5 Strategies for a Relaxed Labour and Peaceful Birth

In my years practicing obstetrics, I’ve heard quite a few worries from expecting mothers regarding child labour. Though the gift of pregnancy and childbirth is always to be celebrated, it’s no surprise for many patients to feel nervous about their upcoming due date.

Though there is no shame in experiencing pre-childbirth jitters, I want all expecting mothers to know that they don’t have to go through this life-changing moment alone. As always, knowledge is power, and there are several effective strategies to use to encourage calm labour.

Without further ado, here are some top tips from myself and other obstetricians for having a peaceful birth.

1. Surround Yourself with People You Trust

You’ll require all kinds of support during childbirth, both physical and emotional. As such, being surrounded by people you love and/or trust dearly is one of the most critical factors for feeling relaxed and comfortable during labour.

Of course, you can’t always control some of the individuals who will be present as your pregnancy finally comes to an end — such as the doctors or midwives taking care of you during the process — but you can bring someone else to assist throughout.

Whether this is a close family member, spouse or friend is entirely up to you, as long as you know that they’ll be helping you along the way. Most women bring their partner, but some women find it very helpful to have a second support person. This is a very individual decision.

2. Make A Childbirth Playlist

Most mothers don’t think about the kind of music that will be playing during their labour, yet it can truly make all the difference in how comfortable you are throughout the experience. Chances are, you can already think of a few tunes that give you an instant, full-body emotion, whether it’s a hard rock song or moody ballad.

Regardless of genre, compile some of the tracks you’ve been listening to throughout your pregnancy into a playlist for when the time comes. Not only will having some background noise keep you focused and grounded in the moment, but it can also help you feel more comfortable to vocalize when pushing through contractions.

3. Bring Some of Your Favourite Scents 

Aromatherapy has a host of benefits and uses, even when it comes to childbirth. As such, it’s worth considering bringing some scents with you to the hospital. For instance, peppermint oil could help ease exhaustion and nausea, while a soothing lavender can stop jumpy nerves and anxiety.

Since you likely won’t have a diffuser lying around your hospital room, I recommend placing a drop of your favourite pregnancy scents onto a cloth or tissue somewhere nearby. Then, whenever you need to feel soothed by the smell, you can quickly place it to your nose or — in case it becomes too overbearing — swiftly throw it away.

4. Turn The Lights Down

There’s a reason why most humans don’t sleep with our lamps blaring in our faces — it’s simply not relaxing!

The same principle holds true during your childbirth. Many obstetricians — including myself — recommend switching off any bright lights to maintain that serene feeling and keep the room comfortable.

In fact, you can even bring some battery-operated candles with you to enjoy a soft, soothing glow. Whatever it takes to help you feel the most reassured and calm.

5. Keep the Area Warm

Humans naturally find warm temperatures to be the most relaxing, as they help to loosen up our stiff muscles and ease anxieties, even if we don’t notice.

You can use this to your advantage during childbirth by ensuring the space you’re in is always kept at a comfortable temperature. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to recreate a spa room, but just a tiny bit of heat can go a long way.

Having a warm shower or immersing yourself in a warm bath can do wonders. Additionally, you can have someone soak a towel in warm or cold water to place on your forehead or back for a boosted soothing sensation.