When I gave birth to my first child, they pulled out all the stops with birthing tools.  Even with taking a natural childbirth class, I didn’t realize all the different things you can use in labor and delivery to make you more comfortable and to help get baby out.

There are things that are useful in first stage (labor) that can also carry through with you into second stage (pushing).  Some you may need to bring with you but many hospitals, birth centers and midwives do provide you access to these tools.  They are inexpensive and easily obtained and you should practice with them so you know what to expect.  In addition to planning to have some of these items to aid you in your natural birth, keep in mind you may want specific things too, like your own pillow, your own water bottle, a favorite food or beverage, etc.  Make sure to keep all of these handy for your baby’s birthday.

Laboring Tools:

Birthing Ball

The ball was originally used for physical therapy and for pregnancy and labor - it is versatile, portable and easy to clean.  Using the ball throughout pregnancy will aid in correct posture for aligning baby by keeping the muscles of the spine in good working order.  In late pregnancy it can be used when sitting becomes uncomfortable and getting up and down from a chair becomes increasingly hard - mom can just roll up off the ball.

In labor, the ball can be used in a variety of positions. In the hospital, where the mom may be attached to a monitor or an IV that prevents her from moving around freely, the ball is an important alternative to the bed.  Sitting on the ball encourages a natural swaying or rotating motion of the pelvis promoting fetal descent.  It provides perineal support without a lot of pressure and helps keep the fetus aligned in the pelvis.  The sitting position assumed on the ball is similar to a squat which is the position that opens the pelvis by more than 15% which helps to speed up labor.  Many women find gently moving or swaying/rocking on the ball greatly reduces the pain of contractions.  Also sitting on the ball provides the coach access for massage or counter-pressure to the back of the laboring mom.

Music

Music can be used to help create a mood of calmness and serenity in labor.  It can be a distraction from boredom or from the noises around you.  Choose songs/music styles for relaxing or that mom may sing to or that has a good beat for swaying to during contractions.  They could be songs with meaningful lyrics to encourage mom during rough times or to uplift her and remind her of the baby’s soon arrival.  Even sounds of the ocean, forests, etc. can be utilized if mom finds that relaxing.

You made need to bring a portable CD player to your birth place or even a MP3 player or i-Pod with earphones could be a good option as well.

Tennis Ball

A tennis ball or other massaging tool can be a helpful way to give a break to coach’s fingers and hands, especially if mom is experiencing back labor and needs that constant counter-pressure to relieve her pain.  Mom can also use the tennis ball against a wall to give her low back a massage or against the floor to relax her feet.

Rice Sock

A rice sock is an enclosed piece of material filled with dry rice that is placed in the microwave for 2-3 minutes to provide heat to sore or aching muscles for about half an hour.  They are available commercially in a variety of fabrics and with various fillings from buckwheat to glass beads but you can make one even using a tube sock.  The rice sock can also be placed in the freezer to utilize it as a cold pack.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses scents to create a physically, mentally and emotionally relaxed state.  Candles, potpourri, scented massage oils, bubble bath (some say only if bag of waters is still intact), mints and fruity hard candies, and scented moisturizing lotions are all ways to bring aromatherapy into your birth.  A word of caution: a woman’s senses are heightening during labor so use scents conservatively.

Water

Many women find the use of water in a shower or bath to be very comforting for labor pain.  Warm water helps to relieve tension and stress and emersing in it helps to equalize the pressure from the weight of baby and the contractions.  The water should be at body temperature as mother should not get overheated.

Birthing Tools:

Birthing Bar

Also known as a squatting bar or support bar, it is attached to the birthing bed to for the mother to grasp it and lift herself up to a squat.  It offers stability while she is pushing.

Birthing Stool

A birthing stool is a stool which has been specifically designed for use during childbirth.  It allows a woman to sit or squat while giving birth and gives her support if she begins to feel tired.  Many women comment that it relieves a lot of the pain as well.  It is designed to bear a substantial amount of weight and pressure, and it is usually low to the ground so that a laboring mother can plant her feet firmly.  Most importantly, a birthing stoolhas a hole in the middle, allowing a midwife to monitor the progress of the labor and providing a space for the baby to slide through.  Birthing stools are available from companies which provide equipment to midwives and they can also be handmade.  There have inconclusive studies investigating an increase of perineal tearing when using a birthing stool (and delivering in a squatted position) due to inadequate support of the tissues which prevents rapid delivery of the head and does not allow for the tissues to stretch slowly. 

Knotted Towel

This is a standard obstetrics “device” to encourage proper pushing.  Mom sits in bed with knees back and pulls as hard as she can on one end of a knotted towel while someone (a nurse) holds onto the other end of towel (sometimes it’s a sheet tied around their waist).  This helps to relax the perineum and create a pelvic curve that is easier for fetal head to maneuver.

I used this when birthing my first child and my husband likes to tell the story of how I about pulled two nurses off their feet.  It’s tug o’ war but it’s not meant to be a competition.