Worried about how you will cope with labour pain? You are not alone. Pain is one of the biggest concerns many expectant parents have when thinking about birth. You may be wondering whether natural or non-pharmaceutical comfort measures will be enough, whether you might want medication, or whether you need to make a decision before labour even begins. The good news is that you have options, and you can change your mind.

One of the most common questions I hear from expectant parents is: "How do I prevent tearing during birth?" Before we dive into the details, please know that your body is designed to stretch, adapt, and heal.

Once you’re pregnant (or even before), you might hear all sorts of advice:  

When I was pregnant with my first baby, I completely fell in love with Prenatal Yoga. It changed everything for me – how I moved, how I felt, how I connected to my growing baby. It even inspired me to quit my corporate job, dive into teacher training, and start a new chapter as a Pre- & Postnatal Yoga teacher.

As an expectant mother or birther, many of us search for ways to feel more prepared for birth. We attend prenatal yoga, visit pelvic floor physios, see body workers, write our birth preferences, and encourage our birth partners to come to antenatal classes with us.