Update on birth process

I have to say those birth classes have been pretty helpful. In addition to learning how to breathe, we also went over the best positions to adopt during labor and delivery. I understand i'm supposed to move as much as possible during labor: walk around, move the hips in circular motions, squat, use a yoga ball, etc. During delivery it's best not to adopt the conventional so called "gynecologic" position lying down. Best is to take advantage of gravity and stay propped up or squatting to make it easier for baby to come down - or lay on the side which make it easier because baby doesn't have to rotate. The other thing is to position the feet with the toes oriented inside and the hills outside (opposite of V position) which opens up the bones of the buttocks and makes it easier for baby to come out. The one really tricky thing is to know when to head for the maternity given regular contractions could be there for a while but if the cervix isn't dilated it's false labor and i'd be sent back home. The pb is that i can't figure out if my cervix is dilated myself:) so we'd have to head to the maternity even for no reason- I have a feeling it's likely to happen... One other good trick we learnt: take a medication to empty bowels when labor starts and given the intestinal process stops during labor this should avoid embarassement. The other good thing about it is that since it empties the bowels it will help make room and should facilitate dilatation of the cervix. Good to know! I'm asking my doctor for it on Monday.