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Things to help with labor discomfort

sbevmc09sbevmc09 member
in Natural Birth

The thread below about making the ambiance more relaxing got me thinking... is there anything you would recommend we take with us to help with the discomforts of labor? 

For example, I've heard peppermint oil is good to have on hand for nausea.  I have a friend who used some sort of heated rice sock to help with back pain, and I've also heard something about using tennis balls for counter pressure? 

Anyone have experience with these things and would recommend them as beneficial or have any other suggestions as for things we should have on hand?

In L&D I will have access to a birthing ball, shower, and tub that should definitely be helpful, but just want to see if maybe we should have other things on hand to make me more comfortable as well and obviously we might want to use them at home before we head to the hospital.  

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Re: Things to help with labor discomfort

  • mattdk06mattdk06 member
    I've been wondering about this too. I'm bringing a stress relieving bath/shower gel, music, heated massage pad, and funny movies. I'm not a very relaxed person to begin with, so I'm kind of lost as to what I should try. 
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  • lovin life23lovin life23 member

    I would love a homebirth or even a birth in a birthing center..neither are an option in my area...so our only option is a med free hospital birth. for comfort and relaxation and just a sense of familiarity we are:

    -using the tennis balls in the tube sock for back counter pressure/massage (sis in law is an L&D nurse and recommended this too)

    -bringing my massage oil I make (its olive oil and a few drops of eucalyptus (2), rosemary (1) and lavender (3)) I have used it during the pregnancy and in the shower it makes my house smell like the spa! its comforting to me..I have peppermint oil but I HATE The smell right now!

    -our own stability ball

    -heated rice pads (got as a gift for christmas) one for the back, shoulders and head as well as a cooling eye mask

    -my own music selection

    -the battery operated tea lights my sister used during her labor..dollar store finds! I love just candle light so I plan to get some of those and with everything else..I am already feeling relaxed! haha

    I know it sounds like a lot of stuff but it really isnt that much and I deserve to try and feel comfy and relaxed....whatever works!!

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  • sbevmc09sbevmc09 member
    imagelovin life23:

    I know it sounds like a lot of stuff but it really isnt that much and I deserve to try and feel comfy and relaxed....whatever works!!

    Hey, I totally agree, whatever works and makes you feel more comfortable!  

    That massage oil sounds awesome!  

    I'll have to google the tennis balls in the sock thing.

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  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member

    I agree with PP.  Another thing that my Bradley instructor recommended was a twin sheet so that you could do rebozo (sp ?) type things. We brought one and had planned on using it.  However, things went so quickly we never did and I really only wanted to be in the tub!

     https://www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/tool/rebozo.html

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  • CLLDLLCLLDLL member

    You can use one of those big hospital sized ice packs as counter-pressure on your back too.  I had back labor the whole time & that was the only thing that helped. 

    I also liked having my own pillow, comfy socks, and a picture of DS1 to focus on.   

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  • kelleylkkelleylk
    The peppermint oil actually made nausea worse for me with my first.  I'm sure that's not normal, since I hear so many good experiences with it.  The nausea didn't start though until transition began.  To help with pain, I sat on a birth ball and laid my head onto the side of the bed rocking back and forth.  I would moan with each contraction.  I probably sounded ridiculous but it sure helped me get through it all. You just gotta experiment with different positions and go with what works.  Good luck to you.  :)
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  • mel1987mel1987 member
    Lights off, eyes closed, comfy pillow, moving around in different positions. I didn't want music, TV,or  to talk. I could only focus on my breathing and get through each contraction.
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