Since you never know how long your labor is going to be, it’s no wonder that you want to know how to speed up labor so that it’s as quick as possible. I don’t think that a single one of us wants to be in labor for hours and hours on end. I have a sister in law that had a 30-hour labor–yikes! But there are things that you can easily do to make yours even just a couple of hours.
These do NOT include a pitocin drip or having your bag of waters manually broken. Your doctor may likely try and augment your contractions with either one of these because they’re the traditional methods. But you DON’T need them.
Don’t believe them when they try to push it on you. If you find that you’ve plateaued and haven’t progressed as quickly as you wish, it’s likely because they’re interrupting you and keeping you stressed.
So find the ways to decompress and calm your body with any of the following easy methods and you’ll have that baby out in no time. 🙂
I’ve done every single one of these with one birth or another and I KNOW they work.
This is the #1 BEST way to get things going quickly. I can’t say enough about it.
When your brain starts to generate the hormone melatonin that helps you fall asleep, it also acts alongside a pathway that creates oxytocin too. When I was in labor last month, I kept all of the lights off in the rooms that I was walking through. I got sleepy, but it was sure worth it.
There are certain energy points along the body that correspond to stimulating contractions and responses to the uterus. Applying pressure to these sends nerve signals and help increase your labor contractions.
When you’re stressed, your tension inhibits your body’s ability to cycle forward with your hormones that control childbirth. There are myriads of things that you can do to promote relaxation during labor. My favorite thing is to listen to calming music and visualize peaceful places while breathing deeply.
Figure out what works for you. I listen to Enya, so I highly recommend her music.
If you haven’t read the orgasmic birth post yet, do it now so that these next suggestions don’t throw you for a loop. This helps generate the oxytocin that your body needs to give birth.
Sit on that birthing ball and make it your new best friend if you’re needing a moment from walking.
Change your positions often if you don’t feel up to walking or using a birthing ball. Not everything will be comfortable but go back and forth between two at the very least between contractions.
Here I am just before our third baby was born, constantly moving around during labor.
Besides just using them to relax, you can use Clary Sage essential oil to help stimulate contractions. It’s been known to do so quite well when you apply it to the inside of your ankles, like the acupressure point above.
Let’s face it. When you’re having a good time with some laughs, are you stressing out or tense with anxiety? Not likely. Find something you can joke about for the moment andlet your husband keep you smiling during this magical time. It will promote the positive feedback your body needs to complete all the hard work it’s trying to do.
Your labor WILL come to an end and it will seem faster than it actually was once you’ve come full circle. Just make sure that you’re doing SOMETHING, anything to keep your labor progressing.
Don’t let your nurse or doctor pressure you into having a pitocin drip or breaking your water. They can help, but can also hinder. Exhaust all other options FIRST.
Relaxation is most often the hardest thing for women to do during their labor.
9 Ways To Speed Up Labor
These do NOT include a pitocin drip or having your bag of waters manually broken. Your doctor may likely try and augment your contractions with either one of these because they’re the traditional methods. But you DON’T need them.
Don’t believe them when they try to push it on you. If you find that you’ve plateaued and haven’t progressed as quickly as you wish, it’s likely because they’re interrupting you and keeping you stressed.
So find the ways to decompress and calm your body with any of the following easy methods and you’ll have that baby out in no time. 🙂
I’ve done every single one of these with one birth or another and I KNOW they work.
Walking
This is the #1 BEST way to get things going quickly. I can’t say enough about it.
- Not sure if you’re real labor? Walk.
- Do you want to sit down and wait them out? Walk.
- Feel like you don’t have the energy to? Walk.
- Angry at your husband for putting you in this position? Walk.
- Take the shuttle or park far away at the hospital? Walk.
Turn off the lights
When your brain starts to generate the hormone melatonin that helps you fall asleep, it also acts alongside a pathway that creates oxytocin too. When I was in labor last month, I kept all of the lights off in the rooms that I was walking through. I got sleepy, but it was sure worth it.
Acupressure
There are certain energy points along the body that correspond to stimulating contractions and responses to the uterus. Applying pressure to these sends nerve signals and help increase your labor contractions.
- Hand Webbing. Between your thumb and forefinger on either hand, there is the mass of tissue and muscle. You can massage these firmly and squeeze gently for a few minutes at a time.
- Ankles. Just above the inside of your ankles lies another sensitive spot you can rub. Make your husband do it while he massages your feet in order to help you relax.
- Roof of the Mouth. Press your thumb into the top of your mouth and rub in circles. You can even suck hard on a lollipop too.
Relaxation
When you’re stressed, your tension inhibits your body’s ability to cycle forward with your hormones that control childbirth. There are myriads of things that you can do to promote relaxation during labor. My favorite thing is to listen to calming music and visualize peaceful places while breathing deeply.
Figure out what works for you. I listen to Enya, so I highly recommend her music.
Sexual Stimulation
If you haven’t read the orgasmic birth post yet, do it now so that these next suggestions don’t throw you for a loop. This helps generate the oxytocin that your body needs to give birth.
- Sensual Touch. Caress and stimulate the areas of your body that help you enjoy private intimacy with your husband.
- Clitoris and Nipples. These spots are directly connected to the physiological reactions necessary for sexual experiences such as childbirth. Stimulating them will further your labor.
- Kissing. Having some intimacy with your husband during labor actually creates a better experience. There is a flow of energy through your body that it needs which can start with simply making out.
Exercise Ball
Sit on that birthing ball and make it your new best friend if you’re needing a moment from walking.
- Bounce on it. The motion of baby descending downward is further perpetuated.
- Rock on it. Getting that baby to fit just perfectly through a tiny opening is a fantastic feat. Rocking to and fro, front and back, in circles, whatever…will help your little one be positioned perfectly.
Move, move, move
Change your positions often if you don’t feel up to walking or using a birthing ball. Not everything will be comfortable but go back and forth between two at the very least between contractions.
- squatting
- on all fours (hands and knees)
- leaning over the birthing ball
- on the toilet
- standing and swaying
- dancing
- lunging carefully in any direction
Here I am just before our third baby was born, constantly moving around during labor.
Essential Oils
Besides just using them to relax, you can use Clary Sage essential oil to help stimulate contractions. It’s been known to do so quite well when you apply it to the inside of your ankles, like the acupressure point above.
Laughing
Let’s face it. When you’re having a good time with some laughs, are you stressing out or tense with anxiety? Not likely. Find something you can joke about for the moment andlet your husband keep you smiling during this magical time. It will promote the positive feedback your body needs to complete all the hard work it’s trying to do.
Your labor WILL come to an end and it will seem faster than it actually was once you’ve come full circle. Just make sure that you’re doing SOMETHING, anything to keep your labor progressing.
To Summarize
Don’t let your nurse or doctor pressure you into having a pitocin drip or breaking your water. They can help, but can also hinder. Exhaust all other options FIRST.
- Walking
- Turn off the lights
- Acupressure on your hand webbing, inner ankles and roof of the mouth
- Relax
- Sexual stimulation of sensual areas
- Birthing ball
- Moving and changing positions often
- Clary Sage essential oil
- Laughter
Relaxation is most often the hardest thing for women to do during their labor.
