Curriculum Topic: Group Activity, Ice Breaker, Virtual Friendly
Activity Type: Labor & Birth, Healthy Birth Practice 3, Labor Support
Purpose: Identify what might be needed to reduce fear and pain, and how to increase comfort.
Time Needed: 20-30 minutes
Supplies: Three house shaped picture frames, or laminated house shapes that can stand up by themselves
Image and label of fear, pain, and comfort to label the houses
Cards for sorting preprinted with items that increase fear, pain, and comfort
Blank cards for parents to add their own items
Instructions:
The "House of Pain" display has corresponding cards that show different things that often make the pain worse. For example, if the laboring person was stuck in bed, had distracting noises from down the hall, or was not getting along with the nurse/midwife and more. All of these situations could make them more stressed, or cause/increase pain.
The "House of Comfort" is all about things that will make the pain go away. For example, wearing comfortable clothes instead of a hospital gown, listening to your favorite music, or even slow dancing to a favorite song. You could add more of your choice.
The "House of Fear" has cards associated with it that address the common fears that parents may have.
You can do one, two or three "houses" at the same time, or at different points in your curriculum. Using them separately, this activity could be easily used as an icebreaker. You can group and shuffle all the cards together, pass out the cards amongst all the class and ask them to sort them into the correct category, placing them in each house. You can go over the cards, especially those in the pain and fear houses to make sure that families have solutions to these potential issues. Families can add to the preprinted cards by filling out blank cards with items that may not have already been covered. Doing this activity allows you to share evidenced-based information and debunk myths, especially around fears and pain. It also gets families thinking about what they will need to be comfortable and cope.
Set-Up:
Shuffle all the cards together, pass out the cards amongst all the class and ask them to sort them into the correct category, placing them in each house
Talking Points:
-When a challenge arises during birth, families will have the knowledge and tools to diffuse the situation?
-Encourage families to use what they know and present an opportunity to answer questions.
Modifications:
Give participants blank cards and have them create answers for each house. A small group of families could be assigned one house to create cards for. Three groups in all.
Using the "houses" separately, this activity could be easily used as an icebreaker.
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