Mum Sarah-Jane Ljungstrom took social networking to another level when she broadcasted her labour on Facebook LIVE to more than 200,000 strangers. Why? She wanted to show how ‘normal’ a normal birth really is.
As per sources, Sarah-Jane, 35, a video bloger from Richmond London started vlogging soon after her water broke as she was lounging on her sofa at home biting into a slice of pizza.
Her labour lasted 24 hours during which she posted five videos including live contractions and updates as her baby “moved down the birth canal”. In a moment of benevolence, Sarah-Jane spared viewers the sight of her pushing out her third child, Eveline. The video of the baby arriving home with her parents and meeting her siblings, big brothers Freddie, six, and three-year-old Finn Barnaby Bo, was also shown.
According to The Sun, Sarah-Jane revealed on the website, Channel Mum, that, “I’ve been vlogging about motherhood and my pregnancy this year so it was natural for me to do the same and share my labour.” Evidently someone with a sense of humour, one of her vlogs included a request to the viewers to her the video if she ever mentioned wanting another baby.
“Birth isn’t really like the movies so showing a normal everyday labour story was nice,” said Sarah-Jane, an ad-agency director, who posted her first live real-time video to the internet channel at 10:00 pm, December 21, 2016. Not only did she tell people when she was 2cm dilated, but the viewers could also hear the baby’s heart beat. Her next video, nearly two hours later, was posted from home after she was sent back until her contractions got stronger.
But after three hours of pushing, she posted a final video of her already at home with her 8lb 1oz bundle of joy in her arms. She said, “Of course she’s the most beautiful baby in the world.”
Continue reading for tips on how to remain calm during a ‘normal’ delivery!
Tips to remain calm during labour
While Sarah-Jane maintained her humour and spirits even during the most excruciating labour pains, it’s usually not so easy. As much as we’d like vaginal delivery to be an easy-peasy process, even the calmest of women, when in labour, lose their cool. And there’s no denying them that right. However, here are a few practical tips on how to make your L-day a wee-bit more relaxed:
- Breathe: Rhythmic breathing during labour maximises the amount of oxygen available to you and your baby. It also eases tension and fretfulness as you choose to focus on the breathing.
- Massage: As massage stimulates the release of endorphins, the natural pain-killing, mood-lifting chemicals produced in the brain, it can be a great way to soothe and calm your nerves. Either get your partner to help or employ some professional help.
- Walk: Just like a good massage, walking helps stimulate the happy hormones. Of course, it will need all the willpower you have to pace up and down the labour room, but it will help you relax.
- Bath: A warm water bath or even a shower will help you destress by easing out those tight and contracting limbs.
- Know what’s coming: Be prepared. Be educated. Knowing what to expect before it happens is essential. Take a childbirth class, read up on books, speak to experienced AND well-meaning friends and family.
Your contractions have begun and the distance between them is getting less and less. The last thing you want anyone to tell is you to relax, but that’s exactly what may help you at that juncture. Obviously, a vaginal delivery will have it’s share of pain – you are having a baby after all. But these tips and techniques will surely soothe your frazzled nerves!
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