Unconventional Pain Relief Techniques for Childbirth | 84

These techniques are rooted in science. And they can make your birthing experience more manageable and even more empowering. So let's get started. Just note that this was an Instagram live, so I may talk to the audience or answer some questions. So ignore that if you can. All right. Let's go. We're going to be diving into some unconventional pain coping tools, but these are highly effective pain coping tools or methods, what have you. 


in and breathe out. So the point of the comb is that it just introduces a different sensation. You can even do it on your thighs. I have seen mamas take something and repetitively rub with, strong sensation on their thighs. So if we were going to practice the gait theory using the comb. What I want you guys to do, if you have a comb, is to take it, find a comfortable place to sit or lay down. 


And that is called a, it's a J breathing or an up down breathing or whatever you want to call it. Everybody calls it something different, but that can actually reset your mind and your anxiety. It can slow down that panic. Which is really important during labor. So you've taken your nice deep breath and you exhaled slowly. 


So now what I want you to do is take the comb and I want you to slowly stroke your hand. Now you're going to want to put gentle, but firm pressure so that it feels, it's a really weird feeling. You can even do it on your. forearm. You can squeeze it, whatever you want. You want the prongs in or whatever they're called, I don't know, the teeth of the comb in if you're going to squeeze it. 


You're gonna breathe in 2, 3, 4, breathe out 4, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Now to do that breathing. You have to practice it, but it distracts your mind and it replaces that sensation. When you need distraction and relief from your contractions, you can try the comb trick. Now, if you're not pregnant yet or you are pregnant and maybe you're experiencing, pelvic pain or something, try that for a distraction method. 


It's like daydreaming or having a dream, but it's purposeful when it comes to labor. So visualization can actually reduce anxiety and your perception of the pain of labor. And that's where the power comes in. So what we do is we practice this inside of Calm Mama Society and with our students, our Calm Labor Competent Birth students. 


So when you visualize a serene and safe place for you during labor, your brain releases endorphins. Those are natural pain relievers. Using visualization, whether it's visualizing a peaceful place that you love. Or even visualizing your cervix opening and your baby lowering and your baby coming out. You can even sit and visualize the actual birth. 


Their dream birth with no negativity no fear that this might not happen exactly how they want it. And then they write it down, the narrative, and then we talk about the steps to get there because you can't just have a perfect birth and wing it, promise you on that one. So When we're using visualization, I want you guys right now to make a mental note of what is your spot? 


Where is your safe place? Is it sitting on your back deck with a cup of tea, with your feet up, watching deer out? front, out back, or, whatever it is. I'm just making things up right now. Is it going to the beach? For me, it's the beach. So when I visualize the beach, and I do this sometimes when I'm really stressed out, you guys, like really anxious. 


So let's talk about visualization. I want you right now. In your head, out loud, you can say, Trish, this is mine. Whatever. Type it in the comments. I want to know, what is your safe place? And, of course, my dog is barking. Oh Remy. She's rotten. Okay, Remy, we can't be peaceful with the dog barking. 


Whatever it is. I want you to visualize it. Close your eyes now. Ready? If I'm talking about the beach, which is my place, I would close my eyes, and I'm gonna visualize the beach. And I know exactly which beach I would go to. I grew up in Clearwater. I love St. Pete Beach. So peaceful to me. It's not a touristy beach, a lot of older people, not a bunch of tourists. 


So I want you guys to visualize your peaceful place, your safe place, your ideal, place that you want to be. And with each breath, let go of the tension. So you're going to breathe. So in peace, breathe out tension, breathe out control, breathe out, the fear. And that's going to be what you're going to practice when it comes to visualization. 


And I would practice it now while you're pregnant so that it just becomes this natural second skin for you when you're in labor. Visualization is a seriously powerful tool to have in your labor tool bag. Okay. Okay. So number three. is affirmations. Now you're probably like you're going to tell me that affirmations going to help me deal with pain. 


And everything changes. You can see the tension drop. You can see her pain, just from the power of positive words. Affirmations can completely shift your mindset. And if you follow me, or you're one of my students, or you've been to one of my classes, then you know. That your mindset is 90 percent of your labor experience. 


So let's talk about a few examples. So examples of affirmations. And we have a freebie download, I think. Let me see if Stacy can remind me what it is. We have a freebie download of birth affirmations. So they could be, my body is designed for this. My body is capable. I am strong. I'm powerful. Each contraction brings me closer to the prize. 


And replaces it with confidence and strength. There is so much power in words and learn that now before that little baby comes out. Because being a parent, you need to use powerful words to affirm your babies. So let's practice an affirmation together, okay? We've practiced using the comb and the gait control. 


My body knows what to do. And I want you to say it with conviction. Now I want you to say, I'm capable. I can birth this baby. Now say my body knows how to birth this baby. I built this baby and I can birth this baby. I am amazing. I am strong. I, my body is perfect. I will trust the process. I will trust my body. 


I want you to say these things to yourself daily. Put them on sticky notes, put them around your mirror, put them in your car, put them in the kitchen. 


Oh my God, I'm so scared. How am I going to do this? What if I can't do this? What if I can't control myself? What if I can't handle the pain of labor? I want you instead. To reframe that, look at your positive affirmations and when you feel the fear and anxiety and the negativity and the doubt creeping up, I want you to immediately flip it on its backside and say your affirmations. 


But I'm going to teach you some more pain coping tools inside of Fearless Birth Experience. And of course, if you haven't taken a birth class, you need to jump into Calm Labor, Confident Birth course, and you are going to get so empowered, so calm, so confident. And if you upgrade to the all access pass that we have you can get virtual labor support with me and two doulas that you have us right in the palm of your hand when you're sitting in your labor room. 


All right, you guys, have a fantastic day. I hope this was a really valuable lesson for you. Go into your birth with lots of tools. Do not wing your birth. Alright, have a great day. 


Okay, I'll see you again next Friday. Bye for now.