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Imagine it's a Friday night, and you've got this lovely, romantic evening planned with your partner. Now, I get it—romantic means different things to different people, but let's keep it simple. Picture a cosy night for two with a great atmosphere: maybe some music, candles, good conversation, warm humour, and, of course, a little lovemaking to cap off the night.
Your Friday night was perfect, full of relaxation, feeling safe, calm, and unafraid. And the intimacy was fantastic because you were fully present, letting your body do what it needed to do to make you feel amazing.
Now, you might be wondering, how on earth is 'gettin' jiggy with it' anything like labour?
Well, the body functions optimally when you approach labour in an environment similar to that romantic evening. First off, you need the right partner—someone who won't make you feel self-conscious, someone you trust and feel safe with. You want to find a comfortable position or positions that feel good for both you and your partner. It might take a few tries or come instinctively, but your body will let you know when it's right.
Setting the scene for labour—comfortable positions and creating the ideal birth environment—are all covered in The Complete Birth Preparation Package.
Just like setting the mood for some lovin', setting the stage for labour is equally important. Would you want to have an intimate moment in a brightly lit room, with strangers watching and them commenting on your performance? Probably not. You'd prefer privacy, dim lighting, and to be with someone you feel comfortable with. So, why not create a playlist and make your environment as cosy as possible?
Now, let's talk hormones. During sex, oxytocin, the 'hearts and flowers love hormone,' heightens that warm and fuzzy bonding feeling, increasing desire and playing a part in orgasm. Similarly, during labour, oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions and boosts the production of prostaglandins, essential for the labour process to unfold.
What you don't want during sex or labour is adrenaline—the 'fight or flight' hormone that chases oxytocin away. Just imagine someone walking in on you during an intimate moment—the mood would be killed, and oxytocin flow would stop. The same happens in labour. Feeling threatened or scared halts the production of oxytocin, slowing or stopping labour.
Endorphins, released during both sex and labour, contribute to the 'feel good' sensation, making you feel relaxed and happy. Adrenaline can stomp all over endorphins, leading to a more stressful encounter and making labour seem more uncomfortable.
In short—plan your labour the way you plan that Hollywood-style romantic evening. Consider your environment, your comfort, and who you'd like around you. Quieten your mind and go with the flow because your body works best when you relax during physical functions like lovemaking or labour.
If you find it challenging to switch off that 'tick tick tick' part of your brain, I get it! That's where hypnobirthing can help. It teaches you tools to remain calm, focused, and in tune with your body during labour and birth and is included as part of my 12 hour in person antenatal course, The Complete Birth Prep Package.
IN PERSON ANTENATAL COURSES
LIVINGSTON, WEST LOTHIAN & LARBERT, STIRLINGSHIRE
& EDINBURGH
ONLINE ANTENATAL WORKSHOPS