If you want the cervix to open, you need to open your throat. Yes you read that correctly, your vocal cords and cervix have a connection. Cervix literally means neck, and this isn’t a coincidence. These areas of the body almost mirror one another anatomically, and the tissues have even been shown to respond in the same way when stimulated! Certified midwives will often note that making open throated sounds during labor can help that labor progress, and even help in pain management.

What if I told you your mental state could have an impact on what you feel during labor? For some this conjures up images of the new agey idea of mind over matter, or the magical thinking concept that if you only focus on good thoughts you will inspire your body to birth without any pain.

As a doula I’ve seen a lot of births. Over 300 in fact. Seems everyone comes into the labor process hoping for a positive experience, and dreading a negative one. Looking at the stories in this culture and it’s easy to see where these fears comes from. The birth world is littered with stories of traumatic births or births where things didn’t go the way Mom was hoping. But there is a difference between having things go differently, and having that difference be a negative experience.