Tips and Tricks

Re: Tips and Tricks

• sschwege member

  May 2012

  I really liked sitting on an exercise ball in early labor.  Tennis balls on my lower back as counter pressure felt really good!  A warm rice sock.  The bath was by far the best, with DH pouring warm water over my stomach during contractions.  Hands and knees position worked well too for laboring.  

  Also I'm glad I brought headphones with me to the hospital.  I had a 'noisy' neighbor and was glad I had that to drone her out.  I would suggest a mix of music (I didn't want anything with words as I found it too distracting).

  Best of luck mama!  You can do it! 

  
  
  
  
  
  My Ovulation Chart

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• FyreFlyeRush member

  May 2012

  First, tell all the staff not to offer you one. Second, tell yourself it isn't an option. Don't TRY to make it through. DO make it through. Third, I labored at home until my water broke. By the time I got to the hospital, epidural wasn't an option.  Look forward to hearing that "OK, if you don't get an epidural now, you can't have one." Use that as a source of power. Because that is a HUGE milestone and it means you're almost there. Don't fear the pain, embrace it. Women who fear the pain make it worse. Lastly, remember that things change. And dont get upset if you have to have one.

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• rosiemomma member

  May 2012

  The bath, the bath!!! that was a huuuuge help. I agree with the pp ideas the other thing I did was moaned.. low and slow, something about vocalizing helped me get through the contractions, And breath! Don't forget to take deep breaths and try to relax your whole body!

  
  
  
  Little Rose is 2 1/2.

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• Sawyerplus1 member

  May 2012

  Counter pressure worked wonders for me with DS. It's pretty much what got me through. I was in the birth tub and DH was sitting behind me (not in the tub). For every contraction DH would squeeze my shoulders inward as hard as he could, and it was sooo helpful. He also did a some counter pressure on my hips, but it wasn't as effective as on my shoulders, for some reason (I think because he couldn't get enough of a grip to squeeze hard enough).

  

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• kaeti_su

  May 2012

  I used Hypnobabies, but the best non-Hypno technique I used was Ina May's "horse lips" breathing. It helped me relax my body and gave me a way to sort of mark time and get through each contraction.
  

  

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• lily225 member

  May 2012

  I looooved the birthing ball and how quickly that can help you dilate as well as how soft it feels on your sore bum.

  I had a huge difference in labors with my first and second. I didn't feel in control most of the time with my first, wasn't focusing on anything, etc. With my second I tried a visualizing idea that my friend told me about (she was going on her 5th NB) and that was to visualize your cervix opening up during each contraction and physically and mentally keep your hips opened and relaxed during contractions to help dilate and bring the baby down. It sounds kind of silly but in the moment of a contraction, focusing and working on something that will in the end bring the pain to an end much faster really worked for me. 

  Good luck!
  

  

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• choppinbroccoli22 member

  May 2012

  Hands and knees (on floor, in tub.. leaning forward is the key).

  DH was instrumental in my pain relief, which helped me avoid any intervention for as long as possible through pitocin-charged contractions. (My labor was 44 hours, water had broken to kick it off, so I was on the clock at the hospital, even with a midwife.)
  

  I had DH apply manual pressure to my low back/sacrum at times (reaching around my chest from behind to support me and push hard enough). It took so much intensity of pain away.

  When I was in bed and my legs shook during contractions, he held them down with all his weight so I had a prayer of relaxing into them and letting them dilate me. The hot tub took away the shaking and helped to relax me. So a nurse came in and increased the pitocin level.
  

  Out of the tub and back in bed (which was all I could do after over 40 hours) I was laying on my side. DH put pressure on the side of my pelvis AND on my low back. I don't know how he did that. He was on the bed with me. My midwife was a huge fan of his!
  

  Diagrams of these moves or similar can probably be found in the book "Active Labor", which I skimmed a few times. I read "Easing Labor Pain" very thoroughly.

   

  ETA: in early labor, which was slow but arduous, I also found great comfort in my aromatherapy eye pillow (on my forehead) and shoulder bean-bag pad that I bought at a mall kiosk. I had them rotating in the fridge so they were nice and cold.

  ETA ETA: If you have a yoga mat, BRING IT! Fold it over a pillow, and kneel on it at bedside. It gives you cushion and traction! So good.
  

  

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