Labor Pain Hacks No One Tells You (But Should!)

Let’s be real – when someone tells you “contractions feel like bad period cramps,” they’re either lying or have the pain tolerance of a dragon. 😅

Labor hurts. It’s intense. It’s wild. But it’s also kind of… magical? Especially when you feel like you have some control over what’s happening to your body.

During my first birth, I labored naturally for hours before ending up with an emergency C-section. And while I didn’t get the dreamy vaginal birth I hoped for, I picked up a ton of weird but wonderful tricks that helped me cope with labor pain (some of which doulas swear by but nobody talks about!).

So here they are: my favorite underrated, crunchy, doula-approved labor pain hacks – and a few to help labor actually progress, not stall out while you’re clenching every muscle in your jaw. 😬

🖐 The Comb Trick (Yes, Really)

This was my MVP. I held a cheap plastic comb in my palm and squeezed it during contractions. It activates acupressure points in your hand and distracts your brain from the intense sensation happening elsewhere.

Specifically, it stimulates the Laogong (Pericardium 8) acupressure point – located at the center of your palm, where the tip of your middle finger touches when you make a fist. By applying pressure here, you help relax the vagus nerve, which can trigger the release of feel-good hormones and promote calm.

It also ties into the Gate Control Theory of Pain – which basically says that non-painful input (like pressure from the comb) can block pain signals from reaching the brain.

I used it all night and all morning through contractions – it gave my hands something to do, helped me stay grounded, and honestly, it just made me feel like I had a bit of control.

🍋 Relax Your Jaw, Relax Your Pelvis

There’s this wild connection between your jaw and your pelvic floor. If you’re clenching your teeth, your body is basically saying “let’s NOT open the cervix today.”

So instead:

Bite on a lemon wedge (something about the sourness makes you release your jaw)
Blow air through a straw slowly (like blowing out birthday candles underwater)
Hum or make low “Ooooo” sounds instead of high-pitched screams

It might feel silly, but it works. Soft mouth = soft cervix.

🍑 Shake the Booty (Seriously)

During a contraction, ask your partner or doula to shake your hips or jiggle your butt. Yep, really.

The idea is to loosen tension, keep the pelvis mobile, and help baby move down. It feels weird. It looks hilarious. But it helps shift things into gear.

Also? Hip squeezes and counter-pressure on your lower back can be life-saving in back labor.

💪 Squat Like a Queen

Squatting, lunging, doing figure-8s on a birth ball… anything that opens your pelvis can help labor progress.

Even doing a few deep squats between contractions can:

Encourage baby to move into a better position
Use gravity to your advantage
Remind your brain that you’re strong AF

If you’re too tired to squat – no shame. Just change positions often. Movement = progress.

🧠 Mind Over Contraction

Your brain believes what you tell it. So instead of saying "I can’t do this," try:

“Each wave brings me closer to my baby.”
“My body was made for this.”
“I can do anything for 60 seconds.”

Whether you’re into hypnobirthing or just desperate for something to focus on, repeating mantras (out loud or silently) can help you stay calm and reduce panic – which means less pain.

🎶 Sound It Out

High-pitched screams make you tense up. Low, open sounds help you release.

Try:

Humming through the pain
Saying “oooooopen” like a weirdo (you’re in labor, you can be as weird as you want)
Singing a random chant like you’re in a tribal birth circle

Basically: if it helps you stay loose, focused, and breathing, it’s the right sound.

🧘‍♀️ The KICO Principle (Knees In, Calves Out)

This simple position hack opens up the pelvis and gives baby more room to make their grand exit. By bringing your knees in and calves out, you create optimal space between your sit bones and allow the sacrum to move outward – exactly what you want when pushing!

You can use this in so many positions – lying down, squatting, on all fours – just keep the principle in mind: knees in, calves out. Doulas swear by it. My own reviews? It works FAST. 👏

😮‍💨 Floppy Face, Floppy Fanny

Sounds silly, but it’s gold. A soft face, jaw, and mouth leads to a soft and open pelvic floor. That means:

Less tearing
Fewer interventions
Smoother pushing phase

Let your mouth hang loose, keep your jaw relaxed, and trust the body’s connection from top to bottom.

❌ No Purple Pushing

“Purple pushing” is when you hold your breath and bear down hard while turning beet red. It’s not only exhausting – it can cause more trauma and less effective pushing.

Instead:

Take a deep breath in
Exhale downward with intention
Let your body guide the pressure, not brute force

Think: pushing with purpose. Not like you’re lifting a car.

🤍 Bonus Doula Tips for Progressing Labor Naturally

Besides easing pain, these tips also help labor not stall:

Pee often – full bladder can block baby’s descent
Switch sides every 30 mins if you’re lying down
Kneel or get on all fours to rotate baby’s position
Use the shower – warm water + movement = yes
Keep eating/drinking (if allowed) – your uterus is a muscle and needs fuel!
Stay upright as long as possible – gravity is your bestie

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect birth plan or a tub full of essential oils to rock your birth.

Sometimes all you need is a comb, a lemon, a straw… and a reminder that you were made for this.

Save these tips. Try them out. And when the time comes, trust your body – and maybe yell “OOOOOO” into a straw while your partner jiggles your butt. You’ve got this, mama. 💛

📥 Want more prep?

DM me your favorite weird labor hack on IG → @wannabe.diary

Wannabe Diary