5 Tips For Creating a Comfortable Birth Environment
No one really enjoys being outside of their comfort zone, but this is especially true when you’re feeling vulnerable or physically uncomfortable. Think about it, when you are sick or unhappy what do you do? You put on your most comfortable, broken in clothes, you grab your favorite fluffy blanket, you stay home and you eat comfort food. These things have a way of soothing us. While they don’t necessarily take away our physical discomfort, they soothe our emotions, allow us to relax, and help us cope. On the other hand, imagine coming down with an uncomfortable illness and being forced to slip into some six inch stilettos, a pencil skirt, and an itchy blouse. Then imagine yourself wearing that outfit to a nerve wracking social event where you felt self conscious and overwhelmed. How would that experience effect your physical symptoms and your recovery? Chances are, it would make it harder to cope and you would end up feeling much worse.
This same logic applies to your birth environment. There are no two ways about it, birth is uncomfortable. It is not unmanageable and it doesn’t have to be excruciating, but it certainly isn’t easy. It can also be a very vulnerable situation for a lot of women. Giving birth is probably one of the most emotionally raw experiences a woman will ever experience and physically you can feel very exposed.
I can not tell you how many times I have been with a mom in early labor who is comfortably and easily working through contractions at home in the familiarity and comfort of her bedroom only to have her coping ability broken the minute we enter the hospital. It isn’t because she reached transition, it isn’t because she is suddenly exhausted, it is simply because she is emotionally and physically uncomfortable.
So, short of having a home birth (which is a great option, but not for everyone) what can you do to create a birth environment that is conducive to comfort and pain management?
Wear Your Own Clothes: I have worked in many different hospitals and I have come across very few that don’t allow you to wear your own clothes during labor. It may seem like a small thing, but wearing your own clothes gives you a measure of control over your body, your environment, and your comfort. You don’t have to be sell conscious about people seeing your butt while you walk around, you don’t have to wear a gown that has been worn by countless people before you and you can don’t have to worry about getting undressed and redressed while coping with contractions. The trick here though is to wear something that you don’t mind throwing away and something that still allows easy access for doctors and nurses. This can be a comfy set of PJs you buy at Walmart, a sports bra and some cotton shorts, a sports bra and a maxi skirt, or even a labor gown that you purchase yourself. Whatever you feel is comfortable, and allows you to move around easily.
Control the Scent: If you have ever set foot in a hospital or doctor’s office you probably recognize that they have a very distinct smell. They smell like cleaning products and sterility. Our sense of smell is closely tied to our emotions, so it is quite likely that that hospital smell could elicit some uncomfortable feelings for a lot of people plus chances are your home does not smell like the hospital. Birth can also create some, less than pleasant smells, so why not remedy that situation? If you use essential oils, I highly recommend packing your diffuser and a few of your favorite smelling oils and bringing them to the hospital. Diffusers are easy to plug in and set up and they last a long time so they are perfect for labor. If you have a scented lotion that you like, bring it so that your support person can use it while massaging you, if you have a lavender laundry spray you like, bring it to spray on your pillows or sheets. Just remember that you will not be able to bring traditional candles or incense.
Control the Lighting: Dim lights are often associated with relaxation and that is exactly what we want you to achieve during labor. Bring some flameless candles, or a small lamp to set up in your room so that you can turn off the overhead florescent lights. If you have a bathroom attached to your room you could also leave the bathroom light on and turn off the rest of the lights.
Bring Music: Hospitals also have a lot of sounds. It is very hard to relax and concentrate on working through a contraction when you can hear nurses and doctors talking outside of your door or even other women down the hall from you. Really think about what kind of music relaxes you and then load up on it. I have had women who loved spa music and made sure they had a commercial free spa Pandora channel ready to play on their phone. I have had women who were comforted by religious music, I even had a woman who loved Christmas music so we listened to white Christmas in the middle of her summer birth. If you love dance music bring it, if you love love songs bring it, if you and your hubby have a special song bring it. Not everyone is relaxed by the same music so just do what works for you. Another option is to use guided meditation recordings, especially ones like hypnobabies that are designed for women in labor.
Visual Encouragement: Visual reminders of encouragement, support, love or even of your baby can be wonderful tools to have during labor. Some women have their friends give them beads at their baby showers and for each bead the friend offers a hope, prayer or word of encouragement for the mom then she strings them into a necklace to wear, hold or look at during labor, do you have a baby token that you love? Maybe a special blanket, or a little baby shoe maybe even an ultrasound photo? It may sound strange but when your are in the midst of labor it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that you are about to meet your baby! These visual reminders can keep you going and make you feel more comfortable.
These suggestions may seem small or simple, but trust me when I say that they make a big difference in your overall experience. Your family is centered around your home so why shouldn’t you bring a little piece of home with you as you welcome a new life into your family?
