|
There are heaps of countless lists about what to take with you into hospital or prepare for a homebirth, but few really helpful tips that can support your labour from a natural point of view. Here are some really helpful points that as a Doula, I use regularly:
- A couple of flannels; in different colours, so you’ve got one for your top half and one for your bottom half. It makes life easier.
- Straws – for putting into drinks so that if you are leaning forward it is easy to keep up your fluids.
- Lip salve – when you’re breathing effectively, or when you’re in the pushing stage and if you use gas and air, this is great to have to keep your lips from getting dry. And it’s great for those trips to Mount Everest too.
- Hypnosis CD – if you’ve been doing hypnobirthing, use your CDs in early and late labour, especially if you get ‘flappy’ at the transition stage.
- Aromatherapy oils – Grapeseed/Sunflower vegetable oil for a carrier base.
Clary sage is a hormonal oil sometimes used to help women to go into labour. Jasmine is sometimes used to stimulate contractions, but only used in labour to speed contractions on if they are slowing. Lavender is very useful oil if you’re feeling sick in labour – try sniffing some from a tissue. Our advice to use essential oils in labour is not to burn them. If you suddenly don’t like the smell or it makes you sick, you can’t get rid of the smell easily. Put them in boiling water to diffuse into the air or on a tissue.
- Homeopathy birth kit. Arnica – fantastic to help your body to “knit” back together after birth, if you’ve torn or need stitches. Best to get the 200c stuff.
- See a maternity Reflexologist in your late pregnancy and ask them to teach your partner Reflexology techniques for stimulating contractions, effective contractions and relaxation.
|
