The Most Unhinged Ways People Cope With Labor (& A Sneak Peak into my Online Childbirth Education Classes)
Let's be honest,
Labor is probably the only time in your life where someone might look you dead in the eyes and say: “Yep. That sound you’re making? Keep doing that.”
And somehow it makes complete sense.
Because birth is intense, powerful, physical, and unlike anything most people have ever experienced before.
When contractions get stronger, many birthing people naturally find ways to cope that might seem a little… unhinged from the outside.
But here’s the thing:
A lot of those “weird” labor coping techniques are actually your body doing exactly what it was designed to do.
Your nervous system is communicating.
Your body is releasing tension.
Your brain is finding ways to stay grounded.
And when you understand why these things work, they stop feeling weird and start feeling empowering. That is exactly why I teach all these valid ways to cope with labor in my private in-person and online childbirth education classes.
Here are some of the most unexpectedly amazing ways people cope with labor:
Making noises you never thought you’d make
Low moaning. Humming. Groaning. Roaring.
Maybe even making sounds that remind you more of a wild animal than your everyday self.
And honestly?
That’s normal.
Low vocalizations can help encourage relaxation, reduce tension, and help you work with your contractions instead of fighting against them. In fact, your vocal cords mimic your cervix--opening with lower sounds.
Many people spend pregnancy imagining they’ll calmly breathe through every contraction…
…and then labor arrives and their body says:
“Actually, we’re going to make whale noises now.”
And that’s okay.
Moving like you’re trying to escape your own body
Walking. Swaying. Dancing. Rocking. Circling your hips. Leaning over the kitchen counter.
Movement is one of the most instinctive ways people cope during labor.
Your body often knows what it needs before your brain catches up.
This is why preparing for birth is about more than knowing what happens during each stage of labor.
It’s about knowing:
What positions can help you feel more comfortable
How your partner can support your movement
What tools can help during intense contractions
How to stay calm when things don’t go exactly as planned
These are all things we take a deep dive into understands the biomechanics of during labor before the first contraction ever hits in my private online childbirth education classes.
The death grip on random objects
A comb. Your partner’s hand. A towel. A birth ball. The side of the bed.
During labor, people often find pressure and grounding through their hands.
Tools like combs, massage, counter pressure, and positioning techniques can all become ways to redirect sensations and help you feel more in control.
The goal isn’t to “avoid” labor.
The goal is to have tools that help you move through it and to understand them deeply.
Becoming extremely focused (or slightly feral)
Some people chat through early labor.
Some people become silent and intensely focused.
Some people suddenly say things like:
“Everyone stop talking.”
That can be your body doing exactly what it needs.
As labor progresses, many people naturally turn inward. Understanding this ahead of time can help you and your partner recognize what is normal instead of wondering. Personalized 1:1 private in-person or virtual online childbirth education classes can help you and your partner know what to expect ahead of time.
Swearing or Saying Bizarre Things
Other times-- swear words spew from your mouth along with any numbers of unhinged sentences. This is also, you guessed it, totally normal! I heave heard people ask for an epidural they didn't want simply because asking for it helped them cope enough to not need it. I have heard people construct new swear words that I may have kept tabs on for my own future birth, etc. etc. There is not limit to the creativity when it comes to coping with the intensity of labor.
The truth about labor coping.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that people think childbirth preparation means learning how to have a “perfect” birth.
It doesn’t.
Birth preparation is about building confidence.
It’s about understanding your options.
It’s about knowing what questions to ask.
It’s about learning comfort techniques before you’re in the middle of a contraction and trying to Google:
“Does screaming help labor?” 😂
Because when you have knowledge, you can make informed decisions and feel more like an active participant in your birth.
This is exactly what we practice in my private online childbirth education classes!
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby, planning a hospital birth, considering an unmedicated birth, hoping for a VBAC, or simply wanting to understand what your options are my private childbirth education classes are designed to give you more than a checklist.
We dive into:
✓ How labor actually works
✓ What happens during each stage of birth
✓ Evidence-based comfort measures
✓ Partner support techniques
✓ Birth preferences and advocacy
✓ Medical interventions and decision-making
✓ Postpartum preparation
✓ How to feel confident no matter how your birth unfolds
I offer:
Private in-person childbirth classes for expecting parents in the Michiana area (including South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen, Niles, Cassopolis, and surrounding communities)
and
Private online childbirth education classes for families anywhere who want personalized preparation from home.
Because you don’t need to memorize every possible thing that could happen during birth.
You need to understand your body, your options, and the tools available to you.
Ready to feel prepared for birth?
If you’re looking for a private childbirth class near you or a virtual childbirth education class tailored to your pregnancy and goals, I’d love to help you prepare for this incredible transition into parenthood.
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