You're pregnant and soon to birth your baby. You've been attending your regular check ups and all seems to be going along just fine. In your circle of women friends, you may have heard of some fantastic birthing stories; but also amongst them, there are the horror stories. Early on in the pregnancy, most mothers think that if they can prevent it, they don't want to end up as one of 'those' horror stories.

But for many women, they get caught up with the soon to be arriving newborn, setting up the nursery, nesting, finalising their job; that in the midst of it all, the mother forgets one important element, and that is the actual preparation for the labour.

Preparation is the key for a greater chance of a natural birth with minimal intervention and a reduced rate of a c-section from occurring, and I don't just mean attending a few antenatal classes and reading a few books. It's one thing to know something through reading and hearing a few things, but it's another to know things through action and personal experience.

Things a woman can do to prepare for her labour include:

" Eating a well balanced, nutritional diet.

" Exercising - choosing something that's safe for her and the baby, and that she enjoys.

" Resting - doing as little as possible, resting the body, feet and mind, including reducing the number of working hours.

" Hiring a midwife or doula - having a midwife or doula there with that continuity of care pre-, during and post labour, reduces the c-section surgery by 50-60%.

" Communicating - expressing various emotions, fears and anxiety can help the mother significantly with her pregnancy and labour.

" Attending birth classes - these are in addition to the antenatal classes, which help with body positions for labour, breathing techniques, visualisations and exercises for pain management and a whole lot more.

" Organising a water birth - there are many benefits to having a water birth, one being that it's an amazing way to relieve pain without having to take any drugs.

" Talk to your baby - communicate to your baby so you build a relationship from day one. Have your baby help you during the labour.

" Perineal massage - massaging this area 6-8 weeks before labour helps to prepare the perineal tissues for stretching and can help prevent tearing and/or an episiotomy.

" Utilising natural therapists - Using masseurs, chiropractors, reiki healers, kinesiologists, reflexologists, hypnotherapists, acupuncturists - will not only help you feel better, but will greatly assist the pregnancy and labour.

Preparation starts at conception, and can be implemented any step of the way. There are no guarantees to an easier birth or prevention of a c-section; however having prepared will certainly help with confidence, self-empowerment, decision-making, the birthing process (whatever that may be), and with recovery afterwards.