Category: Self-help
-
Self-help skills for Labour & Birth #7
Complementary therapies There are many types of complementary therapies available: Acupuncture, aromatherapy (available in most birth units) homeopathy, massage, self-hypnosis and yoga.
-
Self-help skills for Labour & Birth #6
Rest or sleep You will need your energy for the later stages of labour. Try to sleep or rest during early labour.
-
Self-help skills for Labour & Birth #5
Hot / cold packs Heat or cold may help you to cope with labour. Apply them to lower abdomen, lower back, back and perineum. Three-point heat can be a very effective form of pain relief during labour.
-
Self-help skills for Labour & Birth #4
Movement and positions Use gravity to help you during labour and birth. Also, empty your bladder hourly. Both, being upright and an empty bladder maximises your body’s ability to give birth. Movement, like walking or a good wiggle may help speed up labour.
-
Self-help skills for labour & Birth #2
Breathing You might breathe really fast or hold your breath when you are frightened. More adrenaline will be released and labour gets more painful. When you are breathing slowly it will be easier for you to be calm and relaxed. Also your baby will be supplied with more oxygen. To calm yourself during and between…
-
Self-help skills for labour & birth #1
Labour, how does it work? Oxytocin is the hormone which triggers your contractions and keeps them coming. Oxytocin is also known as the hormone of love. At the same time, your body produces another hormone, prostaglandin, which helps softening the neck of your womb (the cervix) to help it to open up (dilate) to allow…
Tina Gibbs 