TRAINING FOR TWO

Move Confidently in Pregnancy!

Order Our BOOK!
NEW COURSE! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Pelvic Biomechanics ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ for Pregnancy and Birth. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ NEW COURSE! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Pelvic Biomechanics ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ for Pregnancy and Birth. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ NEW COURSE! ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Pelvic Biomechanics ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ for Pregnancy and Birth. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎◆ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎
Login
GET STARTED
Written by

Gina Conley, MS

Laboring on the Toilet: 3 Tips to Speed Up Dilation

  • Birth, Labor Biomechanics, Labor Comforts
The toilet is commonly referred to as the "dilation station" in the labor world!  The reason being is that when we are more relaxed, our cervix can more easily dilate as baby presses down on the cervix with contractions.  
The toilet is commonly referred to as the “dilation station” in the labor world!  The reason being is that when we are more relaxed, our cervix can more easily dilate as baby presses down on the cervix with contractions.  

So, why does the toilet seem to cause more dilation?  Because we have been conditioned to relax on the toilet our entire lives!  

If you are feeling tension or having trouble relaxing, try sitting on the toilet during your birth!  Let’s explore three of our tips to use the toilet as a labor comfort tool!

3 Tips to Use the Toilet During Labor

The toilet is one of those labor comfort tools we know will likely be available regardless of your birth location.  But the props available to support laboring on the toilet may vary.

Here are our three tips to use the toilet during labor:

  • Use a squatty potty or stool to elevate the feet to help relax the pelvic floor.
  • Change positions on the toilet to expose your back for your partner to apply comfort measures.
  • Turn off the lights to set the labor mood in the bathroom!
A.J.
Childbirth Education Student
My husband and I just finished your childbirth Ed series and it was so helpful and informative. I really appreciated the insight from both the exercise physiologist POV & RN POV. For me, understanding the mechanics and physiology of birth helps me understand why we should do certain interventions. so hopefully it will help me retain the info better for our upcoming delivery in June.
Hannah
Childbirth Education Student
I highly recommend the complete childbirth course by mamaste fit. I am currently preparing for the birth of my second kiddo, and this is my third course (I took two with the first because nerves). Despite this being my third course, I have learned a tremendous amount. This isn’t just a childbirth course. It’s a pregnancy and birth course. I’ve learned so much about the anatomy and physiology of pregnancy and childbirth. I have gained tools to help mitigate aches and pains and understand possibly why they’re happening. I have learned so much about the birth process that I can look back on my first experience and say “OH! So that’s what was going on!” Prior courses taught me the what, but this course has also taught the how and why. I am impressed by the level of detail, and feel like I am so much more prepared to navigate the uncertainties around birth.
Sara
Childbirth Education Student
I loved how everything was presented scientifically so I could know the why for laboring and pushing techniques. I feel extremely empowered going into delivery now because I and my partner have been given such detailed information. Using covid as an excuse, our prenatal care and hospital let us down by not providing classes, tours, or much info other than “policies change all the time, you’ll get what you get when you deliver.” We feel much more confident advocating for ourselves armed with the information you have provided. Thank you!
Explore Our Childbirth Education Courses

1) Elevate the Feet: Squatty Potty or Stool

The first thing we can do to relax more on the toilet during labor (and in general) is to use a squatty potty or stool to elevate the feet.

When we are on our tippy toes because the toilet is too tall, it can create more tension as we reach for the floor.  

Putting a stool or squatty potty under the feet can support relaxation on the toilet!

Many labor rooms will have a stool *somewhere* that you can use to place under your feet, but that stool is not always the right height or easily accessible.

Options could include:

  • Use a travel squatty potty that you can pack easily in your labor bag
  • Flip the trash can on its side to use as a stool
  • Ask the nurse where the stool is at

2) Try Facing in Another Direction!

If facing forward is not doing it for you, you can try to turn around and face the other way!  

Use pillows to lean against, either with your back or your belly!

When sitting backward on the toilet, your partner or doula can apply comfort measures to your back such as counter pressure or massage, so it may help you relax even more!

3) Turn off the bathroom lights: Set the Mood

The bathroom lights are really bright!  Turn them off to set the mood to relax. 

I’ll usually leave the bathroom door open so the light from the labor room still provides some light, or you can bring some portable fake candles or string lights to hang up in the bathroom to provide some light, as well!

Laboring in a really bright environment could interfere with your oxytocin release, so turn the lights off to set the mood!  

Use the dilation station!

If you are having trouble releasing or relaxing during labor, try sitting on the toilet!  We tend to have a conditioned relaxation response to release and relax when we sit on the toilet, so we can use this to support our labor!  

Try using something to prop your feet up, try different positions, and turn off the lights to set the mood!

Learn more comfort techniques to support your birth in our childbirth education courses!