What gets you through contractions? « Back to Group Discussions

[Iowa]

I found it really interesting reading through the 'what does labor feel like' thread.  Made me wonder what images, thoughts, or even positions people used or are planning to use during their contractions. 

I used to be a runner back in high school and we'd do a drill where we'd run with a Pringles chip between our thumb and middle finger.  The idea was to keep the hands relaxed because when you start clenching your hands, you often tighten up your shoulders and other body parts.  So with the start of each contraction I would think to myself to do a check to make sure my hands were relaxed and then my feet.  I felt like this helped to burn a few seconds as the contraction would build and also to keep my whole body relaxed with each contraction.  Also knowing that most contractions peak in intensity after 30 seconds I would count to 30 in my head and know it was all down hill after that followed by some rest.  It was interesting when I was being monitored for a short time while on the birth ball and I could see the wave patterns of the contractions and sure enough they would peak exactly at 30 seconds each time.  Made for a good visual with what my body was doing.  I had also read somewhere (might have just been a personal birth story) that slightly moaning through contractions helps to regulate the breathing and keep from gasping in air, hence less chance of vomiting during transition.   

Also seeing all of these birth stories pop up reminds me that this is really about to happen again!  I'd love to hear other people's visualizations and what has worked for them. 

[tolovemercy]

Relaxing face muscles, too (in addition to hands and feet!) has helped me.  Massaging temples, jaw, forehead, or just focusing on keeping those muscles relaxed really has helped me reinforce an attitude of surrendering and accepting.  I've found that if I let the tension creep into my neck, shoulders, and face, I feel more like I'm fighting contractions than allowing them to do their good work.

I think I was better about this with my first two babies.  My last labor was my worst, and I'm hoping to reclaim better pain-coping skills this time.

[Kuba'sMama]

I'm one of those unique women I guess (in this community anyway) which finds lying in bed most bearable. Under my covers, curled up, I feel most in control and calm. My first 2 labours were very bearable that way. My third (at home) was difficult for many reasons, but the most unnerving was that my midwife kept asking me to try all these different positions. I was very stressed out and off my centre. Lying down helps me to focus on breathing and relaxing various body parts.

Also I've been getting these horrible calf cramps at night lately and found that instead of writhing around the bed and moaning, breathing slowly and waiting for them to pass was most effective. Sort of a warm up to labour I guess

[fruitfulmomma]

Lots of hip movement, especially during transition. 

Focused breathing, not the old lamaze panting stuff but just paying attention to it, keeping it slow and steady.

A relaxed mouth is good but I've found when I am having bh now that if I focus on that it actually makes it harder to get through it because I forget my other stuff.

I also have always birthed in the semi-reclined position which is not real usual for natural births I guess but that is just the way I end up. Have tried the stool and it was excrutiating to sit on and I am usually very sleepy and taking cat naps between contractions by then which makes hands and knees hard. 

The big jacuzzi tub at my 3rd birth was great and I plan to make plenty use of it this time around. Our tub at home is too small and the shower worked better.

My husband... hard to imagine getting through it without him. He keeps me calm and centered. I appreciate my female birth attendants but for the most part I'd prefer to be left alone by all of them until baby is crowning.

We are going to try some lavender eo this time around for aromatherapy and massage.

[Nicole730]

Well, considering it's all fresh in my mind, this time around low moaning, hip swaying, having counter pressure on my tailbone, pushing my butt up against the wall for more counter pressure, and making sure I kept my shoulders relaxed got me through.  I spent the whole time between my bed and the wall, bent over on pillows during the contractions and mostly stand up in between them.  And knowing my baby would be here really soon helped too!  I had back labor again, which wasn't fun, but it wasn't too long either, so that's good.

[cheryllynn]

I used Hypnobabies for a very comfortable labor.  This program uses relaxation techniques, so when a contraction would start, I would go as loose and limp as I could.  I was able to comfortably go through the experience up until the pushing phase.  

[crunchy mom qi]

I'm with Nicole370 as far as the lower back counter pressure, very low moaning, hip swaying.  I didn't try the wall, but will next time.  I also LOVED being in my spa (I kept it at body temp).  It was a used softub, so just like a birthing pool. 

I also used two squatting positions during pushing:  squat over toilet, hovering an inch or so above, so I could sit down during my breaks, just by dropping an inch.  and then squat on all fours, up on the hospital bed with the back of it all the way up so I could rest my forearms and forehead up high (gravity helps!).  A few contractions at one location, then switch, REPEAT several times.  It was very comfortable, but maybe that's because I practiced squatting during my whole pregnancy.  No tearing either, & wasn't very tired despite my labor lasting 33 hours with contractions every 2-3 minutes the whole time until the last 2 hours which were spent pushing.