- 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.
