I’m a midwife – the special techniques that make labor easier and why you should practice “horse lips” if you’re expecting

No matter how well we think we are preparing for the birth of our baby, it is impossible to know every detail involved in the birthing process.

The same can’t be said for our midwives who are there to guide mums along the way with these little-known tips and tricks.

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Last month, we shared how new mom Shelby claimed her newborn baby smelled like shampoo before he even had a bath.

She was stunned when told why, and in a video shared on TikTok explained that midwives “use it as a lubricant”.

It’s not a method used in all hospitals, and midwives often have their own ways of helping moms during labor and delivery.

Odette Abououf, independent consulting midwife and co-founder of the well-being range Mom’s organic productsexplained, “Your midwife may feel like your perineum isn’t stretching around your baby’s head.

“She may decide to use a lubricant or gently stretch your perineum with gloved hands to help encourage the area to stretch.”

Midwife Pip Davieswho will speak to The baby show in March, says Fabulous: “The day your baby is born, so much more than a single day in your life. Your birth is the creation of lifelong memories and can even shape the smoothness of your journey to motherhood.

“Your midwife has a whole bunch of tips and tricks to help you and your baby on your journey to labor and birth and I believe ALL women should feel like a superwoman when they deliver babies. their baby, no matter how it may be for them.”

loo knew

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During labor your midwife may ask you to sit on the toilet – and no, we’re not talking about labor poo here, although that happens too.

Pip explains: “When it comes to pushing your baby, the same muscles are used as those you use to poop. So mimicking this natural position is really helpful in making sure you’re using your energy efficiently when pushing and maximizing how high you move your baby with each effort.

Midwife Marley Hallauthor of The Marley Midwife’s Guide, says women can poop during childbirth too – and often they don’t even realize it.
She says: “We often have to wipe the poo away before mom or our partner even realizes what’s going on.”

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On the same sage

Midwives are there to help you feel relaxed and comfortable and there are many ways to help you.

“Aromatherapy oils are growing in popularity in the birthing room and clary sage is one to know,” says Pip.

“This potent essential oil is believed to help increase oxytocin levels and therefore promote contractions that help labor progress.

“There are some contraindications to using clary sage, but your midwife will be able to advise you and your baby on this.

“It’s not the best-smelling essential oil, despite being so often associated with a scent like lavender or sweet orange.”

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go around

Natural childbirth specialist Odette Abououf says she uses a few other tricks too – but don’t worry if you’re feeling a little silly.

“Blowing through the top of an empty water bottle can help your body open up and move through the second stage of labor,” she explains.

Adding, “We often ask women to do horse lips too. This is when you blow through the closed, loose lips and make the sound of a horse. It keeps your cervix relaxed and keeps you moving forward.

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Oh shit !

Marley, herself a mother of five, says: “A rectal exam is done after birth to check for internal tears.”

Additionally, midwives often become “protective of the birthing space and ‘we don’t allow just anyone in and out of the room,'” says Marley.

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For more advice on childbirth, a midwife reveals what you should avoid in the delivery room.

Plus, Odette reveals all the things moms need to do before giving birth that no one talks about.

During this time, I was switched at birth, but my mother realized this and snuck through the hospital to find me despite the staff saying I was not hers.

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