Birth Visualization & Time of Day

[GOPLawyer]

Just curious if I'm the only one....

When I'm picturing the birth, it's *always* nighttime for the labor and birth (complete w/ candles, Christmas lights and dimmed lamps). Honestly, if I have to labor during the day, I'm not sure I'm going to know what to do. lol

Anybody else always picture the same time of day?

[MommyofHero]

I envision it in the nighttime too... sitting in the birthing tub next to the window and looking at the night sky. I suppose my labor could be long and I could experience both night and day labor, right? I guess I envision a calmer atmosphere in the nighttime-- i.e. no bright sunlight, no visitors

[AutumnAir]

I did that too. Ended up labouring both night and day... If that's what you visualise then you can just work on recreating that atmosphere regardless of time of day - e.g. make sure it's quiet (turn off phone etc.) darken the room(s) and have your lighting all worked out.

[munkeesmama]

Y4ep, always at night, in my bath with candles lit. I would be a bit dissapointed if it was during the day when i couldn't get the full effect of the dimness and candles. But I do have plans on how to darken the room!

[amitymama]

I always envisioned birthing in darkness as well but ended up going into labour at 4am and having my son at 4.30pm, so all of it (bar the first couple hours of early labour, before the sun came up) was in daylight. I had planned to draw the curtains and block out the light if I went into labour during the day but in the end I was so incredibly happy to be labouring in the sunshine out in my garden and having the sun streaming through the windows when I was pushing. I think in the dark I might've felt less grounded and more in 'la-la land' whereas in the light I felt totally present, if that makes any sense.

I think you'll find a way to make it work no matter what time of day it is. You'll either successfully create a nighttime-like environment or you'll find positives about labouring in the daytime.

[Haselnuss]

I've heard evening is actually the most common time for labor to start - and that's what happened to me every time. My first ended up being born the next afternoon, though, my second at sunrise, and my third at midnight. I have to say, once labor was in full swing I never noticed the passage of time or whether it was light or dark - I was shocked to realize half the day had passed by the time my oldest was born.
Of course, I envision labor starting in the evening this time, too - I don't know anything else.

[rockportmidwife]

I see my birth taking place in the evening, but other than that every scenario that goes through my head is different.

[barefootpoetry]

I always pictured my birth at night too. I gave birth at 11:42 p.m. after waking up in the morning with contractions and laboring throughout that day.

[dogmom327]

It actually makes sense from an evolutionary perspective...most mammals give birth at night. Historically it's safer.

I always thought I'd give birth at night but it turned out to be during the day (DS was born at 3:38 pm). Of course at the moment, I couldn't have cared less You can do a lot by closing the shades, lowering the lights etc. The room I gave birth in was actually quite dark even though it was the middle of the afternoon on a summer day.

[L&K'smommie]

I picture this also...I think because I've labored at night with both my kids. With my oldest I went into labor at about 10pm and she was born at 10:32am...my ds I went into labor at about 2:45am and he was born at 6:23am(same day), so I've always driven to the hospital at night...this time I'll be at home!! But I still see it happening at night.

[Staciemao]

I pictured laboring at night with both of mine...and one I had at 6:32 am (so I did labor at night) and the other was born at 4:00 on Thanksgiving Day. My midwife finished dinner, caught my daughter, and was back for dessert.

Laboring in the daytime is actually wonderful. All the colors are brighter and everything is really really beautiful. At least it was for me.

[claddaghmom]

Strange....I always visualize birthing on a really sunny day outside in a pool.

[lanielayne]

I have always pictured laboring and birthing at night and did so with 3 of my births. My last one was during the morning and it really threw me off! It was snowing outside which was pretty but I enjoy the darkness. It seems to make it easier for me to turn into myself and focus.