What did you find helpful to keep in mind or have others remind you of during your birthing time?

I give you four:

• Choose to use your tools.  Picking Limes.  It's so simple - you have the tools, you can choose to use them like you choose a piece of fruit at a farmer's market.
• If a pressure wave strikes you as being intense, you are most likely at the crest of it and it can only get less intense going forward.  My first doula, Erin Graham, told me about this during my birthing time and I found it very helpful.
• Focus on keeping your hands and face relaxed (that includes your jaw).  Once you've got that going, relax your feet too.
• Your job is to relax and let this baby be born  If you are fortunate enough to have a birthing team/partner with you, let them handle the details.

Here's what some other Hypnomoms said...

"Make low sounds during pressure waves and breathe deeply in between waves and while pushing."

"How to breathe! And she would take me from my head to shoulders to back and on down, telling me, 'shoulders down, butt down,' etc., to help keep me from tensing my muscles."

"Always my baby. My doula asked me which affirmations were working best and it was always the ones that mentioned the baby. "Send your anesthesia all around your baby" and during pushing "give your baby a great big hug." Also just to relax my face and hands."

"Honestly, I don't remember. And I'm not even sure I really had others reminding me of anything. I plan to put my birthing partners a bit more in-charge of things like making sure I drink & go pee this time. I don't remember it bring a problem but I'd just like to be sure someone is thinking of those things."

"I didn't have a birth partner.  I think that might have helped."

"I found it most helpful to be left alone. Though I did like having my husband put his hand on my shoulder."

"That nothing lasts forever. One wave at time."  [editor's note: i love this one!]

"I found it most helpful to be reminded of the reasons why I wanted a natural birth. When things got most intense, I needed that reminder and also the encouragement that my body was made to do this!"

"I was very in-the-moment. My husband would speak encouraging words that truly did help. Knowing that he was impressed and proud of me was wonderful. He also used the Relax cue often and that was very effective."

"In general, I don't like to talk when I'm uncomfortable or trying to focus. I labored in the tub, alone, with my husband just outside the room, in sight if I needed him. He would pop in occasionally, but I didn't communicate with anyone consistently until I was 9cm and about ready to push. At that point, I was becoming unsure of my ability. What I needed to hear and what was SO helpful was, "This is the hardest part - it's not getting any worse! You're already handling the toughest part! You're almost there! You will be pushing in just a few minutes!""

"Nothing, I didn't like it when people spoke to me. I did best when I could truly block everyone and everything out."

"Being relaxed before you need to be keeps you in control of the body's sensations"

"The "peace" and "release" cues. My husband is really good at reminding me to relax the muscles of my forehead--for some reason, this makes me more aware of relaxing in general."

"I wanted my husband to remind me to relax, but none of it was needed until the last 15 minutes.

What piece of advice would you share with others to help them in their birthing time?