Coping with labour naturally

• Choose a care provider and birth place that will allow you freedom in labour and plenty of support.
• Practice relaxation during pregnancy.
• Use affirmations and visualization during pregnancy.
• Choose labour companions who will support and encourage you - consider a Doula.
• Read inspiring birth stories during pregnancy.
• Labour at home as long as possible.
• Make your location as comfortable as possible.
• Keep your space warm and dark.
• Bring comforts of home to the birth center.
• Go about your daily routine during early labour - sleep if it's night.
• Eat and drink as you need to.
• Move. Walk inside or outside, use a birth ball, slow dance - movement helps.
• Surrender to the power of labour and the power of your body, embrace it.
• Play music that you love, that helps you move deeper into labour, or that soothes you.
• Stand and bear down on low support, or pull on a soft rope support if it helps.
• Be grateful that you'l be meeting your baby soon. Be grateful for your attendants.
• Vocalize -use deep, open moans. Relax your jaw. This relaxes your bottom.
• Know that you can do this.
• Visualize your body opening and your baby moving down.
• Keep peeing. This gets you moving and some women like labouring on the toilet.
• Try aromatherapy. Massage with essential oils in a carrier oil can be wonderful.
• Have an attendant use counter-pressure for strong back labor.
• Use a hot sock, rice sock, or aromatherapy stuffed animal to apply moist heat.
• Use cool washcloths or a frozen hot sock, rice sock, or aromatherapy animal for cold.
• Get in the shower.
• Get into warm water.
• Have an attendant give you a massage on your legs, or anywhere that feels good.
• Don't try to escape the pain - embrace it, go with it. Explore it, be curious about it, if it helps.
• Feel the love of those around you.
• Talk to your baby.
• Look in the eyes of your support team.
• Do what your body tells you to do. Breathe.
• Trust yourself.