How to Balance Energy in a Labor Room

Childbirth is an extremely personal experience that many partners often choose to do alone; however, there are family members, friends and other acquaintances that often want to be a part of the experience too. Many times, there are no problems with having others with you during your experience, but having someone in the room with you who is overly nervous or skeptical about your birthing choices may result in developing negative energy. Negative energy in a labor room can slow the labor process, make you feel unsure or wary of your choices, or even worse, stop labor completely. The following steps will help guide you in balancing energy in your labor room--so that you can have a calm and centered birth experience.

Instructions

1. If you are planning to deliver in a hospital or birth center, it is best to take a tour of the facility and rooms. Learning the layout of the rooms will help you get a visual idea of what you want. You may realize that there isn't enough room for everything you want, or perhaps there is more than enough room to get cozy. Also, becoming familiar with the facility will make you less anxious about the space, and will therefore, help balance your energy.

2. Before you go into labor, identify the support people that you want there with you. Make sure that they feel comfortable with your method of birthing. Establish what role each would like to play in your experience. If you feel that someone is going to worry too much or be extremely nervous throughout your labor process, it is best to ask that person to stay home. The moods and thoughts of others can impact the birth energy in the room.

3. Encourage people not to constantly call the hospital room for updates. Assign one person to make the phone calls for you. It is better for your assigned person to call and give updates than to have everyone calling your room all day long. This pattern of calling might make you feel pressured to perform or that you need to have significant progress, which could hinder good labor energy.

4. Bring positive pictures or items to focus on. Even if you don't want to focus on them during labor, it is good to have familiar and positive things surrounding you during your process.

5. Do not be afraid to ask people to leave your room. If you begin to feel that the energy is different and progress is slowing, it may be time for some alone time with your partner. You should not feel guilty about asking people to leave. You can simply request that you have an hour or two alone to nap or concentrate on labor. Most people are apprehensive about leaving because they are afraid of missing the birth. Let them know that someone will call them if progress starts picking up rapidly.

6. Bring a stick of sage or other cleansing energy herbs with you. You will not be able to light them in the hospital room, but having them there can help clean and uplift the energy. You can do this with any herbs that you find help you concentrate and clear the energy around you.