How to Stay Calm in Labor

If you were to believe the movies – coping in labor means that you look like “The Buddha of Birth.” You sit in a lotus position, gently breathing, eyes closed. People in the birthing room often think that if they are doing well, they are completely quiet and deeply relaxed during each contraction.

While that might be nice, it is an unrealistic expectation of someone who is working hard!  And that is what Labor is – Work! When I go to the gym, I see lots of people working hard. They don’t look relaxed at all. They make noises, move around and look to others for encouragement and assistance. Why do we expect less of a person giving birth?

Real coping in labor often looks and sounds like someone at the gym, especially during a contraction. But remember, a contraction lasts for about a minute. Then there will be several minutes that there is No Work to Be Done because the contraction is over. THAT is when we can relax!

Having a doula there to remind to you let go, release and rest between contractions helps you to feel more in control. It allows you to rest and restore, so that when the next contraction comes, you work with it with more energy, more confidence and less fear.

It may help between contractions to think “My forehead is relaxed. My shoulders are dropped. I sink down into my pillow. I am at rest.” Your support team can say these words to you to help you relax when you actually need to. In this way, you can be “The Buddha of Birth”!

Thanks for your Wisdom Connie Sultana