One of the common stresses when deciding on induction is the change in environment from where you would originally give birth.
When you plan to give birth in a midwife led unit, you usually sign up for a less clinical environment; a more relaxing decor, dim lights, birth stools, maybe even a birth pool. It can be hard when you’ve visualised you birth in this environment to consider the labour ward. The image below shows some of the rooms in my local midwife unit.
I remember having images of labour ward in my head, I hadn’t ever seen it or heard much about it, but I had pictures in my mind that resembled a very medical environment, something akin to an operating theatre to be honest!
Once I talked to some people locally who had given birth in the labour ward, I realised it wasn’t as scary as I had imagined, but it definitely lacked atmosphere!
And I know that, that sounds like a very minor thing and in some ways it is, but it can have a profound influence on your labour. If you feel stressed by your environment it is harder for your hormones to flow. The important hormone for birth is oxytocin, and it flows more easily when you feel safe, secure and unobserved.
By creating an environment that you can feel more comfortable and at home in this hormone will flow more easily. Which is why the NHS in the UK invest in creating environments like the midwife unit pictured above!
How can you create a more homely environment?
- Think about lighting; is there any reason to have the main light on? Perhaps turn it off and put the spotlight on angled at the wall so you have dimmer lighting, which helps oxytocin flow. Some mums also take battery operated tealights as well to add to the environment.
- Take in your own birth ball or ask if the hospital had them available for use, you don’t necessarily have to get on the bed!
- Do you have a favourite blanket from home? Something you associate with relaxation and comfort? Bring it with you, drape it over your ball if you’re kneeling and leaning on the ball, or drape it on the bed and sit on the ball leaning on it.
- Does the smell of the hospital have negative connotations for you? Add a few drops of lavender oil to a cotton pad and tuck it under your bra strap, or borrow your partners hoody/scarf etc that smells of their aftershave, anything you have a positive association with.
- Think about what you’re looking at too, I always recommend mums take a printed photo of something that increases their oxytocin – a wedding photo, photos of kids, a favourite location, print out of affirmation cards, anything that feels positive to you.
- In some hospitals it is possible to use the birth pool during induction, so it’s worth asking beforehand and finding out what options you may have.
Are you packing anything particular to help with your environment?
For more tips and ideas when preparing for you induction take our Your Positive Induction Course