Ten Things That Helped Me Get Through Labor
Whether you plan to give birth at home, at a birthing center, or in the hospital, there are a couple of things you can have prepared before it's go time that will make the experience more enjoyable. Here's a list of ten things that helped me during and immediately after giving birth.
Before & During Labor:
Cold Towels
A week prior to my due date my doula came over my house to prepare face towels doused in the essential oils of my choice and water. These towels were then rolled up, put into a closed container (think glass tupperware), and placed in the fridge. I chose orange Essential Oil as my EO of choice as I hoped the citrus would provide me with a burst of energy when in labor. These little things were a lifesaver! As being in labor is basically a super crazy workout for the body and mind, having the towels ready, cold, and smelling like orange helped me feel like I could handle the intensity.
Gentle Baby Essential Oil
This blend is particularly from the Young Living line but what it's made of is Coriander, Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile, and a few other EOs which you can always blend and bottle on your own. It. is. pure. bliss. when you smell this oil throughout labor. All those .5 seconds of bliss each time you get a wiff of this adds up nicely to really make this oil a MUST for me at every birth. The great thing is that it is of course, safe for babies, and helps make the newborn experience lovelier when diffused at bed time for your newborn. Drop a comment if you'd like to hear some more uses for this fabulous oil!
Sight Words/Affirmations
"Welcome Baby!" "melt" "soften" "let go" "fall away" "Nuwa Love"
These were the words I wrote on my dry erase board which was in my living room. I knew I'd be able to see these words during labor because I planned a home birth. Had I transferred to a hospital, I could have easily brought the board with me if I wanted to.
Sounds
This isn't something you have to prepare or purchase beforehand, but you MUST know you have this in your birthing toolbox! Get comfortable with the idea that you can use your voice in an animalistic way. ROAR! Moan! But make sure when you do, you are using your voice from your root chakra and not your throat, otherwise you could end up cooing to your baby in a raspy voice those first few days!
Doula
I call my doula the MVP of my labor. She knew when to apply counter-pressure during contractions, wiped the sweat off my forehead, face, neck, back, and chest, and made me my first meal- oatmeal, after labor. Find a doula before your third trimester so you can get to know one another with time before the big day comes. Ancient Song Doula Services located in Brooklyn and Newark can help.
After Labor:
Witch Hazel Padsicles
After I gave birth to Kavi, my doula also made witch hazel padsicles in my kitchen and placed them in the freezer for me. A few hours later when I was ready to use them they were perfectly soothing. I had about ten ready to go and later had help making more when I needed them. You can find instructions on how to make them easily online.
Broth
After giving birth, my mom and Lenny's mom brought me a lot of soups made with bone broth. I specifically requested this whenever they would ask me what I wanted to eat. My mom made me a Filipino dish called Arroz Caldo which is a soupy rice made with ginger and chicken. Lenny's mom made me a Dominican dish called Sancocho which is made with a lot of root vegetables and meats. All these ingredients remixed in different ways made up a lot of my postpartum meals for the first 40 days. They aided in building up the energy in my body after having used it to create life for 9/10 months followed by the grand finale of labor.
Ginger & Cinnamon Tea
This warming blend helped my body rebuild its heat, as understood in terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine and other practices. The blend was simply cut up ginger root boiled with cinnamon sticks.
Female Assistance
My mom stayed with us and cooked, cleaned, did overnight shifts with the baby, and watched over as I learned how to mother. This helped in so many ways and I understand this was somewhat of a privilege. I highly recommend seeking postpartum doula assistance after birth if the women or people in your family can not be with you at that time.
Silverettes
Silvererettes are basically nipple shields that are made of silver, which has amazing healing properties for the skin. Although these were pricey, they worked miraculously in healing my nipples in between feedings until they got used to breastfeeding. Another great thing about the Silverettes is that you can send them back to the company and get them made into a pendant when you're done using them! I still have mine and let my doula clients borrow them for the first few weeks of breastfeeding.
Bonus: Coconut Water
I was not a fan of coconut water, especially the bottled kind, before I started breastfeeding! Immediately after giving birth and beginning breastfeeding I became obsessed with coconut water! I tried many of the brands I came across, trying at least 10 different kinds in a short time. It helped in keeping me hydrated while breastfeeding and quenched my thirst like I had just finished running a marathon. This is why I had to add it as a bonus :P
Photo by @saabinthecity (IG)