Portland Oregon birth support coach doula

How to Reduce Pain in Childbirth with ABC’s

Our Baby Nest doula team came up with this amazing list of ways to reduce pain in childbirth using ABC’s!

As birth doulas, we know birth is hard work, but there are things you can do to make it more comfortable, faster (who doesn’t want that!) and of course, a more positive experience. So here you are, things to do in labor to help…The ABC’s of how to reduce pain in childbirth!

Oh, and the amazing photos are taken from the amazing and talented Jessie Photo Doula, located in Portland, Oregon. She preserves birth stories, honors the work and rawness of birth and captures the moment of birth so beautifully.


A –   Aromatherapy, Acupressure, Amazing birth team, Acceptance, Allow what is unfolding

B –   Bounce on a Birth Ball,  Breathe deep, Belly laughs, Believe in your power

Pain relief for labor | Portland Oregon hospital birth mom bouncing on birth ball

C –   Counterpressure, Cuddle with partner, Countdown contractions, Cold Cloth, Candles

D –   Doula, Drink plenty, Dim lights, Dance

Pain relief in labor | Doula support helping Portland Oregon couple during birth

E –   Eat, Empowering words, Effleurage, Express yourself, Eye contact, Essential oils

(Learn what oils are a MUST for birth here!)

Pain relief for natural birth | Bowl of essential oils for birth in the hospital room

F –   Fan, Feel empowered, Food, Focal point

G –   Groan, Give in to the process, Grunt, Go inward

Ways to reduce pain in childbirth | Portland Oregon mother groaning in labor, leaning over hospital bed

H –   Hire a supportive provider, Hold hands, Hip squeeze, Hot packs, Hire a doula

(from Portland Oregon and Vancouver, Washington area, request a free doula consult here!)

I –   Ignore horror stories, Intuition-trust it!, Instinct, “I can!”

J –   Jokes, Jive, Just breathe

K –   Keep lights dim, Kisses from partner, Kind words

(read about 100 things your partner can do to help you in labor here!)

Natural pain relief in labor | Partner holding hand of woman in labor having a natural birth in Portland hospital

L –   Laugh, Listen to music, Lunges, Lean in deeply, Labyrinth mantra (the way out is through)

M –   Mantras, Massage, Makeout with partner, Meditate, Mindfulness, Music, Moan, Movement

Pain relief for natural birth | Portland Oregon labor on a birth ball with her partner behind her, looking tired

N –   Nap, Nourishment, Neck massage

(read more doula recommendations for things to have in your birth bag here!)

O –   Open knee chest position, Open your pelvis, Open jaw, Oxytocin environment

P –   Persistence, Patience, Pressure Points, Push into, Partner snuggles, Pray, Position changes

Pain relief for natural birth | Mother uses birth squat bar and pushes with contractions in Portland Oregon hospital

Q –   Quilt (get cozy), Question what you don’t understand, Quiet voices

R –   Relax, Rest, Rebozo, Release emotion, Rhythm, Ritual

Pain relief for birth | Portland Oregon birth with mother listening to music while in a hospital bed

S –   Stay home in early labor, Shower, Sway, Sounding, Squeeze comb bristles in hand, Spray water on back

Partner massages labor woman back in labor at Portland Oregon hospital birth center

T –   Talk about fears, Trust your body, Temperature change, Toilet (great spot)

U –   Undress, United birth team, Understand your options, Unleash your inner wild, Undisturbed

Pain relief for birth | Supportive Portland Oregon birth team helping mom in bed while pushing

V –   Visualize baby coming down, Vocalize, Voice your needs

W –   Water for labor or birth, Walk, Words of encouragement, Wait for urge to push

Pain relief for birth | Laboring woman in bath tub

X –   XHALE,  Xtra support, eXhale and let go

Natural birth pain relief tools | Portland Oregon mother breathing during labor with her doula

Y –   Yoga poses, Yell, Yummy smells (lavender, peppermint, lemon or other helpful essential oils all help reduce pain in childbirth.

(Read more about essential oils here.)

Z –   Stay in the zone, ZZZZ’s, zero self doubt!


Okay, so The Jackson 5 group wasn’t quite right, having a baby is not as easy as 1-2-3. Birth takes a lot of hard work and perseverance and mental readiness, and these ABC’s can help you out when you need! Print out these ABC’s on how to reduce pain in childbirth. Post on your fridge to memorize them. Pack them in your birth bag. Talk about them with your partner. Share them with your pregnant girlfriends. Stick together and know, when things get hard, that you can reduce pain in childbirth with the ABC’s.


Thank you Jessie Photo Doula for sharing your photography with us. For more info on our featured Portland, Oregon maternity and birth photographer, click here.

Like us on Facebook HERE to learn more tools for having a better birth!