What things helped you through the birth?

[athenalove46]

My midwife wants me to make a list of likes/dislikes but I honestly can't think of anything. My other 2 births were hospital births, where I was strapped to the bed and couldn't do anything anyways. So, it's kinda hard to say what I would like or not.

In your experience, what did you find to be helpful or not so much?

[Cersha]

Mine wasn't a homebirth...I got transfered to the hospital, but the shower was invaluble to me. We are planning a waterbirth this time around. (well, we planned it the first time 'round, but they don't do that at the hospital)

[Sihaya]

Helpful:
Hypnobabies, especially affirmations and visualization exercise
Chanting "open open open"
Counterpressure (I had back labor)
Shower
Birth Pool - way better than the shower
Being left alone and not messed with
Being told "You are doing it" when I said "I can't do it/this!"
Having all the birth supplies ready and a list of where everything was kept so the mws/dh could find it during/after the birth
Having lists of who to call right after birth

Not helpful:
Anything DH did, pretty much
Birth "projects" - my labor and birth were far too fast for these. I had a bunch of things I planned to do that never got done (for example, brewing and drinking RRL tea). The things I did try to do, like string the birth beads from our DDC swap, I just couldn't concentrate on - I was too far into active labor.

I'm sure I'll think of more later, but that what came to mind right now

[BekahMomToOliver]

Both times, I just listened to my body and did what felt right at the time. Before DD was born, my doula asked me the same thing, what I liked during labour. I told her I didn't know, and I still don't, because what feels "right" has been different both times.
There are certainly lots of different things you can try, though, to see what works for you, like Sihaya listed.
With DD's labour ten days ago, I swiveled my hips during contractions, I liked counterpressure, and moaned "ooooooooopen" during the contractions. I walked around and tidied the house until I was 9 cms, then got in the pool and laboured on hands and knees, and delivered DD that way 30 minutes later. I didn't push until she was crowning, because up to that point it felt better just to let my body do it.
With DS, it felt better to lie down or kneel during my whole labour, and to push in a semi-sit. I liked counterpressure then too, but in my hips (rather than on my back like with DD).
Both were home water births, but both were very different, because that's just how my body needed it at the time.
My advice is just to follow your instinct! If you remain calm and just do what feels right, you'll do amazing!
Good luck!

[Lirazel]

I was asked what I do when I feel pain or stress - what comforts or relaxes me. And alternately what I don't like during those times. So, for example, I have a CD I play that calms me and I don't like it much when DH strokes my hair so those are some things we're going to remember for labor.

[Youngfrankenstein]

I think you should have things available you normally like and go with whatever you want at the time.

I do like having my hair brushed, I like warm water, I like watching funny stuff on TV, I like hanging on the birth ball, I like music...so those are things I'd turn to in labor.

I don't like useless massage (no offense to dh but he's not good at it), I don't like being talked to (when I'm in pain)

[cheenya]

Originally Posted by Sihaya

Helpful:
Hypnobabies, especially affirmations and visualization exercise
Chanting "open open open"
Counterpressure (I had back labor)
Shower
Birth Pool - way better than the shower
Being told "You are doing it" when I said "I can't do it/this!"
Having all the birth supplies ready and a list of where everything was kept so the mws/dh could find it during/after the birth
Having lists of who to call right after birth

This list could have been mine - except I took out the being left alone one - for me having my family (DH, parents, and sisters) around me was super comforting during each of my births.

I really like the suggestion about thinking what helps you in times of stress.

[vegasgrl]

Funny story...my doula asked me what relaxes me. So I start telling her how I used to enjoy running, and I had a WoW addiction for a time, and before I got pregnant it was mostly drinking excessively. So she starts laughing and says "No, I mean for labor."

Anyhoo, thanks for this thread because I've been trying to figure out what would work for me best. Two things I did tell her that would be BAD are onions and patchoulli. I can't STAND the smell of onions or patchoulli, and I'm thinking if she came in all patchoulli'd out with a burger with huge honkin' onions on it I'd probably lose it.

Other than that I'm guessing we'll just go with whatever feels right at the time. I've never had a problem asking for what I need, not ever. I recognize that Laborland is a place I've never been and therefore this may change on birth day, but I don't think I'll have a problem saying either "seriously if you touch me there again I'm going to kick your arse" or "oh please, please, please never stop doing that." We shall see! Keep 'em coming ladies!

[perditafoster]

I hated these things about the hospital:
lights
noise
people
machines
noise
lights
everyone in creation looking at me
monitors
medication
faces that I didn't know peering into mine
people telling me what to do
PUSH! PUSH! PUSH!
lights
noise
people
(see a theme here?)

Things I liked about homebirth:
dark
quiet
no one looking at me
no one else awake
quiet
dark
all familiar furniture, smells, sights
quiet
dark
no faces, no people, no pressure
no one telling me what to do or how to do it
quiet
dark
no one touching me
free to wander and go outside in the dark
(again with the repetition!)

I'm a simple creature. I've equated myself many times to a broodmare. Leave me alone in a dark stall and I'll drop this foal in no time! Quit looking at me! Turn out those lights! Don't talk to me or touch me or even acknowledge that you see me! Leave me ALONE!!!!!!!!

[lovebug]

waht a great thread!

[beebalmmama]

I didn't have a home birth with my first. But the hospital I birthed at was very quiet/small/ and overall really respectful of my desire to give birth naturally. What I really liked was:

dark and quiet
relaxing meditative music
counter pressure on hips and low back
I stayed in a crouched froggy position for most of my labor
Dh talking me through contractions --
relied on yoga breath
mantra/moaning

I disliked:
I hated when anyone tried to make me change positions
When dh said anything other than talking me through a contraction
Chit chat with me or anyone in the room, it was so distracting

[groovynaturemama]

familiar/my favorite music
dh keeping a cold washcloth on my head and neck
dh touching me softly and holding me through a contraction while i was standing
being in my familiar environment
low tonal moaning through the most intense contractions
keeping my body "soft" and not tense
having a "walk into the fire" attitude. i faced labor head on and mentally prepared ahead of time to allow my body and baby to do their work (meditation, written affirmations all over my house, talks with my baby in utero)

[Youngfrankenstein]

Originally Posted by vegasgrl

Funny story...my doula asked me what relaxes me. So I start telling her how I used to enjoy running, and I had a WoW addiction for a time, and before I got pregnant it was mostly drinking excessively. !

Who knows? WoW could be the perfect thing to distract from labor?

[vegasgrl]

That would be soooooooooooooooooooo funny! Maybe I'll kick up my subscription again. I used to seriously be able to zone out for DAYS playing WoW...why wouldn't it work for labor?