ENVIRONMENT

What are some of the things you may want to consider using to support the process of birth?

Essential Oils – When listening to your downloads in the lead up, make sure you can smell your chosen oil. Your subconscious will then associate that particular smell with relaxation and safety

Your pillows – so much nicer to bury your head in, in between contractions. They all also smell of you and feel familiar which subconsciously equals safety Your blanket – Great to hide under during a contraction if you’re feeling observed. It also makes a hospital environment look less ‘hospitaly’ because it looks familiar to you

Wear you own clothes – You’re not ill, you’re not a patient, you don’t need to wear a hospital gown

Turn the Lights out – Every room in the hospital, birth centre or delivery suite has a light switch.
Turn it off! Bright lights make you feel observed, darkness makes you feel private. In addition, when it is dark, our eyes see it is dark which sends a message to the brain to produce melatonin – our sleepy hormone. Sleepy hormones make us feel chilled and relaxed and boosts Oxytocin. Win Win!

Fairy lights – I love a fairy light! You can wrap a string of them around the back of the chair and it transforms into something magical. Bring them with you to the hospital or LED candles (no real ones due to all the oxygen floating about!!!).  Immediately the room becomes much more romantic and it feels like your space.

Lovely things to eat – tempting morsels of food are not only essential to keep your energy levels up but they can be used to reward you after each contraction.

Headphones – Hospitals are noisy places and you may not want to hear general chatter or other women giving birth so block out the sound by listening to your own music. Headphones also help you to feel as though you’re in your own little private world – again reducing the feelings of observation.

It is worth noting, If a woman’s labour stalled whilst in the care of someone like Ina May Gaskin, she would be asked what is bothering her and she would be given the chance of expressing any concerns, the environment would be made more conducive and she would be given time to feel more comfortable both emotionally and physically.
If a woman’s labour stalled in a hospital, more often than not, artificial hormones would be used to help get the contractions going again.

Making love

The hormones involved in making love, namely Oxytocin and Endorphins, are the same hormones involved in giving birth.  Watch the “Conception” video and this highlights the pressure birthing couples are under to perform.
Imagine, making love in a brightly lit room, surrounded by people telling you what positions to be in and keeping notes of your progress? Most people would find that extremely difficult and yet, that is the environment in which women are expected to give birth. Just as most people prefer intimacy and privacy and the ability to move how they want when making love, so too would they prefer it when giving birth. It’s our natural mammalistic instinct. Whilst birth can and does happen in environments which may not be classed as ‘romantic’ if your labour is slowing down, if you’re anxious or scared if you’re wanting to avoid intervention, making these changes can make a huge difference.

This may be helpful:

The Ecstasy of giving birth