The Toilet: The Most Underrated Tool for Labor
I, Gina, have a love affair with toilets. These porcelain thrones are the unsung heroes of birth. Misunderstood, the toilet is one of the best tools we should be using during labor. Let me tell you a little more about the magic of laboring on the toilet.
You can make progress with minimal energy.
Laboring on the toilet allows you to be in a supported squat. When we squat, our pelvis opens up by 30 percent, which gives our baby extra space to engage with our cervix and keeps our labor progressing smoothly.
When we sit on the toilet, we naturally let our pelvic floor relax. When we allow these muscles to soften, all of the hard work our uterus is doing pays off by allowing our cervix to thin, dilate, and get us closer to meeting our baby.
When I believe someone still has progress to be made during labor, but they need time to rest, I put them in this fantastic active rest position. Which brings me to my next point…
The toilet is an excellent place to rest.
There's nothing like confining ourselves to the bathroom to let people know we need space. The darkness, closed door, and removal from the main birthing space allow you to find your labor zone and maybe even catch some zzz's.
Find a loved one and lean forward onto their chest, really sinking into the rest in between contractions and getting an extra hit of oxytocin. Need to switch it up? Flip yourself around and face the wall. Place some pillows on the toilet tank and rest your head down, really making the most of any minute of rest and recovery you deserve.
Baby sunny-side-up? No worries, just hop on the toilet.
As previously mentioned, being on the toilet places our body into a supported squat, which is an excellent position to be if our baby isn't in the best position for them to make progress. While some babies just want to be born facing the ceiling, many babies can benefit from rotating toward your back.
Sitting on the toilet allows our bodies the positioning and time to help a baby get into a position that is optimal for them. I've seen many a baby rotate into their perfect position while their parent was sitting on the toilet, allowing labor to really kick into gear so we could have a birthday party.
The toilet allows for many supportive hands.
While using the toilet during labor can be a sure-fire way to get a little privacy, it is also an excellent place to receive support when it feels needed. While sitting on a toilet, your support team can use numerous comfort measures to help you relax even more between contractions and guide you through each wave.
Birth team members can apply pressure to your lower back to help with increasing force as your baby descends. Need even more lower back support? Add a heating pad into the mix. Resting forward allows for cool washcloths on your neck, helping with hot flashes and nausea. Your team can massage your legs and shoulders to help you relax other body parts that need to be passive. The support you can receive while sitting on the toilet is endless.
As you can see, I'm a huge fan of the toilet. I truly believe it is an irreplaceable tool during labor. You can ask any family I've worked with and they will tell you, they were on the toilet at least once during their time with me.
Knowing what hidden comfort tools, like the toilet, can be used during labor can be challenging. Having a great doula on your support team can help you take advantage of every comfort tool and position to help your labor progress smoothly. Whether it's on the toilet, in the tub, on your bed, or anywhere else, find a place that you feel comfortable and go from there! Psst… but really, go hop on the toilet!
