Boost your Birth Environment

Packing a badass birth bag

Why your birth environment matters

Birth Hormones! Oxytocin is one of the most important hormones during labour and birth. It’s the hormone that’s released when we feel safe and loved and it’s the hormone that is responsible for contractions building in rhythm and intensity and consequently birthing your baby. Melatonin is another key hormone during labour as it helps to increase oxytocin flow. It is released when we’re going to sleep, and much like its friend oxytocin it likes privacy and dimly lit spaces.

Additionally, when we enter a new space our autonomic nervous system is looking for signs of safety and signs of danger. We can signal safety to our brains and bodies by adding in more positive anchors and curating our birth space to feel familiar, cosy, and supportive.

Lastly, taking time to create a nest-like environment is also a great way to feel proactive in claiming your space, signaling to yourself and your care providers that this is your space.

What to pack in your birth bag

When we’re thinking about what to bring in your birth bag I find that it’s helpful to think about physical things and the less tangible things, like the vibes and intentions you’re bringing along too.

I like to break down what you could bring by thinking of each of the 5 core senses. So now let’s think about what might be useful to bring along to your birth space and things you can ask of your care providers.

Sound

Bring: A way to listen to music, hypnobirthing tracks and/or podcasts eg. headphones, and a fully charged portable speaker. Bring a couple of playlist options, something calming and something that brings joy or makes you laugh.
Ask: It’s totally fine to ask care providers and/or put in your birth preferences that you’d like minimal talking and quiet voices, and to request that they do or don’t use certain language.

Sight

Bring: Sunglasses - this may sound extra but they are great at blocking out harsh bright lighting. Also, turn that big light off and get some little LED fairy lights/candles on or a warm-tone night light. An eye mask can also be a great aid in getting some rest when you can.
Ask: You can request no unnecessary staff and/or students if you’d like more privacy. And most of the time you can ask for time to discuss any options in private.

Smell

Bring: Smell is a powerful tool in helping us to feel calm. You might want to think about bringing an oil diffuser or a flannel with some drops of essential oil, or something that smells familiar, for example, a loved one’s jumper with their signature scent. The big thing here is not putting the scent on your skin in case you change your mind so you’re not stuck with an overpowering smell. Top tip for if you’re birthing at hospital: bring your own hand wash - the hospital handwash smells and feels gross.

Touch

Bring: Any home comforts, cosy blankets and things that help you to feel grounded. It can also be great to bring some unscented massage oil for supportive touch and counter pressure and/or a TENS machine. A fan or evian spray can bring a breath of fresh air in the sweaty moment. Additionally heat can also be an effective tool for pain management - a hot water bottle, warm water, a warm compress, or using the shower.
Ask: Your care provider should be honouring informed consent + refusal for any touch, so feel free to add this to your birth preferences, some people find it can be helpful for birth partners to remind them of this too.

Taste

Bring: Energising snacks - honey, electrolyte drinks, fruit, sweets, and thing’s to keep you nourished. Make sure you pack enough food for birth partners too! I also highly recommend bringing a bottle with a straw that you can drink from at any angle.

Caesarean considerations

When it comes to prepping for a Caesarean there are still lots of factors we can consider - for example, playing music, dim lights at head after birth, having the drape lowered for birth and/or asking for them to talk you through things or not. I recommend watching positive caesarean birth videos and doing a little research about gentle caesareans which can be such an empowering and connected way to birth your baby.

Moving with change

I strive for my clients to feel empowered to adapt to changing environments and circumstances. So here are a few possible changes I often discuss ahead of birth:

Changing environment

For example, a journey from home to hospital - try to keep using the tools you’ve put in place at home, keeping things cosy for that transition. Think sunglasses, headphones and a cosy blanket in the car ride. And really taking the time to arrive, orient and settle into your new environment.

New people

For example, midwives changing shift - consider making a sign on the door with your name, pronouns if you’d like and any other key info you might want them to know before they enter your space. Birth partners are also well placed to welcome newcomers and protect your space so you can keep in your zone.

Changing pace

For example, surges becoming closer together and longer - Don’t under estimate the power in presence. In a rushed moment birth partners can cultivate a bubble, keeping eye contact, breathing with you, speaking calmly and simply being with.

Take-aways

This is the only time you’re going to birth this baby so take up space and ask for what you need. Birth is such a huge life event, there’s no such thing as you ‘being too much’.

Take some time to have a think about what helps you to feel safe and connected and write your own birth bag list with your birth partner. Top tip: birth partners are the best people to pack the birth bag as they’ll be the one’s rummaging through the bag during labour!