Tips on Creating Your Birthing Oasis

No matter where or how you give birth, you deserve a peaceful and joyful environment. Countless studies have shown that laboring in a calm and supportive environment has several benefits. Through the use of relaxation, your stress levels lower. Lower stress levels during labor can actually help you cope with labor pain more effectively, and decrease the use of pain medication. In addition, having a relaxing environment after the birth is shown to improve mother-baby bonding and promote breastfeeding hormones.

In order to create this tranquility during labor, you can do several things to appeal to your senses: sight, touch, sound, and smell. To help you out, I have put together a comprehensive list of some of my favorite ways to make your labor and birth environment your very own oasis:

Lighting

Set the mood using the lights. Dim the lights, shut the curtains. Use warm lamps, fairy lights, or tea candles around the room. Using these candles or string lights can make the room feel welcoming and relaxing. This allows rest, which is incredibly important for the laboring woman. Some women prefer to use LED lights with fun, dancing colors. Whatever you want the vibe to be in your birthing space, small changes in lighting can help you achieve it.

Music

Music can serve three main purposes: relaxation, distraction, and motivation. Music like calm piano, birdsong, and meditation sounds can be extremely helpful in relaxing during labor. Practice breathing exercises with a lovely, calm tune in the background.

Music can also be a distraction from labor pains. Imagine this: you feel another contraction coming on, you start to tune out the world and all you can feel is the crushing pain in your abdomen. Then, all of a sudden, London Bridge by Fergie starts playing in the background… yeah, good luck focusing on that contraction now!

Last, music is wonderful at motivating people. We listen to music whenever we need a boost of energy in our everyday lives: when we’re working out, cleaning the house, or going on a long drive. Birth is compared to a marathon... so why not listen to some motivating music to get you to the finish line?

I suggest you make 2 birth playlists: one with calm, instrumental music to use when you need to relax and focus on your breath, and another for when you need a boost of confidence!

People

The people you allow in your birthing space can affect your experience greatly. Make sure you choose who is allowed around you during labor. These individuals should make you feel comfortable, confident, and safe. Also, make sure the people with you are educated on how you would like to be supported during labor and birth. Anyone who does not fit that criteria is not beneficial to have around during your birth.

Heating

Make sure you are not too hot or cold. Comfort is key! Turn the A/C up or down as you feel fit. Use a fan or heating pad for more focused care. Doulas usually bring a handheld fan, but cool washcloths can also do the trick. Last, dress comfortably. Many women get hot during labor from all the work the body is doing, so make sure not to expect to wear a sweatsuit the whole time!

Nesting

Create a space with your favorite blankets and pillows. Make it comfortable and calming. Labor can be exhausting, so create a space where you can curl up and rest.

Noise Level

If you’re anything like me, a lot of noise during labor will do nothing but agitate you and pull your focus. I recommend keeping the noise level low to create a calm and peaceful environment. This looks like peaceful music, hushed speaking tones, no one going in and out of the room.

Scent

Aromatherapy can help with relaxation, energy, sleep, nausea, and much more. Before labor, research what essential oils are best for laboring or any other issues you may want to treat, and have them ready to go for when you start labor. Invest in a diffuser, so you can spread the scent throughout the room to create your ideal birthing space.

Visuals

What you see during labor can help you greatly in keeping your mental space clear and encouraging you to keep going. I think a great option for appealing to your visual senses are affirmation cards. You can hang them up or lay them out in front of you and read them repeatedly to remind you of your strength. For some women, covering or hiding any medical equipment can be helpful in making labor feel less like a procedure.

Conclusion

Once you decide you want your labor to look like, you can do several things to create your dream birthing oasis. Relaxation makes labor less stressful, which has several benefits to both you and baby. Doing things such as, dimming the lights, playing your favorite music, being surrounded by your most trusted people, a warm bed filled with comfy pillows and soft blankets, with lavender diffusing throughout the room and your affirmation cards posted around on the walls, can create the environment you crave for your birthing experience. You can do these things whether in the hospital, birthing center, or your home. Take charge of your birth by creating a space where you feel safe and calm.