Restoring Energy During Labour

Whether your labor ends up being 6 hours or 36 hours, at a certain point your energy stores will be depleted and you will feel exhausted. Your body is hard at work, and it's certainly difficult to labour effectively when you are wiped!

As a runner, I've learned overtime that I can't expect to perform well in a race environment if I sprint out of the gate, or if I don't fuel my body properly throughout the course. Hard lessons to learn, but they apply to childbirth as well.

There are a few things you can do during labour and birth to restore your energy, and they may not be things that you would originally think of.

Take a walk - a change of scenery can do wonders to restore your mental energy

Juice and water - staying hydrated is key to digging deep during the most strenuous endurance tests, so the same goes for labour!

Honey - popping a honey stick or sucking on a honey candy can provide the wonderful natural energy boost that honey provides!

Nap - if you're exhausted, your body may just need a nap to recover. If you're experiencing a long early labour, you may want to rest as much as you can to preserve your energy before active labour hits.

Talk to a friend - sounds weird, right? Have a conversation with a friend during labour? Well, sometimes a pep talk from a good friend who can help you see your strength is all you need to push through and continue!

Whatever brings you those happy, strong, confident feelings...do that. Follow your instincts and let others around you know when you need a break, a sip of juice, to go for a walk or just need some quiet time.

You're in control, mama! This is your birth - you call the shots!

xoxo
Shannon

Not Just For Your Hair

If you peek inside my doula bag, you will find a small hair comb. You know the ones...they're plastic with pointy teeth.

It may seem strange, but a hard plastic comb from the dollar store can provide wonderful relief in a few different ways when you are in labour and giving birth.

As a distraction, you can grip the comb in your hand and apply pressure with the teeth of the comb against your palm. Be careful not to grip it too hard so as to prevent piercing the skin!

As a form of massage, having your partner or doula lightly running the teeth of the comb over your arm, thighs, back...it can provide a wonderful soothing sensation. Dim the lights and it can be quite tranquil!

Combs are wonderful tools to use during labour when you are seeking comfort measures that you can control. It's in your hand, you are able to apply as much pressure as you would like and you can toss it to the side as you see fit. You're able to still walk the halls, use the tub, labour as you would like and feels right for you, with your comb in hand.

xoxo
Shannon

What is THAT for?!

On the topic of physical supports during labour and birth this month, we are talking about counter pressure.

What is it?

Well, there are a few things that a doula typically carries in their bag of tricks that help with providing counter pressure to the small of mama's back when they are experiencing back pain. Sometimes, babe is just in a funny position so we feel the contractions more in our back than in our abdomen (though, that is completely fine in your birth process!).

Absolutely, counter pressure can be applied with your thumbs, fingers, knuckles, or palm of your hand. It's a great way to get mama's partner involved in the physical comfort measures of birth, but if labour is taking a bit of time...your hands can get tired.

Tennis balls, lacrosse balls, and hard plastic massagers can provide the same technique, and dig a little deeper if that's what mom needs.

The tennis and lacrosse balls are something that mom can even use on herself, between her body and a wall, rolling it as needed and letting the pressure sit where she needs it most.

The plastic massagers (my personal favourite!) have different sized balls on the ends, which helps if you need to change the pressure, or use it for a total back massage (lightly) between contractions for some soothing touch and relief.

Typically, I bring two of the plastic massagers with me in my bag, and Stephanie likes the tennis ball method (having hers connected to a cord to make sure it doesn't get dropped on the floor!).

Counter pressure...there and available to you when you need it most.

xoxo
Shannon

Tour of our Doula Bag

Another new feature this year...a look inside our doula bag! Every month, we will feature a different item from our doula bag, explain why we have it, what we use it for, and how it aids in your birth experience.

Stephanie giving a talk about our #doulabag! #ldnont #birthdoula #postpartumdoula

A photo posted by Shannon Moyer-Szemenyei (@sweetstellas) on Oct 24, 2015 at 9:02am PDT

Gum and Lollipops

These are items time and again that I consider actually taking out of our doula bag, but then all of a sudden...whamo! Mom gets sick to her stomach, or the air in the birthing suite at the hospital is just unbearably stale and Mom needs a lollipop to suck on.

Or....in a mad dash to get out of the house, I forget to brush my teeth!

Sometimes when labour is long and exhausting, and Mom unfortunately isn't allowed to eat anything and doesn't want another cup of ice, a lollipop or piece of gum is a nice alternative.

Essentially, life happens and sometimes all you need is a piece of gum to freshen up, or a lollipop as a distraction while you're having contractions and labouring in the tub.

No matter the reason, we have you covered.We stock peppermint Pur gum that is aspartame free, and a variety of lollipops, from cherry to rootbeer, strawberry to watermelon. My favourite lollipops are the Jolly Rancher ones, as they are incredibly flavourful!

xoxo
Shannon