Page 33 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)

Bump&Birth

(£159.49, birthpoolinabox.co.uk) – it’s your own with the heel of their hand. This feels very
inflatable, watery haven! soothing.’ And have a tennis ball to hand –
● Use a TENS machine This gadget sends little many mums who don’t want to be touched
pulses of electricity around your lower back, find they can tolerate having this rolled around
which help to interrupt the pain messages that their lower back.
are going to your brain during labour. Hire an ● Focus on what the contraction is doing The
Elle TENS machine for six weeks for £27.50, simple act of keeping in mind that your body is
or buy it for £71.50, from babycaretens.com. squeezing your baby from your womb and into
● Enjoy a massage ‘Mums in labour either the big wide world can help knock any pain from
love being touched or don’t want anyone near the forefront of your brain. Try to focus on this
them,’ says Tracey. ‘And that can change at positive fact, rather than any discomfort, during
different points through the labour. If you each tightening. And think of each and every
do like massage, ask your birth partner to contraction as bringing you one step
massage the lower base of your spine This helps! closer to meeting your baby.
Labour can take several hours
and uses a lot of energy, but you
may not feel like eating. Honey will
give you a natural energy boost, and
you can just lick it off a teaspoon!

Organic Wild Flower Clear
Honey, £3.99 for 340g,
hollandandbarrett.com