Comfort after 36 weeks

here’s a few tips for things I recommend having in the house around the end of your pregnancy.

If you want to have a successful unmedicated birth, or even just labor at home as long as you can until it’s time to go in for an epidural, the way you manage post 36 week life makes a big difference.

Hopefully throughout pregnancy you’ve been getting some exercise, staying hydrated, and eating well. That is going to set you up for so much success!. Hopefully you also have a supportive, holistic provider accompanying you on this journey. You may even have a doula (maybe it’s me!) who you text things like:

“I’m feeling huge.”

“I’ve been cramping on and off, could this be labor?”

“I’m not sleeping at all.”

“If one more person asks me when this baby is coming I’m going to lose it.”

Over my years as a doula I’ve picked up tricks of the trade from midwives, birth centers, doulas, and other birth professionals. These are some recommendations for what you should have in the house at the end of your third trimester to help with discomfort.

EPSOM SALTS

Epsom salt baths can help ease muscle pains before bed, promote sleep, ease practice contractions, and regulate early labor.

I recommend all my clients establish a “bath routine” throughout pregnancy. Baths will be your best friend throughout labor, especially if you’re planning a home water birth or going to a birth center with a big tub. The more you can practice relaxing your body in the water and shutting off your brain throughout pregnancy, the more easily you will do it in labor. Find time for yourself each week to take a bath and light some candles. Maybe you’re listening to hypnobirthing tracks, or are practicing your relaxation scripts from my Evidence Based Birth class in preparation for birth! Even listening to songs from your birth playlist is great. You should spend this time focusing on relaxing your body and releasing your mind.

RED WINE, UNISOM, BENADRYL.

One of these guys can be used to help with sleep in late pregnancy or even early labor when you need to turn your brain off and rest. You can always talk to your provider about these options or ask for some stronger recommendations.

I often recommend people in early labor pour themselves a big glass of red wine and drink that in the bath, and then try to get some sleep. Or at least doze off in between contractions in a comfy position. Red wine might not help you actually sleep but it can take the edge of anxious thoughts and help you rest.

Benadryl also makes you drowsy and can help take the edge off if you need to sleep. Or, if you need a bigger boost, Unisom (or doxylamine) is another antihistamine that can really knock you out. Unisom is super helpful for prodromal labor or a long early labor. Talk to you midwife or OB if you have any questions about these three.

MAGNESIUM DRINK POWDER.

Magnesium helps muscles fire correctly, so if you’re having practice contractions it can help your uterus relax. An epsom salt bath is also really great for end-of-pregnancy aches and pains. I like the Magnesium Calm drink that you can buy at Whole Foods or most grocery and health food stores.

I highly recommend drinking magnesium if you are experiencing prodromal labor or an irregular contraction pattern.

BIRTH SNACKS

…and easy to digest things like apple sauce, broth, juice, popsicles, jello, candy etc. Throughout labor it’s very important to have access to quick calories and glucose. Both you and your baby need that energy for all the hard work you’re doing! You should just have this stuff in the house starting at 36 weeks.

Even if you are feeling nauseous in early labor you will want to sip on something more than just water.

Overall, hydration is extremely important through labor. So it’s good to be very prepared. Dehydration is the primary cause of irregular contractions, increased pain with contractions, and lots of other issues. Adding a good electrolyte like pedialyte or coconut water can do wonders for you. You should always take care to be hydrated and well fed before each prenatal visit- with the exception of your glucose test where you need to fast.