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17 Things You Shouldn’t Say To Someone In Labour
Sage words of advice from birth and breastfeeding professionals on what NOT to say to someone giving birth.
Does it matter what is said to a woman in labour?
I believe the wrong words said at the wrong time, however well-meaning, can potentially demean, disrupt or even disempower someone in labour.
I asked the 5,000+ birth and breastfeeding professionals in our Facebook group (do join us!) for their wise advice on what NOT to say to someone in labour.
It’s not just about the words used.
The act of speaking itself may interfere with the neuroscience of the birthing brain, potentially affecting a labouring person’s “birthing consciousness”.
What does the science say?
When someone is in labour, the brain changes.
The powerful hormones of birth mean that the frontal lobe, the neocortex, can “go dark.” According to the Society for…
