The last trimester of pregnancy has begun. Before parents can hold their offspring in their arms for the first time, there is a lot to do. With the right preparation, the delivery can be gentler and less stressful. In addition, families have more time to get to know each other after the birth. So what should expectant moms and dads definitely do at the end of their pregnancy?
Follow midwife tips for an easier birth
Gynecology has existed since time immemorial. Over the millennia, midwives have collected their experiences and their concentrated knowledge. Even today, this knowledge helps pregnant women in preparation for delivery.
A luminary among German midwives is Ingeborg Stadelmann. In her book “Die Hebammensprechstunde” (The Midwife's Consultation), she reveals numerous tips for a gentler birth.
Hay flower steam sitz bath
Loose pelvic floor muscles support the delivery process immensely. To keep the tissue as supple as possible, steam sitz baths with hay flowers help. The herbs are available at the pharmacy. It is important to pay attention to high quality and organic cultivation when buying.
The steam sitz bath can stimulate contractions and should therefore only be used from the 38th week of pregnancy. For this, the hay flowers are brewed with hot water. Ideally, the pot with the liquid is fixed in the toilet. The woman sits over it. The steam should not be too hot to avoid scalding. The application ideally lasts about 20 minutes and can be carried out once or twice a week.
Flaxseed
Crushed flaxseed is said to stimulate the activity of the mucous membranes, which “lets babies slide through”. It is also digestive. Many pregnant women suffer from constipation at the end of pregnancy. Here, too, flax seeds can provide relief. Expectant mothers should ideally stir the crushed flaxseed into their muesli or yogurt. Ideally, this should be done from the 34th week of pregnancy and then daily.
Flaxseed has a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, which is important for the baby's development. This is because omega-3 fatty acids form a crucial component of the brain. Especially in the last trimester, the baby's brain gains an enormous amount of weight – from an average of 75 g to 400 g. For this massive developmental step, the intake of flaxseed is ideal.
Raspberry leaf tea
An important herb for those wanting children and during pregnancy is raspberry leaf tea. It is said to have a detoxifying and loosening effect. Especially the woman's pelvic floor is said to be relaxed by regularly drinking the herbal tea. Due to the contraction-promoting effect of the raspberry leaves, it may only be consumed from the 34th week of pregnancy. Once this point has been passed, women are welcome to drink several cups of the hot beverage daily.
Perineal massage
The perineum is particularly stressed during delivery. Many women suffer more or less severe injuries in this region. To ensure the tissue is as stretchy and elastic as possible, pregnant women perform perineal massages. There are special oils available for this purpose. However, pregnant women can also simply use coconut oil. The starting signal for the perineal massage also falls in the 34th week. After that, it can be massaged for about ten minutes three to four times a week. Instructions can be found on the internet. Attention: If there is pain, the application must be stopped immediately.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Good results are achieved with it, especially in gynecology. Therefore, many midwives complete additional training in this area. Afterwards, they can insert the fine needles into specific parts of the body to induce and shorten the birth. Gynecologists can also counteract water retention and other pregnancy complaints, which increase especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, with this technique.
Childbirth preparation course
Especially for first-time mothers, attending a birth preparation course is recommended. Depending on the place of residence, participation must be requested as early as the first weeks of pregnancy. In municipalities with fewer births, it is also sufficient until the 20th week of pregnancy. The event is usually led by experienced midwives. They provide valuable tips for the delivery and the time afterwards.
All previous tips are applications from alternative medicine. Success of the methods is not guaranteed. Especially in the case of complicated pregnancy courses, consultation should be held with the attending physician or midwife before implementation. Basically, natural remedies have hardly any side effects and are therefore a good alternative.
Take care of organizational matters in good time
Among the things you should definitely do before the birth, are, among others:
- Inform the employer: There is no legal requirement as to when an employer must be informed. The pregnant woman can decide this for herself. However, the legal provisions for maternity protection are not applied until the boss is informed about the circumstances. In some industries, there is a ban on employment for pregnant women. Especially if the work poses a risk to the expectant mother or the baby, it is best to announce the pregnancy as early as possible.
- Necessary applications: Ideally, they are sent to the responsible authorities about 10 weeks before the due date. These include forms such as applications for maternity and childcare allowance as well as, if applicable, family allowance.
- Important purchases for the nursery as well as the Initial equipment: This includes, among other things, utensils for changing, feeding, breastfeeding, sleeping, dressing, going for walks, and driving.
- Pack hospital bag: By the 36th week of pregnancy at the latest, all important utensils for the hospital stay are packed. In addition to clothing, hygiene items, entertainment, and snacks, the maternity passport, health insurance card, ID, birth certificate, and, if applicable, marriage certificate must be included in the luggage.
- Register birth: Around the 30th week of pregnancy, the birth should be registered at the clinic. It is also best to practice the route to the hospital several times.
- Stock up on supplies: So that parents can concentrate fully on their offspring after the birth, the freezer and the pantry are best filled to the brim. It is important that the new mother eats high-quality food. Regional and seasonal products from organic farming are particularly suitable for this.
- Arrange care for siblings: Dads, grandmas, neighbors, uncles, aunts, and friends are welcome to be involved in childcare so that the older sibling also has a nice and exciting time. The pregnant woman can only relax during the birth and in the time until discharge if she knows her other children are well cared for.
Prepare the announcement of the birth correctly
Once the offspring has finally arrived, the whole world would like to know about it immediately. So that parents do not forget anyone in their excitement, they should best create a list of all people in their environment before the birth. For this, they note down the phone numbers and addresses.
The closest relatives, usually the grandparents, are often informed first. This usually happens by a call from the hospital. Friends, other relatives, and acquaintances are happy about a short message via WhatsApp. There are cute sayings for this, which are best selected in advance. Want some examples?
- When love becomes life, happiness gets a name: Name, date of birth, height, weight.
- A little bit of mom, a little bit of dad, and a whole lot of miracle: Name, date of birth, height, weight.
- There are miracles that lose none of their magic even in their repetition: Name, date of birth, height, weight.
A nice way to inform the environment is a self-designed birth card. This is sent to all well-wishers and important people. Many families also inform the gynecologist and birth preparation course about the offspring with a card. Experts, such as the designers of Meine Kartenmanufaktur, rely on models with pictures of the baby for birth cards. This way, the environment sees the sweet offspring directly and at the same time receives a magical memory. Even if grandmas, aunts, and friends have already been informed about the birth by text message, they additionally receive a card.
Parents should best choose a card model and the appropriate saying before the birth. The list of recipients is also completely created. Even the envelopes can already be labeled and stamped. The more tasks that are completed before the birth, the more relaxed the time afterwards is.
The official announcement of the birth takes place with an advertisement. Regional and supra-regional daily newspapers offer a section for this in their classifieds. So that the advertisement stands out from the crowd, graphics or pictures can sometimes be inserted. For design options and prices, parents should best ask the desired editorial office before the birth.
Once everything is done, there is still time for the most important thing – recovery. Before a baby is in the house, expectant parents should relax and rest as much as possible. In between, light exercise such as swimming or walking is the order of the day. This way, they go into the birth healthy and relaxed.
