One of my clients wants to talk about comfort measures at our next prenatal. I'm not sure how to structure our meeting though. Can anyone offer some insight for me?
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I always do a "comfort techniques" prenatal. I don't really have any structure to it, though. I bring my birth ball and ask for dad to be there if he can. I show mom things that she can do with the ball in early labor and active labor. I teach her positions for labor and birth, and which are best for each stage or back labor, etc. Then I show dad the double hip squeeze and counterpressure (as I find the dads are best with this, strong arms).
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Ashley Motzenbecker, CD (CBI), RP, PED
Certified Labor Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, Level II Reiki Certified
Regional Coordinator and Volunteer Doula for Operation Special Delivery www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
Yvonne, Check your aol email. I sent you a Penny Simkin Comfort Measures pdf I use with my clients for teaching comfort measures. In a separate email I sent you a bunch of other files also...one is a big zip.
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Certified Labor Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, Level II Reiki Certified
Regional Coordinator and Volunteer Doula for Operation Special Delivery www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
Yvonne, Check your aol email. I sent you a Penny Simkin Comfort Measures pdf I use with my clients for teaching comfort measures. In a separate email I sent you a bunch of other files also...one is a big zip.
You know, you're the BEST Cindy!
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Any statements expressed in this forum are mine and are not a representation of any organization I am affiliated with.
Yvonne, Check your aol email. I sent you a Penny Simkin Comfort Measures pdf I use with my clients for teaching comfort measures. In a separate email I sent you a bunch of other files also...one is a big zip.
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My second prenatal always focuses on comfort measures, positions, and relaxation. The first thing I do when we get started is an ice demonstration. I have mom and partner hold a couple of cubes of ice in their hands and concentrate on nothing but how the ice is feeling (no talking, no distractions). Without telling them how long, I time it for 60 sec. They then release the ice and we discuss how it felt. I tell them that I'll explain later on in the visit just why we did that.
Then, we go over comfort measures, positions, and watch Penny Simkin's The 3 R's. We discuss her options and what sounds good to her. Near the end of the prenatal, when they have a pretty good idea of what she likes and doesn't like, we do the ice demonstration again. This time, I tell them to do anything they want to NOT think about the ice (talk, get up and walk around, practice the comfort measures we just went over, etc). I allow her and birth partner to play with my "doula toys" and practice comfort measures if birth partner is willing. Without telling them, I time them for 90 sec this time. I then ask which one seemed longer....they always reply that the first time seemed longer. It's so fun to tell them that the last time was actually 30 sec. longer!
I then explain in very simple laymen's terms the Gate Control Theory of Pain so they can understand the importance of comfort measures.
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I go through most of them and demonstrate wherever possible. I emphacize the importance of following instincts, so if she feels like laying and resting- she should do that, etc.
I'm getting so many requests for this PDF file that is from Penny Simkin/Childbirth Connection that I found the link and am posting it here for all who would like it. It's one of the handouts for my clients. It's 14 pages long to print it.
Quote:
You know, you're the BEST Cindy! 
It's so fun to tell them that the last time was actually 30 sec. longer! 
!!!! 
