Tips to help stop shaking during labor!

I attended a birth this morning where a strong and wise mother used the “tongue trick” to help with her shakes. It made us all smile and seemed to help! SHAKES happen in most births. They can occur for a number of reasons:

🌡️ temperature changes from the very athletic work of labor. But usually true labor shakes are not from being cold!
👶 the hormones of labor and birth, including oxytocin and adrenaline. Often shakes are a sign of PROGRESS and entering into or laboring through transition (the last stage of active labor before pushing begins)
🧠 your nervous system handling A LOT and your body responding in this very physical way
👩‍⚕️ if you received a spinal or epidural you may notice the shakes are more prominent

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting the shakes! It is a normal and natural and expected part of labor. But it can throw someone for a loop and it can also sometimes be worrisome to others in the birth room who are not used to seeing it. And sometimes the shakes are downright annoying!

Things that can help:
🥊 Do not try to fight the shakes! Embrace the shakes! They are normal and usually a positive sign of progress. Let your body surrender to them as much as possible.
👅 stick out your tongue! You may look funny, but it really works! It essentially tricks your mind into forgetting about shaking.
✋🏻 having someone on your birth team use their hand to compress your chest. This physical touch and nervous system soother can work wonders
〰️ if someone on your care team knows the spinning babies “jiggle” technique or Havening techniques this can be a really great way to get into your parasympathetic nervous system (more relaxed state), rather than fight or flight mode.

Did you have the shakes during labor? Did they surprise you with their power?

Let me know what other labor and birth questions or tips you’d like to know!