The Mighty Washcloth
Average Read Time: 1-2 Minutes
Recently a client asked me what my most used labor tool is. The comb she keeps seeing on her Instagram? A birth sling? My TENS unit (check my blog if you’ve never heard of a TENS unit for labor!)?
I simply replied, “A washcloth.”
A washcloth?!?!? YEP! The rougher the better, in my personal opinion! Let me tell you why:
A washcloth can be used to cool people down. If a client runs hot, I try to keep a tub of ice water in the laboring room so that I can dip washcloths into it and then place them on the laboring person’s forehead, chest, or the back of their neck.
A washcloth can be used to warm people up. Run it under warm water and place it anywhere that would feel nice. My recommendation is anywhere feeling cramping, or over the face and neck. Added bonus if you wrap the washcloth around a heating pack!
A washcloth can be used to sooth. There is something very cathartic about someone taking a washcloth and gently rubbing your neck, forehead and chest. For me, it invokes images of being cared for when sick. That cared for feeling can be so helpful in between contractions, especially during pushing!
A washcloth can be used for aromatherapy. I wrote a blog recently on the importance of curating smells in labor, but the TLDR is that smell can directly help create a sense of calm, lower stress, and foster a feeling of ease. I don’t recommend a diffuser in labor because if a smell starts to be horrible (which can happen quickly in labor) then it’s hard to get the smell out of the room. Instead, I place a few drops of essential oil on a washcloth and put it by the head of the laboring person.
A washcloth can be used to clean. Labor can be a messy, sweaty process. It’s intensely physical, and includes body fluids leaking out quite often. While some people don’t mind the sensation, others feel better when they feel clean. Here’s where the washcloth comes in - the laboring person or their partner can use it to help someone to feel clean again, whether that’s a quick face wash, wiping under the armpits, or getting rid of amniotic fluid/blood that might be leaking.
At the time of writing this blog, I’ve attended 50 births. I can’t think of a single one where a washcloth wasn’t helpful at some point in the process.
Was a washcloth helpful for your labor? Have more ideas of how to use a washcloth in labor for support? Reach out to me here! I love to learn and grow with my community! <3
