Six Essential Tips for Labor Preparation at Home
Going into labor is the most anticipated part of pregnancy - it’s almost time to meet your baby.
Waiting for labor can be challenging in the last weeks of pregnancy; you might be ready for your baby to come, or you might be scared (or both). You also might not feel so great. Maybe you are faced with an induction date or worried about how things went during your last birth.
No matter your current experience, how your birth will happen and when it will happen is filled with uncertainty.
Labor preparation at home is a great way to pass the time and prepare your body and baby for birth.
Why prepare for labor? Preparation for labor can take time. Cervical ripening and effacement (the softening and thinning out of the cervix) are a process, and the natural progression of your body getting ready also takes time. If you have an induction date, you will want to be more proactive in encouraging your body toward birth. And for many people, it feels good to be doing something instead of sitting around waiting. Whatever the reason, these tools are great for most people. We always recommend checking in with your doctor, midwife, acupuncturist, or healthcare provider to ensure these suggestions are right for you.
Once you have the go-ahead, we recommend trying these tips to help your body prepare for childbirth. Labor preparation acupuncture treatments typically start at week 37; we love supporting clients in the last weeks of their pregnancy. And while acupuncture treatments are a small part of your week, they can have an incredible impact on your preparedness. Any and all of the tips here are supportive practices to incorporate into your daily routines:
Shoulder massage: The acupuncture point on the top of your trapezius muscle (the highest point of the shoulder) is called Jian Jing; Shoulder Well, also called Gallbladder 21. This point can be massaged and/or pressed with thumbs, fists, or even elbows. This is a particularly good point for a baby who has not dropped yet or isn’t engaged in the pelvis. We use it to help your baby move down. This labor massage technique can also be used as a comfort measure during labor to help your baby descend. I always recommend asking your support person, whether that is a partner or a pal, to massage your shoulders as much as possible, in the last four weeks leading up to your due date. You can thank me for that later!
Foot massage: In the traditional Chinese medicine channel system, there is only one point on the bottom of the foot: our connection to the earth beneath us. Acupuncture point Yong Quan; Bubbling Spring, also called Kidney 1, is a fantastic grounding point. In labor, during transition, when fear comes up, just having someone hold their hands on the bottom of your feet and connect with this point can calm and settle your fear and anxiety and help bring you back into your body. We also use this point to help your baby descend into the pelvis and birth canal. Foot massages are recommended for every birthing person, with special attention to this point. You can find it on the bottom of the foot at the anterior third and the posterior two-thirds of the line from the web between the 2nd and 3rd toes to the back of the heel. Or you can have your support person massage all of your foot and they will most likely cover it.
Eat 6 dates a day- 6 Deglet dates or 4 Medjool dates a day in the last month of your pregnancy is a common suggestion. The reason dates are helpful to prepare for labor instead of any other fruit is that they trigger oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin is responsible for uterine contractions and helps your baby move down into the birth canal. Oxytocin also triggers prostaglandins which have the important job of softening/ripening the cervix. For more info and recipes, check out our blog post from our sister website here.
If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or have issues with your blood sugar, skip this tip.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea: This tea is considered a uterine tonic that strengthens your uterus and can soften your cervix over time. There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet about the safety of red raspberry leaf during pregnancy. Still, it’s a common practice to drink 1-3 cups a day beginning in week 37 and continuing through to your birth. Skip this one if you have had any pregnancy complications, especially bleeding, and check in with your provider to ensure it’s right for you.
Bouncing on the birth ball: A great tool to encourage gravity and loosen up your hips a bit, bouncing on the birth ball can help your baby move down and promote dilation. You can also sit on the birth ball and do hip circles to increase space in your pelvis. There are a lot of exercises that can feel great at this point in your pregnancy with the birth ball.
* Bonus tip: The birth ball is also a great way to settle your baby and bounce them to sleep with a soothing rhythm. This is a game changer when your arms are tired, you can use your ball to bounce while holding your babe.
Clary Sage essential oil: Clary Sage is a lovely herb in essential oil form that can help to promote labor contractions. Avoid using this essential oil directly on your skin, and use caution when using it with a carrier oil like jojoba oil. Ideally, a diffuser is the way to go. Emit it through a diffuser in a room where you will spend time in. You can even set it up in your room right before you go to sleep or during a meditation session which is a lovely time to get quiet and connect with your baby.
I usually tell people who are waiting for their baby to come that your baby is in charge. They will guide much of how the labor preparation process goes. Our work is to help you create space, encourage opening, and release tension so your baby and your body can do their work. Labor preparation acupuncture also helps accomplish these things. If you are interested in learning more about how acupuncture can help you during your pregnancy, click here.