Curriculum Topic: Group Activity, Individual Activity
Activity Type: Shared Decision-Making, Labor Support, Birth Planning
Purpose: Explore options for comfort measures and relaxation techniques while thinking about informed decision-making and birth preferences
Supplies: Small plastic containers to store the items
Novelty erasers in different shapes
Minature toy objects
Small plastic food objects
Label maker (optional)
Any tiny item that represents emotions or objects and tools that could be used in labor (bathtub, shower, ball, bed, etc.) Small bouncy balls = birth balls Small pieces of fabric = rebozos Tiny pillows made with felt and a cotton ball sewn into it = heat packs Mini bottles of bubbles = essential oils / aromatherapy Foam card dolls = support people (partners, doulas, and care providers) Baby dolls = skin-to-skin with baby There are lots of other things you could make, for example; TENS machines, peanut balls and a variety of massage tools.
Instructions:
Invite the pregnant person to come up and select as many objects as they want that represent all the various comfort measures they feel will benefit them during labor. They should be careful not to show their partner see what they selected. Then invite the partner or birth support person to come up and do the same thing. They should select objects they think that the birthing person would want to use during labor. Then both the birthing person and their partner can reveal to each other what they selected. It is great fun seeing the reaction on people's faces when they discover that either they selected totally different objects, but equally when they picked almost identical objects.
Set-Up:
Lay out the containers that each contain objects that represent a different comfort measure, relaxation technique, emotion or birth preference.
Talking Points:
Lead a discussion where the pregnant people and their partners can share what they chose, and why. Additional discussion can happen about what might occur if plans need to change, or something that the family thought might work really doesn't.
Modifications:
Combine it with a birth-plan creating activity, or if you were using the Road Map of Labor by Penny Simkin, that reinforces many of the potential activities families may choose to do during labor and birth.
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