Keep Moving
To help baby find the easiest route through the pelvis , it is helpful to work with gravity to bring baby down , move or sway to open the pelvis and use forward leaning positions to encourage baby ’ s back to be towards the front of your belly ( anterior position ). Your movement helps your baby move as well .
Comfort Tips
Preview
• Labor is hard work and she is likely to
Comfort Tools
Consider making a list of items to have available for labor that may help with various movements , positions and physical comfort :
• Birth ball and / or peanut ball .
• Stool , chair or toilet .
• Shower or large tub .
• Yoga or exercise mat .
• Comfortable clothing that is easy to remove .
• Comfortable shoes , sandals and / or slippers .
• Heating pad and massage tools .
• Cooling tools ( fans , cooling cloth or towel ).
• Personal pillows and / or blankets .
• Snacks , drinks and ice chips . Straws for drinking are helpful in labor so you can take a drink while in any position .
Tips for Support People
Throughout labor , these are steps you can take to help increase the laboring woman ' s comfort :
• Help her into various positions and support her body as needed .
• Encourage her to rest and get comfortable in between contractions .
• If she is coping well and labor is progressing , encourage her to follow her instincts .
• If she is not coping well , offer ideas for new comfort techniques , along with lots of encouragement .
• If she labors or pushes for some time in one position without significant progress , or does not seem to be coping as well , suggest using another position for a while .
become hot , especially while pushing . Offer ice chips or a cool drink after every contraction , apply cold washcloths to her face and forehead , and use a fan to cool her .
Laboring on the toilet helps you relax your pelvic floor and allows you to empty your bladder often , which relieves pressure and gives baby more room to descend .
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