Building a Coping Mindset
Advanced Techniques for Teaching Coping in Labor & Birth
Getting started with pain coping practices.
The key word in the BfW approach to this matter is “coping”: we expect that labor (and/or other parts of the birth journey) will present the birthing person and their partner with things that they will need to actively cope with. And that’s why we emphasize practicing pain-coping techniques in our work with parents.
Read the document below on the foundational framework of these practices.
Labor Scaling
Scaling: Assessing parent’s beliefs, assumptions, and expectations about pain and the intensity of birth
Breath Awareness
Breath Awareness, a practice of noticing your breath without attachment to outcome, is one of Birthing from Within's foundational pain-coping techniques. Use this "map" to explore Breath Awareness with yourself, and others.
Demonstration
This video shows certified mentor, Christine D'Esposito, leading parents through Scaling, Baseline, and Breath Awareness in a virtual class. (1 hour 15 minutes)
Non-Focused Awareness
Non-Focused Awareness is a mindfulness/pain-coping practice that incorporates the senses of sight, sound, and touch with breath. It can be especially helpful during times where there are multiple distractions or sensations, or for people who tend to cope better by noticing things externally.
Finding the Center
Finding the Center is a process that asks parents to dive directly into the center of the sensation. This is different from Breath Awareness or Non-Focused Awareness, where they are bringing their attention to their breath or noticing the other sensations happening around or within them.
Learn more by exploring the Map here:
Vocalization in Labor
Vocalization is an important coping tool for many birthing people. Whether exhaling loudly, moaning, whispering to themselves, cursing, yelling, or screaming, birthing people and their birth partners should expect vocalization to play a part in the labor experience.
Coyote Circle
Coyote Circle is a more advanced Birthing from Within pain-coping process that engages parents in exploring the use of vocalization in labor.
Learn more by exploring the Map here: