Rumer Willis prepares for unmedicated childbirth as she shares her plans
Mum-to-be Rumer Willis has revealed her plans to have an unmedicated childbirth as she enters the third trimester of her pregnancy.
The 34-year-old, who is the oldest daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, has been keeping her followers updated on her pregnancy journey as she prepares to welcome her first child with boyfriend Derek Richard Thomas.
In a video shared this week, Rumer explained that she'd become 'overwhelmed' as she approached her third trimester - week 27 of the pregnancy - as she began to think about pelvic floor work and hear about the exercises from friends.
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According to The Bump, pelvic floor muscles become overstretched and weakened underneath the growing weight of the baby, so exercises can help maintain muscle tone.
Rumer said she 'knew how important it was', especially for her, because she's chosen to have an unmedicated birth.
There are a number of pain relievers available for people giving birth, with an epidural being the most common in the US, where Rumer lives.
Anaesthetics can also be used for labour and vaginal delivery, but Rumer has decided against the use of medication, a decision which can allow the person in labour to remain in control of their body as much as possible.
In the wake of this choice, she explained she'd been chatting with both her midwife and her doula about making sure to 'work and stretch', and touted the benefits of the Perimom Perineal Massager for helping her with perineal massage.
"I have to say this has been such a game changer," she said, while adding on Instagram that her post was 'not an ad'.
"[It] made me feel so much more confident about my ability to just be, I don't know, more surrendered, really relaxed, really find places in your pelvic floor where you're holding tension and learn how to let those places go and really just prepare myself so I can have an easier birth," Rumer said.
The update on her pregnancy journey came after the mum-to-be held a baby shower last month with her mum, Moore, as well as her stepmum, Emma Heming, and her sisters.
Her dad, Bruce Willis, wasn't at the event in LA, which took place after the family announced that his aphasia had developed into frontotemporal dementia; a type of dementia that causes problems with behaviour and language.
Willis, 67, retired from acting last year after being diagnosed with aphasia.
Emily Brown