4 Powerful Ways to Achieve Your Dream Hospital Birth

If you're planning to labor and birth at a hospital, you're among the vast majority (nearly 90%) of women in the United States who choose to do the same — but how can you make your hospital room best reflect your unique vision for a calm and comforting birth setting?

Creating a peaceful environment for a hospital birth involves preparation and communication with your birth team and attending physicians. 

1. Communicate Your Desires
Believe me, I know — this can be easier said than done, especially if you tend to feel intimidated by medical staff and feel guilty "making waves." But this is a vital step to ensure you get to labor in the peaceful environment you've envisioned for yourself. 

Share your birth plan with your care team (your doula and OBGYN or midwife) in advance, outlining your specific preferences for lighting, noise volume, medical interventions (like your preference to avoid the epidural, or intermittent fetal monitoring rather than continuous monitoring, if possible), privacy (the hospital may allow you to hang a "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door so hallway noise and interruptions are to a minimum), and other support methods that we'll discuss further, such as music and aromatherapy.

2. Set the Mood 
Make your birthing space feel (and smell!) as cozy and intimate as your own living room by incorporating some of these personalized support methods.
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Lighting: Request to have the lights in your room dimmed, and double check whether or not you can bring your own battery-powered faux candles or fairy string lights to create even more of a warm, cozy glow. 

Aromatherapy: Clary sage, citrus, lavender, and chamomile are excellent essential oils for relaxing during labor. Bring a diffuser if your hospital allows, or make your own inhaler or roller to get a boost of energy or wave of calm when you most need it. 

Music: Prepare a few playlists for the big day! I recommend one with a bit more energy and a steady beat for early labor, so you can rock and roll through contractions to the rhythm of your favorite empowering songs, and one with more calming, soothing songs that bring you comfort as you enter active labor and the pushing phase, when you'll want less distraction and the ability to focus your body. Nature sounds, guided meditation recordings, and 432 hz frequency music are other excellent soothing sounds to keep on hand!

Comfort Items: Have a pillow you can’t live without? Bring it! Also throw in your favorite cozy blanket from home and any special items, like your child’s well-loved stuffie to snuggle or a beloved family photo to look to for strength.

3. Bring a Birth Doula or Support Partner

Whether you hire a birth doula or recruit your partner or best friend, having a support person with you as you labor is an invaluable benefit. In a hospital setting, especially, he or she can act as your personal advocate, ensuring that your birth plan is respected and followed to the best of your staff’s ability. 

A doula or support person can also provide excellent physical and mental support, such as gentle massage, facilitating position changes (if possible), guiding breathing techniques, and utilizing your relaxation toolkit (see below). Click here to learn more about the benefits of a birth doula during labor. ​

4. Create a Relaxation Toolkit
Having a “toolkit” of relaxation techniques is a great way to reduce stress, manage pain, and find grounding in the wild waves of labor. 

Breathing Techniques: There are a number of effective breathing techniques to help manage pain and reduce discomfort for each stage of labor and birth, including Organizing Breath, Slow Breathing, Variable Breathing, and Expulsion Breathing. If you hire a birth doula, she’ll know all about these techniques and when each is best depending on where you are in labor. (I’ll also have a blog detailing all of the breathing techniques soon!) 

As a relaxation boost, try closing your eyes and visualizing that you’re in a calming place like a beach or a meadow. Picture feeling warm and safe, holding your new baby, as you focus on your breath — this helps distract you from any discomfort as labor advances.

Affirmations: Fearful thoughts like “I can’t do this” or “I’m not ready” can put stress on your body and make labor feel longer and more difficult than you can manage. By consciously noticing when your thoughts become fearful and negative, and putting an empowering, encouraging twist on them, you can begin to rewrite the script. 

Keep a stack of affirmation cards on hand, or tape some up around your room to remind you to keep your head above water. Phrases like: “I am ready to meet my baby,” “This pain is productive and temporary,” and “My body knows exactly what to do” can make more of a difference than you may think!

Physical Comfort Tools: Make sure that you or your birth support person keeps a few helpful tools on hand to help ease the physical discomfort of labor, including a birthing ball (if possible), a massage tool (I love this one, and it's low cost), a heating pad, and cool damp cloths, just to name a few.

​Did you use any of these recommendations at your hospital birth? Are there any more that you would recommend? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to share this information with the mama-to-be in your life! 

​Love, Sarah