- A high level of fear means more tension, which means more pain.
- When we’re confident, we feel calmer, which means we’re better able to cope.
- When you relax and trust (in birth, your body, your team, God, the baby–you pick!), you let yourself be vulnerable, which helps you open up: your heart and cervix!
How people can help: Holding Space
I added the conceptual formula for partners to help with confidence and trust by holding space. (DOULAS also hold space, though their responsibility extends to knowledge of labor and birth and how to influence a person’s experience of it.)
Labor Support Formula
1. Protect (shield)
2. Support (scaffolding)
3. Really be there (mindfulness, attention)
These images are great for introducing fear-tension-pain and for planning comfort measures workshops and talking about how the need to control (and use the neocortex!) inhibits our bodies.
Use as you would any other Better Birth Graphic. You can pull it up on your tablet at prenatal appointments. Add it to a PowerPoint. Print and give to each client. Whatever works! (Just not on the internet or social media, as usual.)
Get the FREE fear-tension-pain for birth teaching tool.
Getting to “Handling It” + “At Peace”
This concept is embedded in the new Drug-Free Pain Relief resource coming out in the Release next week! All the ways we improve labor experience without using pharmaceuticals, including ideas and tips for planning natural birth. Shows the options and helps families see the importance of provider and place!
Get this double-sided, graphic resource to understand natural labor pain relief without drugs from the shop. Or,
