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Strategies for an easier labour

Can you boost your odds for a better birth?

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Originally published in Today's Parent December 2005

What’s the most challenging thing you’ve ever done? Many mothers will say it was giving birth. Knowing that, you’ll want to prepare in every way you can to make your baby’s birth a little easier. Sylvia Brody’s* idea of a good birth was one where she felt in control, with as few medical interventions as possible. Categorized as high-risk for a premature baby due to her unicornate uterus (half a uterus), Brody was determined to give herself the best possible chance of a natural, full-term birth. And last February, at 36 weeks (just a week away from term), she gave birth vaginally and without pain medication to a healthy baby girl!

We’ve all heard stories of labours that were exhausting or that required all kinds of medical assistance. Some of us, like Sylvia Brody, might have additional fears due to medical conditions.

Nevertheless, there are things you can do to increase the odds that your labour will go smoothly from the first contraction to the final push that brings your baby into the world. Brody began with the basics that encourage a healthy mom and baby throughout pregnancy: eating well, getting plenty of rest and seeing her caregiver regularly. But she didn’t stop there: “I learned from a friend’s story of her disappointing birth that I needed to be really prepared.” But what can you actually do to boost your odds for an easier labour?

During Pregnancy

Yoga
Of all the prenatal exercise classes out there, yoga has the largest following. Janet Balaskas, a British childbirth educator and author of Active Birth, explains why: “Yoga prepares the body to be upright in labour — standing, kneeling, hands and knees and squatting — and these positions keep the pelvis loose and open for easier positioning and descent of the baby.” Balaskas’ number-one rule for labour, all the way through to pushing, is “Don’t lie in bed!”

Yoga has other benefits. “Focusing on breathing was really helpful practice for labour,” says Kate Stewart, who attended yoga classes during her first pregnancy and is back with her second. Balaskas advises, “Concentrate on the exhale, and relax after, then stay relaxed for the inhale. Learn to breathe away the tension in your body and that will help you to breathe away the pain in labour.”

Massage
“Regular massage helps women to breathe into areas of discomfort, relaxing tight muscles,” says Vancouver registered massage therapist Paula Jaspar, who sees mostly pregnant women in her practice. She adds that muscles made supple from regular massage relax more quickly following a contraction during labour, making the rest between contractions feel a little longer.

Is massage helpful in labour? Angela Verbrugge was so sure of it she hired Jaspar to be her doula. As it turned out, Verbrugge had intense back pain in labour. She says, “I was glad to have an expert massage therapist who knew how the muscles are connected and how to release tension.”

Other women turn to their partners for comforting touch. A partner can stroke the woman’s head, which may calm and relax her, allowing her body to get on with its work. According to research, firm touch such as holding hands (that’s all Brody wanted) or pressing firmly on the upper arms or thighs increases the production of oxytocin, encouraging labour to progress. If you’d like to learn more, consider signing up for a prenatal massage class.

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