Your Five Senses in Labor - Touch
Average Read Time: 6-8 Minutes
When you think of “touch,” what comes to mind? Holding hands, a back rub, a hug are some top responses. Yes, all of these are touch, AND in labor, planning for touch is so much more!
This is part four in my series on caring for your five senses during labor. Check out why I decided to write these blogs in my introduction! Today’s blog focuses on touch, because this sense is incredibly sensitive and unique to each person.
<— Check out a former client of mine in labor. What do you notice is touching her? How is touch a comfort?
Touch is such a personal sense - each one of my clients has a different relationship to being touched, has different needs when it comes to comfort, love, respect and ritual.
So I want to start with the most important thing when it comes to touch: consent.
Consent is always, should always be an informed YES. No one should touch your body (or your baby’s body) without your explicit YES. This YES should come after time for questions, follow ups, information about the risks, benefits, and side effects, and should include processing time. This goes for anything that may happen in labor, barring a severe medical emergency. And even in this case, I’ve witnessed good providers still ask for consent as they are prepping for what needs to be done.
Now, each person has their own relationship with consent. Personally, I want to know why someone is going to touch my body before they do so, and I want them to explain what they’re doing every step of the way. Ideally, that sounds like, “Is it OK if I start the breast exam?” “Yes.” “I’m now going to take my fingers and feel around your areola, moving in a circle. The goal of this is to feel for any abnormal lumps or bumps, as part of my routine breast cancer screener. Please let me know if consent changes throughout the exam, or if you’d like to take a break.”
Now, you might need more than that, you might need less. I bring up consent to say: just because you’re in labor, doesn’t mean your provider/nurse has explicit consent to touch you. You’re allowed to continually need explicit informed consent throughout the labor process, and for your needs to change throughout birth (and even from beginning to end of one procedure).
With consent, touch can be an incredibly powerful labor tool. Here’s a list of what touch might entail during labor:
Your labor gown (your own or one brought to the hospital)
Your partner holding your hand
A washcloth cooling you off
Your doula doing a double hip squeeze
Water (shower or bath!)
A foot massage
A nurse adjusting the baby and/or contraction monitor strapped to your belly
A pillow you brought from home under your head as you rest
A pillow that belongs to the hospital between your knees
A peanut or birth ball (covered by a sheet so you don’t have to feel that stickiness!)
Slow dancing with your partner
A TENS machine providing electrical currents to your back
A provider doing a cervical check
A fan blowing cool air on your face
A hot pack stuffed under your armpit to help with the shakes
And this is just a short list!
Touch also might be something you DON’T want during labor, and that’s OK too! A recent client of mine, Kate, shared, “In normal life, I’m sensitive to touch - I need there to be the right amount of pressure along with touch, otherwise I get a full-body ick. In labor, it was the same but intensified - I didn’t really want to be touched at all and wanted more physical space between me and other people than usual. The only touch that felt helpful was when I was actively pushing and I could squeeze my partner’s hand.” Kate also hated the TENS machine, something I use quite frequently during unmedicated labors (see my blog about TENS machines in labor for more information!). She knew herself before labor began, and followed her instincts with her birth team to manage the way that touch was going to be used during the birth of her child.
As you’re reflecting on touch and planning for labor, ask yourself the following questions:
What communication do I need from my providers before, during and after labor to make sure that I feel like I’ve received informed consent? What is the plan my birth team and I can make to make sure I receive consent throughout labor?
What touch has felt comforting in the past, both during pregnancy and before? Whose touch has felt best? What did they do that made you feel safe and loved?
Do you run hot or cold? What clothing and supplies will you plan to use in labor to help navigate the feelings of hot/cold?
What are other tools that you might use to help you navigate feeling as comfortable as possible? Some ideas include: TENS machine, washcloths, combs, massage tools and oils, etc.
What is your plan for your hair? Will hair in your face bother you?
Does water help you find comfort? Will a shower/bath be available at your birth location?
How can you practice massage, comforting touch, and counterpressure with your birth team before labor begins, so they know how best to support you?
This is just a start to what might help you manage your labor feeling safe, loved, and respected through touch. I’m here to talk more about ideas around touch in your labor, help you reflect and plan, or serve as a sounding board if there are ideas I missed! Contact me here :)
