Pregnancy
Have a Better Labor with these 7 Tricks of the Trade
By Deb Flashenberg
6. “Set the Stage”
It has become more common for women to birth in hospitals instead of
their home. (Although studies included prospectively reported data from
more than 5,000 women planning home births with Certified Professional
Midwives in the year 2000 in the U.S. and Canada, and found that
outcomes for mothers and babies were the same as for low-risk mothers
giving birth in hospitals, but with a fraction of the interventions…but
I digress) So to give the stark hospital room a bit more of a “homey”
feeling, set the stage! One dramatic difference you could easily make
would be turning off the bright lights. Also, some women bring their
own pillows or night gowns. Others bring music or pictures that are
inspiring or comforting. The partner, husband or doula can help handle
“crowd control” and not allow to many unnecessary staff people disturb
the laboring woman.
How setting the stage helps? ” What is needed for effective labor with
lowered levels of stress hormones is a comfortable, dimly lit, cozy
space that allows you to access the part of your primitive brain that
sets up the process of hormonal ebb and flow and facilitates the
smoothest functioning of the normal birth process. We share this need
for privacy during labor with virtually all other female mammals.” (Ina
May’s Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin)
7. Massage
I have met very few laboring women that do not appreciate a reassuring
and relaxing massage. You do not need to be a professional massage
therapist to give some one you love a little helpful massage. All you
have to do is move into the massage with the intention of helping to
release tighten muscles and alleviate pain and most importantly, watch
for the woman’s response. She may not verbally tell you if you are
doing it right, so watch for her facial expressions and sounds.
How massage helps? Massage has been credited with helping to reduce
pain, anxiety and fear by increasing endorphin levels in the body.
Several of the common areas that the laboring mom may enjoy to have
massaged are the lower back, neck, shoulders, hands and feet. Also keep
in mind, the more relaxed you are, the less painful the contraction
will seem. The more stressed you are, the more painful the contractions
will seem. Final tip- be prepared with lotions or oils that smell good
to you. Just the smell of the products may help relax you.
I hope these tips will help. Happy laboring!
Deb Flashenberg, Director of The Prenatal Yoga Center in New York City
and a certified Doula and Lamaze instructor
