How I prepare my Body for Birth

In my last post, I shared my previous birth experience. Processing those memories was a vital part of my psychological preparation—encouraging myself and analyzing what truly matters during such a vulnerable time. If you missed that post, you can find it here.

I am now 39 weeks pregnant, and while I’m no medical expert, I’ve become an expert on my own body. I’m noticing signs that things are moving along:

• Dropping: I can feel the baby “digging” deeper into my pelvis. My doula confirmed that his head is noticeably lower.
• Consistency Changes: My discharge has changed and become much thinner.
• Digestion: My system is clearing out; things are less solid, and I’m heading to the bathroom multiple times a day.

While I can’t predict exactly when labor will start, I feel confident it won’t be much longer.

So, how am I preparing my body? 

It is important to note: I am focusing on preparation, not induction. I’ve discussed all of these practices with my doula, and I highly recommend consulting your own birth team before trying new routines.

• Raspberry Leaf Tea: Starting at week 37, I’ve been drinking one cup a day on alternating weeks (one week on, one week off). This is meant to help tone the uterine muscles and soften tissues.
• Dates: I enjoy these as a sweet snack. Research actually suggests that eating dates in the final weeks can help with cervical ripening and potentially lead to a shorter first stage of labor—so I’m happy to have a "functional" excuse for my sugar cravings!
• Perineal Steaming: I use herbal baths with chamomile and calendula to keep the area soft and malleable.
• Movement: I go swimming—or rather, floating—to enjoy the feeling of weightlessness. I also take slow, 40-minute walks daily, usually while walking the dog or taking my toddler to daycare.

This time around, my philosophy is simple: treat my body well and do what feels good in the moment.

I’ve dropped things that caused me discomfort in the past, like perineal massage or colostrum harvesting, because they just didn't feel right for me this time.

I’ve realized that following my intuition is just as important as any physical preparation; if a practice creates stress or physical tension, it’s counterproductive to the relaxed state I want to be in for birth.

I’m focusing on enjoying these final days with as little discomfort as possible. I don't feel the need to force anything; birth is inevitable, and it will happen when it's time. I

keep myself busy with one small project a day to keep my mind off the "waiting game" and stay present.