5 Tips to Shorten Labor
#1 - MOVE
Come on Dancing Queen, lets Bust a Move! Moving your body during labor helps strengthen your contractions, which can make them more effective, which in turn, will short the overall length of your labor.
You don’t need Moves Like Jagger, just walk, dance, lunge, climb stairs, cat/cow pelvic tilts & squats…. And MIX. IT. UP.
Changing your position every 30 minutes during active labor can not only increase your comfort, but also help baby navigate the twisty turns of your pelvis. Those Hips Don’t Lie!
#2 - RELAXATION
When its time to take a break, listen to your body! What makes you get to “limp-noodle” status? …Now, go do THAT during your labor.
Releasing all your tension (physical, mental & emotional) = Opens your cervix. The faster your cervix opens, the faster your labor will be.
Massage, aromatherapy, sleeping (if you can), distractions, meditation, these are all awesome methods to try! If it works for you, then by all means, give it a go. Once labor is established & active, take a glorious bath or shower - hydrotherapy is amazing for coping with contractions.
#3 GO PEE
Empty your bladder. A too full bladder can completely stall a labor out! By emptying your bladder, it shrinks in size and provides more room for your baby’s head to move.
#4 ASK GOD
God loves you. God loves new life. He is unbelievably invested in your labor & birth, so invite Him into your birth space. Stay in communication with Him during your labor. And if your labor is dragging on a little longer than you’d like, then Ask God to speed it up!
#5 HIRE A DOULA
We always tell our mamas that the Holy Spirit is the BEST doula, but the physical presence of a trained & experienced doula is the next best thing! Research has proven that labors with a doula in attendance are 25% shorter. Twenty-five. So if the average labor is 12 hours, a doula could potentially help you shave THREE hours off your labor. Doulas bring more than just a calming physical presence, they also come with a wealth of birth knowledge so you don’t have to remember everything.
So listen, yes, we are doulas… but no, this is not an advertisement for US. We advocate all doulas, at all births. If we’re not your perfect match, we bet we could put you in touch with someone who is.
*This post was originally published at shebirthstruth.com