What tools do you have in your toolbox for coping with labor? I hear all the time that people wanted an unmedicated birth, but then they felt the pains of labor and weren’t sure what to do other than to get pain medication immediately. Pain medication can be a great tool for labor and delivery (which maybe you didn’t expect a doula to say), but it’s also good to have a few more tricks in your toolbelt before you jump right to medication…
Please read to the end, because I promise these are not trite suggestions!
1. Movement
Movement is a great tool for coping with contractions. Seriously laying in the bed and just letting labor happen to you is a great way to suffer through your contractions, but it doesn’t do anything to help you or your baby. Getting up and moving can help distract you too. We posted some great movement tips on our socials for you today, and Lamaze has more too.
2. Massage
even just touch can be wonderful tools for coping with labor, and don’t really require any special store-bought things to do. You can massage yourself where you are feeling stretches, push on your sacrum with a fist if you’re having back pain during contractions, or have a partner nearby just to cuddle and keep those good love hormones flowing. Seriously, this is supported by science.
3. Focus
Focusing on your BREATH can also really help you get through the squeeze of contractions one minute at a time. I know it sounds trite, but you really CAN do anything for a minute at a time.
These are tried and true tools for coping with labor, even if you just use them until you can get an epidural. Sometimes having someone remind you of the simple tools can be really helpful too. Stress can make us forgetful.
