Labor is called labor for a reason, it's hard work! It's painful and it feels like the pain is never going to end, but it is, and that's what you have to remember, the pain will end. If you plan on a natural birth or your not dilated enough to get an epidural here are some great tips for getting through labor.
3 face cloths and a big bowl full of ice water - Soak 3 face cloths in a bowl full of icy water, when the contractions get too strong for you to handle grab a face cloth ring it out and put it on your face. It helps stop the need to scream. Make sure you have three so that you can rotate them.
Scream, let it all out! - It does help. Deep moaning helps as well.
Walk walk walk and walk some more - Walking and moving around helps progress labor. Nothing like good walking to get those stronger contractions going.
Lots of support - Encouraging words from your partner, family, friends or nurses does help out a lot.
Rough hard back rubs - Be sure to pack some lotion because your going to need a good rough hard back rub for when you hit the lower back labor.You can also get your partner to use a rolling pin, it feels amazing and brings the pain level down a lot. You can also use a tennis ball, roll it around the spots that hurt the most.
Darkness - Turn the lights off, it helps you relax.
Rocking - On your bed go on your hands and knees and rock back and forth.
Remember - Remind yourself why your going through this pain. The baby! Keep picturing your baby and what it's going to be like when you see him/her for the first time. Bring an ultrasound picture with you and look at it.
Educate yourself - Read about natural child birth and labor as soon as you can, the more you know the more comfortable you will be when labor begins and you'll know exactly what's going on with your body, knowing all about it makes it less scary when labor starts.
Educate your partner - The more they know, the more they can help.
Talk - Talk to your baby, he can hear you. Labor is just as much work for him as it is for you. Keep telling your baby that everything is going to be fine and that you can't wait to meet him. Tell her that you both will do this together.
Try different labor positions - When you have strong contractions your going to want to move and turn anyway you feel will help you with the pain. Try different labor positions until you feel most comfortable. Here are some positions you should try :
*Walking and leaning will help progress labor, gravity plays a great part in this position, it helps baby move down into the birth canal, walk as much as you can in between contraction and during contractions lean against a wall or lean onto your partner.
*Birthing balls can help open up your pelvis, sitting on a birthing ball gives you a nice break from walking. Make sure you have a partner to help you get on and off the ball safely and for balance.
*Laying down on your side when your too tired to walk, stand or squat, laying down on your side is much better than lying on your back, keep in mind that it might slow your contractions especially if your body is tired. You can also deliver your baby in this position.
*Kneeling over a chair or over your partner's shoulders is a great position when you're having back labor especially if the baby's head is pushing against your spine.
*Rocking in a rocking chair or swaying back and forth will allow your pelvis to open up and help your baby descend. Use gravity as much as you can, it helps so much if your baby just does not want to come down into the birth canal.
*Squatting allows your pelvis to open up wide, which means baby has more room to come into the world. This is a great position to deliver your baby. You can hold onto your partner while squatting for support or there is a squatting bar that attaches to the birthing bed.
*Getting on all fours is a great way to ease the pain of back labor, it allows you to do pelvic tilts which helps with comfort, it also allows your partner a chance to give you a good hard back rub or do counter pressure. You can also deliver in this position.
*Stand swaying in your partners arms helps deal with the early stages of labor. It also helps things get going a bit faster.
Hydrotherapy - Being in nice warm water can help you relax, a lot of women say that it helps reduce the pain and it helps reduce the need for pain medication. This technique also helps your baby rotate to a better position for birth. If possible you can sit in the shower on a chair, lean on the back of the chair with your back facing the water, try to get the water to flow on the bottom of your back as much as possible while leaning forward, hot water on your back will feel great and help reduce your pain if you are having back labor. If you can get an extended shower head you can let the water run over your belly, this is very helpful during labor. Hydrotherapy will reduce your stress, less stress means more oxytocin, more oxytocin means stronger and more regular contractions. If you are in a tub or pool be sure to drink lots of water or suck on ice chips to stay hydrated.
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