It’s Getting Hot In Here! Using Heat Therapy in Labor
Labor is a strenuous, physical event. It only makes sense to treat it similarly to a major athletic endeavor like a marathon. The way that athletes care for their muscles before/during and after a major sporting event gives us a lot of helpful tools for taking care of the most powerful muscle at play during birth - the uterus! And since sore, tired muscles need to relax and increase blood flow to the site of exertion, heat is a natural and easy way to provide that relief and help ease discomfort!
Why Heat?
When the body is in labor, many muscles are at play including the uterus, muscles in the upper, middle and lower back, the abdominals and thigh muscles. Those muscles, when working hard, have less oxygen stores due to lactic acid build up. The minimized blood flow from lower oxygen is what causes cramping and stress on the muscles, providing discomfort. Head restores the flow of blood to the targeted areas and removes the lactic acid build ups to provide relief.
What Types of Heat Therapy Can I Use?
Many different items and tactics can be used in different stages of labor to provide relief and increase relaxation and comfort, which is essential to helping both relax sore and stressed muscles and aiding the progress of labor.
Heating Pads
Using a rice sock, Cherapy pack (made of cherry pits, which conduct and hold heat longer) or electric heating pads placed over the lower abdomen, lower back or sore calves can provide instant relief from some of the discomfort of contractions. Packs come in different sizes and can be tucked into belly wraps or attached to the belly to assist in relief.
Warm Blankets
In early labor, adding heat to the body during rest periods allows the muscles to relax fully and provide greater relief.
Warm Massage Oil
Combining light and firm touch massage from a partner is not only relaxing and a great way to connect, but combining that connection with warm, unscented oil can help increase the blood flow while giving the added element of heat to break down the lactic acid present in the muscles.
Water Therapy
A hot shower targeting the areas of discomfort such as the belly or upper back muscles, or submerging in active labor into a hot tub can provide a great amount of relief from muscle cramps and the intensity of contractions.
Heat is applicable to many different stages and phases of labor, but most likely is soothing during the beginning of early and early active labor. With heat in place to soothe muscles, labor can become much more manageable! Our labor doulas are well versed in and carry many items to ease those labor pains; contact us today to discuss ways to soar through your birth with ease!
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