A labouring woman needs to feel safe, secure and reassured to contract and dilate and to stay positive. But what can we do to create a positive birth environment?
As mammals, we often like warm, secure and dark places to give birth and it is the feeling of security and confidence that is so important. The Royal College of Midwives states that: “If we can find ways to help labouring women feel more private and confident, we will greatly improve the likelihood of them having a normal birth.”
It can be beneficial to think about the birth environment, wherever you are planning on giving birth, and to give some thought to it with your partner during your pregnancy.
Here are some simple ways to work towards a positive birth environment:
Create a nesting area
This might involve moving furniture around or using cushions and blankets. In hospital, you can move the bed to the side of the room to give you more space to move around and use mats, beanbags, cushions, blankets and birth balls to make yourself comfortable as you work with your contractions.
Adjust the lighting
At home you can use candles, tea lights, dimmer switches and fairy lights to make the room soft and calm. Your hospital room may have a dimmer switch or a lamp, which you can use to create a softer environment. If the room is bright with daylight, you can try using a blanket to give you a private space to labour in, away from the bright light.
Privacy
A labouring woman needs to feel free to move around, make noise and wear what is comfortable for her. Playing music can help and you might prefer to wear headphones if you feel disturbed by other noises.
Keep chat to a minimum
In early labour, being distracted by chat and laughter is useful but as your contractions intensify, these distractions will take more of your energy. If you have a calm and relaxing space to labour in – dark and quiet or with calm music, people tend to talk less.
Surround yourself with familiar smells
Essential oils from pregnancy, especially if you have enjoyed a pregnancy massage or relaxation sessions, can help you to relax and, if you are in hospital, you might prefer to smell something from home, such as a pillow or throw.
Cover any clocks
Some labouring women don’t like having a clock reminding them of how long they have been in labour, and how long they may have to go. Instead focus on each contraction, be in the moment and go with the flow of your labour because it is going to take as long as it takes and a big clock in the room may provide unwanted stress. If you are at home, maybe cover it up or take your clock down. In hospital, you can ask for the clock to be covered up or labour with your back to it.
Care and nurturing
Women need to feel safe and looked after, they need to feel supported and not on their own. Your needs may change throughout labour and, while you may not appreciate too much fuss, a cuddle or a hand to hold, as well as caring words of encouragement, will go a very long way to helping you feeling safe and reassured.
Here’s what mums on Facebook and Twitter said last night when asked what helped them feel safe and secure in labour:
Blanket and big comfy socks
My husband
Having private space in the birth pool
My doula
Being left alone
Supportive midwife
Having the same midwife
Low lights
Music
Homeopathy
My partner
My husband’s t-shirt
My house, my things
Ambient lighting
Calmness
Imagining waves lapping over my feet
Water
Next week we will look at where to give birth and how to make that choice…
