Labour Cheat Sheet

Things to remember 

Make the most of your hormones

Endorphins - Stimulated by light touch massage.
Encouraged by laughter and love. Pain reliever 200 x stronger than morphine. Encourages Oxytocin. 

Oxytocin - Responsible for surges, bonding with baby, euphoric feeling after birth. Shy hormone, needs privacy.  Stimulated by loving touch, hugs, laughter, positivity, nipple and clitoral stimulation. 

Melatonin - Boosts oxytocin, thrives when in the dark and unobserved. 

Benefits


Risks


Alternatives

Intuition


Nothing 

Managing your comfort levels 

Warm water  Bath, shower, birth pool, hot water bottle

Distraction  Music, TV, laughter

Massage  Light touch, firm kneading at base of spine, hip squeezes

Birth ball  Rocking, swaying, figure of 8 hips, UFO positions

Acupressure Comb in hand, tennis ball at the base of the spine, thumbs, knuckles

Anchoring  Smells, words, colours, objects

Breathing Techniques   

Calm Breathing – in for 4, out for 4 more 

Wave Breathing – in for 7 out for 7

Birth Breathing – In for 1 out for 7 

If things slow down 

Ask for patience

Have a snack

 Change position

Have a wee 

Breathing techniques

Nipple or clitoral stimulation

Laughing

Hugs, kisses, massage 

 More around 

Top tips for Birth partner

Set up the room, think hormones

Food and drink

In charge of music 

Reduce people in the room

Suggest position changes and going to the toilet 

Loving touch, hugs etc. 

Help with breathing techniques

Notice tension and help release – especially jaw

Have conversations with staff 

Use BRAIN 

Ask for different staff if needs be 

Advocate to stick to birth plan