Humor in Labor
One of the easiest ways to cope through labor is to laugh. Laughing not only can provide a distraction but also aid in the release of those feel good hormones! Here are 4 ways you can include humor in your labor!
Laughing Through Labor
March 1, 2024
Laughter is one of the oldest tricks in the book to improve mood and increase connections. While in the tides of labor it can be very beneficial!
Labor is intense and unpredictable. But did you know that laughter can be one of the best tools in your birthing toolkit? As a doula, I’ve seen firsthand how humor can transform the birth experience!
Why Does Laughter Help in Labor?
When you laugh, your body releases endorphins—nature’s painkillers. Endorphins are peptides that interact with opioid receptors in the brain to help relieve pain and trigger feelings of pleasure.
These feel-good hormones can help ease tension, reduce pain perception, and even encourage oxytocin production. We know how important oxytocin is to keep labor progressing! Keep reading to find out how you can add laughter to your labor.
4 Ways to Add Laughter to Your Labor
- Funny Birth Playlists: From “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa to “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross, create a silly playlist that is going to lift your spirits.
- “Dad” Jokes: Do you love a good dad joke? I know I do! Even if your reaction is a groan and shake of your head, it’s enough to lighten the mood.
- Silly Distractions: Let’s pull up a comedy TV Show, Movie or comedian. Or if that’s not your jam, find a social media account that makes you giggle. Hint: I keep sweary birth affirmations in my bag that we can have your unsuspecting birth partner read out loud! 😉
- Inside Jokes: Have your partner bring up inside jokes or funny moments from your relationship. You may leave your doula confused as hell but you will be laughing! (I’ve been there, totally confused, but happy that my clients were having a moment of joy).
Does it work?
In more than one instance I have personally seen the benefits of adding laughter to the birth experience. One of the biggest impacts I have seen is where Mom was working on pushing and Dad was cracking jokes. At one point I was not sure how jokes at that moment would be received but Mom was full on belly laughing. The staff that was attending the birth encouraged Mom to keep laughing because they noticed how it was helping move baby down!
I do want to add that I know not every moment is appropriate for humor. There may even be times where you may typically enjoy a humorous distraction but in the moment it is more frustrating than helpful. It is okay to express those feelings to your birth team and shift to another tool.
Which leads me to chime in, that hiring a doula is a great way to prepare many tools to use during labor. During our prenatals we will discuss many topics and options you have to cultivate your personalized birth experience together! Contact Me to set up a free consultation to see if I’m the right doula for you!
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