Comfort Measures Cheat Sheet List

Relieve back pain / round ligament pain. Feels really good. Use anytime. Make sure cloth is spread out & not cutting into baby.

Belly Sifting

Lifting belly & baby with rebozo or other cloth

Boot (Glute) Scoot

Lift butt, scoot forward. Releases QL muscle.

Baby in low pelvis. Opening to let baby birth. Relieves back pain

Duck Butt

Stretch from hands to butt. Use door or partner assist.

Use it for three to six contractions on one side and then switch to the other side and repeat.

Flying Cowgirl

Open the top of the pelvis by moving the pubic bone away from the spine. Let the body arch into a half wheel shape to open the inlet. When laboring in bed is necessary but baby is still high this dramatic position is a favorite.

Help baby get into pelvic opening. Baby OP or head tilted. Parallel parking: back the baby out and get a better space.

Forward Leaning Inversion

Upside down! FLI Video

Hip Hinge

Hinging from hip joint with back straight

Soften & hydrate fascia…releases pelvic floor. Use anytime in labor

Jiggle

Light jiggling on hip/thigh. More of a vibration than a massage.

Baby high in pelvis and not engaged. Partner works with contractions to hold baby up and in during 10 consecutive contractions. Release in between contractions.

Lift & tuck

Pelvis is tucked under. Partner (or mom) lifts up and in on baby. Visualize "dumping into pelvis"

Softens hard-to-reach muscle for a more flexible sacrum. Great for low back and sciatic pain.

OI Release

Lie on side. Press fingers flat on inner thigh of bottom leg. Slowly move finger pads into the inner bowl of sitz bone. Press and hold until released

Excellent for epidural & resting positions

Peanut Ball

Ball shaped like a peanut 😂

Pubic Symphysis Release

On back w heels by butt. Snap knees togehther 3x, snap apart 3x with feet straight, turned in, turned out

Awesome for pain relief! Much easier for hip squeezes and sustaining support. Do as much as you'd like.

Rebozo Squeeze (with a partner)

Using rebozo for hip squeeze, or to lift baby weight off low back

Relieve back pain, open inlet or outlet depending on direction of traction.

Sacral Traction

Compressing and tractioning at sacrum

Softens hard-to-reach ligament for a more flexible sacrum during birth. Great for low back and sciatic pain. Can be accessed in labor on hands & knees as well.

SacroTuberous Ligament Release

Lie on side - find sitz bone on top hip. Work thumb under glute along ligament. Press and hold until releases.

Often used with Inversion if baby needs help moving.

Shake the Apple Tree

Jiggling bum with rebozo or hands. Never shake the abdomen or even the hips vigorously. There’s a baby there!

Side Body Opener

Laying on side diagonal on bed (corner to corner) with feet closer to partner. Raise arm over head and grab bed. Partner hooks hands over iliac crest and tractions toward your feed on your exhale. Hold for approx 3 breaths.