Giving birth can be one of the most overwhelming experiences that a woman will go through. This may be especially true for a mom who has never done it before. That is because she has no idea what to expect, and she may have only heard all the horror stories from friends, family, and the media.

However, it can also be challenging for an experienced mom. That is because she knows that every labor is different, and her second childbirth experience may not be anything like her first one. It could be easier, or it could be much harder. It is no wonder that many women have a fear of giving birth.

What can help calm a woman’s nerves and anxieties is knowing that there are experienced staff at the hospital or birthing center to help her. They have done this hundreds of times, and they can walk her through it. We have found 10 labor tips and pieces of advice from labor and delivery nurses that should help calm some worries.

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10 They Don’t Care

If one of the reasons why you dread the thought of labor is due to personal hygiene, they want you to know that you can relax. According to Coffee and Coos, they really don’t care about what you look like down there, or even if you end up going to the bathroom. Spend the time leading up to labor relaxing instead of trying to give yourself a spa treatment.

9 Don’t Commit To Your Birth Plan

According to We Have Kids, birth plans are nice to have, but they are not something that you should commit to. There is no way to predict how childbirth is going to go, and things can change in an instant. When a mom is committed to her birth plan, it can add more anxiety and feelings of being out of control, which mom does not need.

8 How To Push

For a woman who has never had a baby before, she may have no idea how she is supposed to push the baby out. Is she supposed to use different muscles? According to Mom Like You Mean It, labor nurses have a tip for this one too. When you want to push out a baby, you have to use the same muscles you use when you make a bowel movement. This means that you need to push like you are taking a poop. Seriously.

7 Take A Prenatal Class

If a woman is reading this with some time left in her pregnancy, labor nurses want her to take those prenatal classes. Maybe you have been shrugging them off or procrastinating, but they are very important. This can help alleviate some of the fears you have, and make you feel more prepared.

6 Tearing May Happen

They also want you to know that there are no tips for how to prevent tearing during birth. It may happen, and if it is going it, it is going to. It is best to focus on your breathing techniques and pushing than worrying about tearing.

5 Don’t Be Afraid Of The Epidural

Nurses want moms-to-be to know that they need to think about their pain management before they go into labor. They see a lot of moms who are still deciding on an epidural or not when they are in labor. If you want an epidural, ask for one, and you don’t need to try and be a hero. It can take time to actually get the epidural after you ask for one, so make sure you ask early.

4 It Can Be A Mental Game

There is no point in keeping it a secret, childbirth is going to hurt. For a woman who has never experienced pain before, it can be incredibly terrifying. Labor nurses state that the best way to get through this pain takes more mental effort than you realize. They state that your mind is your worst enemy, so when contractions are happening, focus on completely emptying your mind and focusing on your breathing.

3 Move Around

During labor, mom should want to move around. This can be hard when you are in pain, but it can help move labor along. When mom walks or changes position, it can help the baby move down the birth canal, or get in the right position and this will make labor a lot quicker.

2 Let Them Be The Bad Guys

Your delivery room is just that, yours. That means that you decide who is there and for how long. If you are having problems with family or friends who won’t take the hint, or just are not listening to you, tell your nurses. They have no problem being “the bad guy,” and they will kick out anyone that you don’t want to be there.

1 Lean On Your Nurses

Nurses are not just here to help set up IVs and check your cervix, they are there for emotional support. They want women in labor to go to them if they need some help. They can help walk you through it, and give you tons of tips on the way through your childbirth.

Sources: Coffee And Coos, We Have Kids, Mom Like You Mean It