Labor Comforts
During the labor of my daughter, I realized just how much I could use some Carmex for my lips. They got so chapped that they were bleeding and swollen. It is amazing how the little comforts during labor, can make things much more bearable. The following items can certainly be useful during labor and delivery. Include a few treats, you deserve it!
- tennis balls for massages
- a Birthing ball (exercise ball): It is useful for bouncing on, and laying your chest and head on it. If you sit on it correctly (with your legs spread somewhat) it actually helps to open your cervix and bring the baby down correctly. Some women actually enjoy bouncing on it during labor.
- Bottles of Water for mother, daddy, and birth attendants
- Gatorade or Laborade
- Honey in a spoon or honey straws
- Tea/Juice
- Washcloths for soaking in a crockpot with herbs such as lavender (These feel great on the back or face)
- Popsicles or lollipops to keep mouth hydrated.These look really good to me!
- Massaging oils or lotions such as here. One of my friends gave me a set like this after Lily was born, and it was lovely! Lavender is best for promoting relaxation, which is essential for the first stage of labor.
- Power Bars for busy mommy, daddy, and birth attendants. Don't let your blood sugar drop!
- Fruit: Some women find that eating one piece of fruit during a difficult time in labor, helps them to carry on.
- Water: If you are not going to use a birthing pool, many women recommend soaking in your tub or taking a shower as a way to soften your skin and make the pain more bearable.
- Scripture booklet: Many women compose a scripture booklet prior to labor with scriptures which they can focus on during labor.
- Perhaps, have a movie on hand, which you really want to see, and save it for the early hours of labor. What a good distraction. It may help you to remain calm.
6 Comments:
Your own pillows if you are going to the hospital. Their pillows suck. It was so nice to have m y own comfy pillows.
Great advice! My youngest is 3 months old now (I have 3 girls) and the thing that helped the most with her delivery was my homemade rice sock. I just kept heating it up and moving it around on my tummy or back and it helped so much.
Karen,
I cannot believe that I left out the awesome rice sock idea! I have a corn pack which was handmade in some really durable denim fabric and it is awesome for back aches. I am sure it will get some use during my labor. Blessings!
The three things that really got me through my labor were:
1) A heating pad I had horrible back labor for several hours and the warmth really helped.
2) Lower back massage My good friend is a massage therapist. She taught everybody how to do counterpressure so that it really did lessen the pain during contractions.
3) Bendy straws It's much easier to drink water in different positions when all you have to do is open your mouth and suck on a straw.
And, about the socks, did your doctor really have nothing better to focus on than what you were wearing on your feet?
Sorry if that's over the top coming from a complete stranger. It just really bothers me when women are disrespected by their health care providers--especially when they are in the midst of such a powerful and amazing experience as childbirth.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for visiting and thank you for the helpful advice. My doctor was really frustrating and that is why I am so grateful that God has led me to a wonderful midwife. I feel so blessed.Blessings!
This is a great list. I will have to keep your tips in mind should we blessed with another little one in the future.
I wound up having my daughter five weeks early & had been planning a homebirth, so silly me did not pack a hospital bag "just in case". The only labor comfort items I remembered in the rush were my own pillows, a hymn CD, and my Bible.
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