How to Deal With Maternal Exhaustion During Labor

Continue to eat. In order to subdue maternal exhaustion you need to keep your blood sugar level high enough to provide continuous energy. If you are not eating during labor, then you are burning more energy than you are consuming, which eventually lends to exhaustion. Foods such as fruits, veggies, honey, nuts, crackers, yogurt, lentils, tofu and peanut butter are excellent choices. The key is to eat small amounts as often as you can.

Drink frequently. Drinking frequently prevents dehydration, which can cause more painful contractions. Drink more than water. Water is great for thirst, but it doesn't balance electrolytes. If you are craving water, drop in a slice of lemon. Orange juice or another juice with a bit of honey is also a wonderful drink. Also, pouring a packet of Emergen-C in your water or juice is fantastic. It balances electrolytes, gives energy and provides a mega dose of Vitamin C, which can help keep infection away in cases of long labors or if the mother is Group B Strep (GBS) positive.

Get as much rest as possible between contractions. Even if you can close your eyes and lay your head down for just a few minutes gives your body and mind a chance to rest. During your resting phase, concentrate on nothing but relaxation.

Take a warm bath or shower. Sometimes, it is easier to deal with contractions while in a warm bath. It isn't that the contractions slow down or become less painful, but your perception changes. Many mothers claim to rest well in a warm tub of water. If you don't have access to a bath, place a birth ball in the shower and use that for comfort measures while you rest. You can either sit on the ball or perhaps lie over it with the warm water hitting your back.

Enjoy a change of scenery. Go for a walk if possible. Sometimes, it helps to get out of the element that you've been in. Even if you can only take a walk down the hospital corridor, that can be a positive thing.

Ask your partner to massage you. Touch can often lend itself to immediate relaxation. Just be gentle and guide your partner where you need the touch the most. This may be especially helpful during the breaks from contractions.

Express your emotions. Holding in emotions, especially negative ones, and dealing with them internally can make one very tired. If something comes to surface, deal with it and then let it go.

Homeopathically speaking, you can put four drops of Rescue Remedy in all drinks or place four drops under your tongue every 15 to 30 minutes until relief is present. It may take a few doses to achieve a relaxed state.

Consider medication as a last resort. If you are making progress in labor, you may want to keep trying the natural methods. However, if you are not making any progress within a span of 6 to 10 hours, the exhaustion could potentially work against you. An epidural or other pain medication could allow you to relax, get some rest and progress to a vaginal birth.