Written by: Emily Joswiak • July 25, 2022• Lifestyle

Top Strategies To Ease the Process of Labor and Delivery

Curious about the top strategies to ease the labor and delivery process? Uncover what approaches may help moms-to-be when the time for childbirth arrives.

Childbirth is one of the most joyous and miraculous events on Earth. But let’s face it—the labor and delivery process can be messy, painful, uncomfortable, and anxiety-ridden. Fortunately, laboring women can use numerous comfort measures to provide relief and relaxation.

Are you wondering how to create a soothing environment during this highly sensory experience? Before welcoming your child to the world, consider some of the top strategies to ease the process of labor and delivery.

Concentrated Breathing: Facilitate Relaxation

Don’t overlook the significance of simple breathing exercises. Taking childbirth or yoga classes may be a good idea throughout your pregnancy; you can learn to breathe away the tension in your body, which will help you breathe away the intensity of labor.

Concentrate on deep breathing, exhaling, and maintaining relaxation during each inhale. As a distraction technique, deep breathing patterns keep both mom and baby well-oxygenated and lessen the anxiety and pain perception of the laboring process.

Massage It Out: A Comforting Touch

When the time comes for childbirth, massage is another suitable strategy to ease the labor and delivery process. How? Pain tenses up your body’s interconnected muscles, but knowledge of how to release that tension through stimulated pressure or heat can lessen the discomfort of active labor. You can hire a professional, use a labor support assistant, or have a partner or family member massage it out.

Touch therapy is another comforting method worth considering. Either a light or firm touch—such as hand-holding, deep hugs, and elongated strokes—at the right times can encourage labor to progress and soften the pain messages typically sent to the brain.

Hydrotherapy: The Non-Medical Epidural

As mentioned, tightening of the muscles is not ideal and can actually cause heightened discomfort or lengthen labor time. As a solution, hydrotherapy can relieve a good amount of pain for laboring women. Don’t be dissuaded by the common misconceptions about water births found on the internet—getting into a shower, bathtub, or pool full of water is a low-risk comfort strategy that helps relax muscles and open the body to speed up labor.

At the end of the day, every expectant mother has their own unique birth experience. While the unexpected can happen, you can prepare yourself with techniques that encourage the best comfort, empowerment, and support.

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Last modified: July 25, 2022