These techniques help you manage labour pain so you can focus on the real joy of birth — helping your baby move down and come into your arms!
Use heat
Heat helps our body relax, so hot compresses or a hot rice sock can feel really soothing when held against the lower back or thighs.
Load your own music playlists
Your own music can help create an atmosphere of peace and calm, especially if you are labouring at the same time as another mum, or are in a room where you can hear others. Prepare one playlist with energising tracks and one with relaxing music so you can choose once you are there!
Ask for a massage
Massage can help you relax and ease tension in the right places. Many women in labour like to have their ankles, calves and thighs massaged. Loosening the lower body helps you focus on getting your baby out.
Use your voice
When things get intense, soft moans help you manage the pain. They also keep your jaw relaxed, and a relaxed jaw means your body relaxes too.
Keep it private
Labour uses the same hormones you used to make your baby in the first place ;) Feeling safe, private, sheltered and warm is important for labour. Dim the lights and keep things calm. This encourages production of oxytocin and beta-endorphin, which speed up labour and actually reduce pain levels naturally.
Forget the bed
Getting on all fours and gently rocking, or standing with support and swaying slightly can make a huge difference. There is a lot of energy moving through your body with contractions, and rocking helps you let go.
Breathe calmly
Forget the funny patterned breathing you see in birth scenes at the cinema, but practise calm breathing and use it to centre yourself. It can help you get through the hard moments and help you regain control after an intense contraction.
Water takes the edge off
Getting into a warm bath gives incredible pain relief for many women, so if possible, get into a bath. A hot shower can also relax you and help you straighten up, which helps baby move down!
Move, mum, move!
Getting into a more upright position or even just changing position can really help. It can speed up a slow labour, help a baby turn, or simply help you feel a bit more comfortable!
Remember you are working with your baby!
Your baby is doing it with you and everything you do helps your baby travel into your arms!
Comments (1)