• Try a rocking chair, padded with pillows, with a waterproof pad on the seat. This helps mom to be comforted by the rocking motion during contractions and helps the baby to move down. You can even rock while the baby is continuously monitored.
  
• Listen to soft music of mother's choice. Bring a player and several tapes or CDs. Or choose a radio station with easy listening tunes.
  
• Ask the nurse for crushed ice in a cup for mom to eat with a spoon between contractions. (Or a Popsicle).  It refreshes mom and keeps her mouth from getting dry. A lollipop to suck on helps too.
  
• Offer a cool washcloth for her forehead, and cool her off with a hand fan, or ask the nurse for an electric fan if mother is really hot. Mom burns a lot of calories doing the work of labor, so she feels hot.  Turn up the air conditioning.
  
• Lip balm is great for keeping lips moist.
  
• Hold her hand.  Give hugs and kisses. Moms need lots of TLC and reassurance.
  
• Massage her back, or her feet with lotion. Ask her to tell you whether she wants you to rub her back all over or just the lower back. She can tell you whether to rub lightly or deeply or to just apply pressure over the tailbone. Try the massager from your LaborGear Bag. Mom may prefer not to be touched at all when labor gets harder.
  
• Give mom the rubber stress ball if she feels the urge to squeeze your hand or the side rails on the bed.
  
• Cozy sox keep her feet warm. (It's hard to relax if your feet are cold.) Slipper sox help as she walks to the bathroom.
  
• Warm shower to ease backache or tummy pain.
  
• If mom wishes, apply heated rice sock to lower belly or lower back.  Heat only 90 seconds. Test on your arm for 30 seconds to check warmth.  Wrap in towel if too warm. Put on the outside of clothing. Check skin for redness every few minutes and remove heat if skin is reddened.
  
• Encourage her to get up and go to the bathroom every 60-90 minutes.  The activity and being upright is a "plus", in addition to emptying the bladder. Mother will feel better and it will make room for the baby to move down. If necessary, use the bedpan instead. Put powder on it before using.
  
• For most of labor, enjoy slow deep breaths, about 10 per minute. Practice breathing just as you do when you are asleep. Keep in mind that it takes about ten very slow breaths to get over the hard part of the contractions. So when you get to breath number five, you are about halfway through in most cases, (the peak) and it won't get any stronger.  If mom holds her breath, get eye contact and do the breathing with her. The counting is a good way to concentrate and feel that you know when the contraction will ease up in most cases.
  
• You can choose a faster, more shallow breathing pattern if labor intensifies. Ask your nurse.
  
  NOTE:
  Attend classes at your hospital to learn more tips and to take a tour and meet the staff.

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