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Pregnancy Podcast

Tools and Techniques for an Easier Labor and Birth

Pregnancy Podcast

Vanessa Merten

Newborn, Parent, Homebirth, Vbac, Kids & Family, Doula, Firsttimemom, Midwife, Pregnancy, Doctor, Parenting, Pregnant, Vanessamerten, Physician, Csection, Prenatalcare, Breastfeeding, Naturalbirth, Nursing, Birthcenter, Family, Baby, Hospitalbirth, Health, Obgyn, Research, Trimester, Expecting, Labor, Mom, Diet, Dad, Birth

4.5948 Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Many factors must come together to create the birth experience you want. A calm, safe atmosphere in the labor room is key, along with methods that keep you focused and relaxed so you don’t become mentally fatigued. You also need techniques to alleviate physical symptoms such as nausea, exhaustion, and pain. There is not one universal tool that magically works for every mother in labor. It is essential to have lots of tools in your toolbox. In this episode, you’ll find a range of birth tools and techniques. Learn about inexpensive items you can purchase online and free and simple, evidence-based techniques to help make labor and birth easier.
 
 
Thank you to our sponsors
 
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Read the full article and resources that accompany this episode.
 
 
Join Pregnancy Podcast Premium to access the entire back catalog, listen to all episodes ad-free, get a copy of the Your Birth Plan Book, and more.
 
 
Check out the 40 Weeks podcast to learn how your baby grows each week and what is happening in your body. Plus, get a heads up on what to expect at your prenatal appointments and a tip for dads and partners.
 
 
For more evidence-based information, visit the Pregnancy Podcast website.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

You are listening to The Pregnancy Podcast with Vanessa Merton.

0:07.0

Hello, thank you for tuning in to the pregnancy podcast.

0:15.0

You've likely heard me mention that having lots of tools in your toolbox for labor and birth is very important. I've done some

0:23.2

episodes that are a deep dive into particular tools or techniques like using a riboso,

0:28.8

breathing during labor, labor positions, or hypno birthing. In today's episode, we're going to do

0:35.0

an overview of all the tools that you can utilize for labor and

0:39.0

birth. Labor is an intense experience, and it can be a marathon. Some of these tools are really

0:46.0

inexpensive items that you can buy on Amazon. Others are techniques that you can learn and practice.

0:52.9

And you're going to need numerous tools to get you

0:55.5

through different stages and to keep your labor progressing. You can find the full article and all

1:02.0

of the resources, a lot of links for these specific tools, everything that accompanies this

1:07.6

episode at pregnancy podcast.com slash tools.

1:14.0

As soon as you get a positive pregnancy test, you have a ton of questions.

1:19.5

The good news is there is an episode of the pregnancy podcast that has the answers you're looking

1:24.7

for. You're currently listening to the public feed, which gives you

1:28.5

access to the last year of episodes. Become a pregnancy podcast premium member and get access to the

1:36.6

entire bat catalog. All of the premium content is ad-free, plus when you sign up, you get a

1:43.4

free copy of the Your Birth Plan book

1:45.7

that walks you step by step through creating your birth plan. If you have questions about whether

1:51.3

something is safe during your pregnancy, there's an episode that will give you the information

1:56.4

you need. If you're looking for evidence on an intervention for labor and birth, there's an

2:01.9

episode that examines the research on it. Pregnancy podcast premium members have access to every

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