How to Be More Comfortable During Birth: Natural Ways to Support Your Body in Labour
Why Comfort in Birth Matters
Comfort in labour and birth matters because your experience of birth matters. It’s also productive, returning to feeling more comfortable can provide you with the energy and strength needed to birth your baby. Returning to feeling more comfortable, is a key concept, when you feel the need for change, try something else. A technique that didn’t make a difference at an earlier stage, might feel great in the moment and visa versa.
During birth, the most intense feelings can be that of the contracting uterus. The uterus contracts to aid the baby’s exit from the mother’s body. Initial contractions may help the baby into position, then start to affect the cervix in softening, thinning & opening. Eventually the contractions will help the baby to move down through the pelvis in a gentle rotation.
Comfort and relaxation help to reduce tension in the body, which in turn creates more space for the baby to descend. Tension in the body can lead to feelings of being unable to cope and discomfort.
The comfort measures listed could be termed as natural birth or natural labour comfort techniques but even if you are planning on some medical input, these techniques can carry you towards that…. if not all the way!
The Role of Hormones In Labour & Birth
Hormones and endorphins flow better when you are well supported. Hormones cause labour & birth, whilst influencing our behaviour & emotions within it.
Prostaglandin
• Creates rhythmic surges, contractions.
• Present in semen.
Oxytocin: The Hormone Of LOVE, Connection & Happiness
• Causes the uterus to contract.
• Levels build in labour peaking at the birth of the placenta.
• Baby gets a massive surge of love, Oxytocin during birth.
• Oxytocin plays an important role in breastfeeding.
• Bonding.
• Feelings of euphoria.
Prolactin: The Mothering Hormone
• Prolactin helps the baby’s progress out of your body and your body to let go of the baby.
• In breastfeeding Prolactin promotes the flow of milk, the let-down.
• It causes feelings of submission; the mother puts the baby’s needs before her own.
• After birth it heightens your senses to care for your baby.
Beta-endorphin: Natural Painkiller
• Reduces feelings of stress.
• Reduces painful feelings.
• Creates a far away feeling.
• Needed at a small level otherwise other hormones are disrupted.
Adrenaline & Noradrenaline: Fight or flight
Needed once only, the second stage of labour, pushing your baby out.
Natural Ways to Increase Comfort During Labour & Promote the Birth Friendly Hormones
Sleep & Rest
TOP TIP, the best energy and strength boosters, sleep and rest!!! I’ve seen people sleep at every stage, early labour all the way through to just before the baby’s head is about to emerge. Sometimes it won’t feel possible, you’ll lie down and your body will tell you to get straight back up BUT keep returning to trying to sleep and rest. In early labour especially, creating a nest on the bed be can useful- on your knees, head and shoulders supported by pillows and bum in the air. In established labour, laying on your side with a cushion or peanut ball between your legs.
A Focus on Breathing
Different breathing techniques for labour are documented but if you can simply focus on a long breath out you’ll be winning. Reminders to focus on your breathing or asking a supporter to breathe through contractions with you can help you get back on track if needed. Your midwife may guide you to breathe differently when your baby’s head is about to emerge.
Instinctual Movement
After resting, instinctual movement is the way to go. So that’s moving into positions that make you feel better, your body will guide you. Supporters can make the positions you choose even more comfy with the addition of pillows, cushions, blankets or mats.
Baths, Showers & Birth Pool
Water can be soothing & relaxing from first contractions to birthing your baby. It can provide you moments of privacy and respite. Later in your birth journey, a birth pool can reduce some of the sensations of birth and aid movement. Studies show that water birth has been found to reduce the likely hood of pain medication, epidural, episiotomy, maternal pain and postpartum haemorrhage.
The Birth Environment
Consider your ideal moment of conception…….subdued lighting, warmth and privacy, with feelings of being valued, loved and safe. Birth flows in the same environment.
Soft lighting and personalising your birth space can help. Your favourite essential oils can bring an instant familiarity. Supporters can promote a relaxed, joyful & positive atmosphere. Try addressing any fears as they arise so you can release them and move on.
Basic Needs Met
Having your basic needs taken care can make all the difference. Eating, drinking & taking regular wees are all easy to forget in the moment.
Hot & Cold
You may feel both hot & cold at points during birth. Things tend to heat up as the baby gets closer but even then a spike of adrenaline could send you into shivers. So gather some blankets, a dressing gown, flannels and a fan.
Applying hot or cold water soaked flannels to achy bits can be great too. Sometimes people have a preference but if not, alternate hot and cold can be effective.
TENs Machine
TENs machines in labour work by creating a distraction, blocking pain signals and releasing endorphins. If you don’t like the sensation it can be taken straight off. I’ve seen TENs machines used through early & established labour. Just take it off before getting in water!
How to use a TENs machine……
TENs machine, a starting point. ….
- Start with lowest setting ( ) same on each side
- Then increase as contractions become more challenging ((( ))).
- Press boost for every contraction.
- Some people have found increasing the setting, rather than using boost, during the contraction, has given them focus and control.
- If you no longer want to hold the TENS yourself, give it to a birth partner and he/she can press boost or hand back to you when you indicate a contraction is starting.
Massage & Physical Support
Supporters can help by providing physical comfort, whatever feels good to the birthing person. What feels good in pregnancy is an indicator of what might feel good in birth, so try experimenting. Research the below techniques.
-Hip Squeezes
-Counter pressure on the coccyx
-Shaking the apples
-Horsey lips (!)
-Massage: back, shoulders, feet & hands
Hypnobirthing and Visualisation
Hypnobirthing has the benefits of promoting deep relaxation, which in turn allows the beneficial hormones to flow. There is a strong element of birth education which imparts a belief in your body and birth, setting fears aside. The practice creates a deep connection with your baby.
Hypnobirthing techniques
- Guided visualisations eg body opening, calm birth
- Breathing techniques
- Affirmation and positive statements
- Education around birth
The Role of Support in a Comfortable Birth
A birth supporter’s actions can make all the difference to the birthing person. A good birth supporter is very present & connected to the birthing person, following their lead but at the same time anticipating their needs. Discomforts and annoyances are be removed. A supporter can promote a relaxed, joyful, & positive atmosphere. They can help the birthing person to disclose any fears then work with them in seeking reassurance, solutions or simply acknowledging them. They can be a mouth piece, to advocate when summoning a voice is hard. Using minimal, simple language to communicate allows the birthing person stay in their birthing brain. Having such support, continuous support, during labour and birth improves birth experiences and lower intervention rates. A doula can be a great addition to your team, a supporter for your supporter and of course you, the birthing person.
How a Doula Can Support Comfort During Birth
A doula offers emotional, practical and informational support in pregnancy, birth and in the months after birth, the postpartum.
The support is responsive to the needs of you and your partner, to both follow your ethos and to offer guidance, as you indicate. A doula is impartial, experienced and comes with an open heart.
In pregnancy, a doula will facilitate discussions about birth and signpost to sources of information, helping you to prepare physically, emotionally and practically for birth and becoming parents.
During birth, a doula will consider and act upon your state of mind, comfort levels and birthing environment. A doula can support you in navigating the journey to birthing your baby.
As you get to know your baby in the months after birth, a doula can be an extra pair of hands and a guide, whilst supporting you emotionally too.
A doula will care for you, your baby and your family
Learn more about Birth Doula Support
