Five Must Haves for an Unmedicated Labor
When I became pregnant with Logan, I knew I wanted to attempt unmedicated vaginal birth. It is more beneficial for the baby and mother to have minimal medical interventions, from what I read. But also, I wanted to prove to myself I could do it. While I haven't shared Logan's birth story yet, I'll give you a spoiler. Logan was delivered via an emergency cesarean section. BUT, that was after hours and hours of unmedicated labor. I made it to 9cm dilated. I was so close to the pushing stage and then like a good book… Plot Twist. And even though Logan’s birth didn’t end as I hoped, I got as far as I could on my own. I wouldn’t have made it as far as I did, however, without the five items listed below.
Before I count down my top five, I do have some honorable mentions. These items didn’t necessarily help get to me 9cm, but they did come in handy throughout labor and during recovery.
A front zip sports bra. I can't remember where I heard about this one; a birth podcast or a labor and delivery youtube video, maybe, but having a zip-front sports bra made skin to skin much easier. A quick unzip and the baby can be placed on your chest. No worries about pulling a bra over your head or having someone unhook it from the back.
A locking water bottle. I had mine in bed with me all night before active labor started and then during recovery when I was sore and it was hard to move. Not once did I worry about it leaking.
A long phone charging cord. This item is on every mom's must-have list, and for a good reason. Hospital beds are made to be moved, so they are not snug up against a wall with an outlet super close. The one I purchased was 10 foot long and it was perfect.
Items for your support partners: an extra pillow and blanket, comfy warm pants and a hoodie, and snacks. The nurses and doctors are there to care for you and your baby, not for your support person. Make sure they bring some essentials from home so they can get some rest, not freeze their bums off, and stay energized. If your lucky, your labor won't be too long, but it could also be days if you factor in recovery time.
Okay, now on to the good stuff. Here are the five items that got me through hours of unmedicated labor:
5. Crocs and Socks Anyone?
I know Crocs aren't for everyone, but they were one of the best items I brought to the hospital. I wore them not only during labor, but also during recovery in the hospital. I labored on my feet most of the time, and was even in the shower at one point. Crocs, while not very fashionable, are supportive, comfortable, and won't slip on wet surfaces like showers. I also wore them with warm thick socks when I traveled down to the NICU to see Logan. I wasn't worried about showcasing the latest foot fashions during our hospital stay. If you are, then Crocs may not be for you. But I'm keeping them on my must-haves list. Side note: I got tons of compliments from the nurses about my Crocs.
4. Stay Focused with Noise-canceling Earbuds
With noise-canceling earbuds, I was able to sleep better the night before active labor started. I had my white noise app on and could drown out the monitors' sounds and commotion from the hallway. Once I was in active labor, my earbuds were great for blocking everyone out and focusing on what my body needed to do.
3. Zone Out with playlists of music, meditations and calming sounds
I made labor playlists weeks in advance on Spotify. One playlist had upbeat, fun songs for the start of labor. You know, before contractions became fast and furious, and shit got real. Imagine college pre-gaming, getting ready with your girls type songs. The second playlist was calmer, more acoustic, and zen. Think coffee house or brunch cafe vibes. I also had a few meditations focused on pain management saved from my Calm app. Both my playlists and my meditations helped keep me in a great headspace to make it as far as I did.
2. have a mantra or affirmation and Put it on Repeat
I know it sounds very woo woo to say this is a must-have, but you don't know unless you know. And since I've been through unmedicated labor. I know! My mantra was "pain equals progress," and I repeated those three words in my head over and over and over and over and over again during my contractions.
1. Enlist a Professional by hiring a doula
By far, the MVP of my labor was my doula. Not only did she provide physical support during labor through counter-pressure and massages, but she also talked me through options for being admitted to the hospital vs. staying at home before active labor. She advocated for my birth preferences when my doctor suggested a cesarean section by asking if there was an alternative option and how much time we had before deciding. And during the c-section, she was in the operating room. She took photos of Logan while he was being cleaned up, weighed, and assessed. My doula captured his first minutes of life. She then waited around until we were all safely back in our recovery room.
Our doula checked in on us a few days post-delivery and had a final meeting with us a few weeks after we came home from the hospital. She brought over a small notebook where she wrote down the details of that day, Logan's birth story. I didn't have to piece together snippets of memories from the most special day of my life. I had them written down as fact for me to read whenever I wanted.
Doulas are an added expense, and their fees can range from a few hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars, depending on geographic location and their experience. But having my doula by my side during labor was worth every penny!
