Easier Labour - 5 ways to make it happen
Is the big day coming up for you? Do you have x’s on your calendar counting down to your due date? Do you have a family member or friend in late pregnancy? In this blog, we’re going to talk about some well-known and some less talked about ways to help position yourself for an easier labour experience.
De-Stress Breathing
Get Rid of That Word “contraction”
Acupressure for Easier Labour
Let Your Monkey Do It!
De-Stress Breathing
We all know those movie references with the stereotyped breathing. What you might not realise is that it’s actually true - at least in part! The truth is, focusing on your breathing during labour gives you something positive to focus on.
Of course, we’re breathing all the time, but focusing on the breath as it moves in and out of your body, moves it from an autonomic process to an active one. This focus may interrupt the transmission of pain signals to your brain and can even stimulate the release of endorphins (natural pain-relieving hormones)! How cool is that?
Without this focus, it’s so easy to end up holding your breath, taking shallow breaths or hyperventilating. The “de-stressor breath” is incredibly easy to learn and practice. If you practice as much as possible in the lead up to labour, it comes more naturally when you need it - during contractions or in between, in the waiting times.
All you need to do is breathe IN through the nose for 5 seconds, and OUT through the mouth for 7 seconds. Closing your eyes and having your hand rested on your belly will accentuate the calming, pain-relieving result. Go ahead: try it now!
Get Rid of That Word “Contraction”
“Contraction” is just not the nicest word. It sounds sharp and painful and, to us, summons up images of tightness and pain.
Doing something as simple as changing the word mentally to “rushes” or “waves” or “surges” can have a dramatic impact in the way you think about it and how you deal with it.
Instead of it being something you need to endure, it can be something you ride or something that washes over you. Each time you experience a “rush” or “wave” it’s carrying you on its momentum, one step closer to meeting your beautiful baby!
Acupressure
We’ve got a couple of super useful points we want to introduce you to. We’ve even got some incredibly helpful videos to check out as well.
The first one is the Large Intestine 4. This point is great for relieving pain during a wave. Pressure should be applied at the start of the wave and continue until the pain has mostly subsided.
It works best if you use it on both hands simultaneously when squeezed (or pinched) between the thumb and index finger. For best ergonomics, have your birth partner face you and cross their arms so their right hand squeezes your right hand, and their left hand squeezes your left hand.
The second acupressure point to help promote easier labour is called Bladder 32. This point can have an anaesthetising effect on the pain associated with waves and many women will ask for firm pressure on this area.
Nerves and blood vessels come through the holes where these points are located and strong pressure can stimulate what’s called contractile activity and help the pelvic floor to relax. Your birth partner can use knuckles or thumbs to stimulate the point and, if they’re confident, the whole sacral area can be massaged.
Acupressure in this area is particularly helpful when the baby is in a posterior position and the woman is having a “back labour” where the pain is felt mostly in the lower back area.
For Easier Labour: Let Your Monkey Do It!
One of the worst things we can do is overthink it. Don’t let your over-busy mind interfere with the ancient wisdom of your body!
In the words of American midwife, Ina May Gaskin, Let Your Monkey Do it! Here’s a list of things that monkeys don’t do in labour that we can all learn from:
Monkeys don’t think of technology as necessary to giving birth
Monkeys don’t worry about how their bodies look
Monkeys don’t do math about how dilated they are, or speculate on how long labour might take
Monkeys get into the position that feels best for them
Monkeys aren’t self-conscious about making noise, screaming, farting or pooping in labour
Let loose, and let your monkey do it!
If you’d like some gentle pre-birth acupuncture, check out our appointments with Phoebe for acupuncture only or acupuncture and massage (35+ weeks)
