensation of loss of sensitivity and strength. Therefore, certain postures cannot be performed to help a more accelerated dilation.
After administering the epidural and to help during labor and for the baby to fit perfectly, you can practice this series of exercises that we mention below.
- Lying on the bed change position, that is, change sides every so often
- With the help of your companion, begin to rock from front to back gently.
- Lie on your side on the bed, grab your free leg and perform hip movements, that is, hold it and move it in circles
If you cannot perform any of these exercises due to lack of mobility, you can count on the help of your companion, who can hold your leg and start performing these movements.
It is essential to know how to prepare correctly for childbirth, it is not something that must be left aside. Continuous physical activity during pregnancy, as well as pelvic floor exercises, are very important for this preparation that we are talking about. Do not hesitate to prepare yourself for this new experience in life and make everything much more bearable.