3 Types of Comfort Measures Our Birth Doulas Use During Labor

When you think about preparing for labor, you might picture breathing techniques or finding the perfect birth position. But one of the biggest things we teach our families is that you have more options for managing the sensations of labor than you might realize.

At The Breezy Doula, we use a variety of comfort measures to help our families feel supported, grounded, and more comfortable throughout labor. Some tools give you something physical to focus on, some help create a calming environment, and others involve hands-on support from your birth team.

The best part? You don't have to choose just one. Comfort measures can be combined and adjusted throughout labor depending on what feels good to you in the moment.

Here are three categories of comfort measures our birth doulas use with families every day.

1. Physical Tools: Birth Combs, Spiky Balls, and TENS Units

Sometimes, having something physical to focus on can help you work through the intensity of contractions. These tools offer different types of sensory input and can be especially helpful when you want something practical to reach for during labor.

Birth Combs

A birth comb is a simple tool that you hold in your hand, pressing the teeth of the comb gently into your palm during a contraction.

This technique is often explained through the gate control theory of pain, which proposes that competing sensory signals can influence how the nervous system processes pain. The pressure from the comb gives your brain another sensation to focus on while you work through a contraction.

You control the pressure, so you can adjust it to whatever feels comfortable. Some people prefer gentle pressure, while others like a firmer grip.

Spiky Massage Balls

Spiky massage balls provide another source of sensory input and can be used to apply pressure to areas that feel tense or uncomfortable. Your partner or doula can roll the ball along your lower back, hips, or other areas where massage feels helpful. You can also hold and squeeze one yourself.

These balls can be especially useful when you want focused pressure without your support person needing to use their hands for the entire contraction.

Breezy tip: Try different amounts of pressure before labor so you can figure out what feels good. During labor, communicate with your support team about what helps and what doesn't.

TENS Units

A TENS unit, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device, sends small electrical impulses through pads placed on the skin. These impulses stimulate nerves and may help modify pain signals.

TENS units are often used during early labor and can be particularly appealing to people experiencing back labor. Many units have adjustable intensity settings, allowing you to increase the stimulation as contractions become stronger. Some people describe the sensation as a tingling or buzzing feeling. It may take a little practice to find settings that feel comfortable.

A TENS unit is generally used outside the water, so it should not be used in the shower or tub. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and your provider's guidance, particularly if you have a medical condition or are unsure whether it is appropriate for you.

2. Environmental Tools: Music, Lighting, and Essential Oils

Comfort isn't only about what you do with your body. Your surroundings can influence how safe, calm, and supported you feel during labor.

As the birth doulas in the birth space, we love helping families create a birth environment that feels personal and comforting, whether they're laboring at home, in a birth center, or in a hospital.

Music

Music can help you relax, focus, and feel connected to something familiar during labor. Make multiple playlists that vary in vibe. One with slow, spa music. One with high energy, upbeat music.

You might create a playlist with calming music for early labor, songs that help you feel empowered, or familiar favorites that make you smile. Some families prefer instrumental music, while others want to sing along to their favorite songs.

There is no perfect birth playlist. Choose music that feels good to you, and remember that you can change it as your needs change.

Lighting

Bright lights and unfamiliar surroundings can feel distracting when you're trying to focus inward during contractions. If your birth setting allows it, consider dimming the lights, using battery-operated candles, or bringing a small lamp to create a softer atmosphere.

In a hospital, you can ask your team which lighting options are available while still maintaining the visibility needed for safe care. The goal is to help you feel comfortable, private, and supported.

Essential Oils

Some families enjoy using familiar scents as part of their relaxation routine. Depending on your preferences, lavender or another gentle scent may help you create a calming atmosphere.

However, essential oils are not necessary for a positive birth experience, and scents can be overwhelming for some people, especially during labor. Ask your birth team about hospital policies, avoid applying undiluted oils directly to your skin, and use essential oils cautiously according to appropriate safety guidance.

Breezy tip: Pack a few options, and use a cotton pad to smell the scents. If you have a Ziplock nearby, the cotton pad can be easily dispensed.

3. Hands-On Support: Double Hip Squeezes and Counterpressure

One of the most valuable comfort measures doesn't require purchasing anything at all. It comes from the hands of a supportive partner or doula.

Hands-on support can provide reassuring touch, focused pressure, and a way for your support team to actively participate in helping you through contractions.

Double Hip Squeeze

A double hip squeeze is a hands-on technique where your partner or doula places their hands on the sides of your hips and applies inward pressure during a contraction.

This gentle compression can feel particularly comforting when you're experiencing pressure in your pelvis or lower back. Some people find it helps relieve discomfort and makes contractions feel more manageable.

The amount and direction of pressure matter. Your support person should follow your feedback and adjust the technique to what feels best for your body.

Counterpressure

Counterpressure involves applying steady pressure to an area that feels uncomfortable, often the lower back or sacrum.

For someone experiencing back labor, firm pressure over the sacrum can feel relieving during contractions. Your partner or doula might use the heel of their hand, a closed fist, or another comfortable surface to apply pressure.

You can experiment with counterpressure while leaning forward over a birth ball, standing, kneeling, or resting on your hands and knees.

The most important thing is communication. What feels wonderful during one contraction might feel uncomfortable during the next. Your support person should check in and respond to what you need.

Why Hands-On Support Matters

When you're in labor, you shouldn't have to direct every little thing your support team does. Practicing these techniques together ahead of time helps your partner feel more confident and gives you one less thing to think about when contractions intensify.

Birth doulas can also help identify when to try a different position, change the amount of pressure, or combine hands-on support with breathing and other comfort measures.

How to Choose the Right Comfort Measures for You

There is no single comfort measure that works for everyone, and what feels good can change throughout labor.

You might start with music and slow breathing in early labor, reach for a birth comb as contractions intensify, and ask your partner for counterpressure later on. You may discover that you love a technique during pregnancy but prefer something completely different once labor begins.

That flexibility is part of the process.

A few ways to prepare before your due date:

• Practice using your birth comb or spiky ball so the tools feel familiar.

• Create a playlist and decide what lighting options you might want.

• Ask your partner to practice double hip squeezes and counterpressure with you.

• Talk with your doula about your preferences and any tools you would like to try.

• Keep an open mind and give yourself permission to change your approach.

Comfort measures are not about eliminating every sensation or guaranteeing a particular birth outcome. They're about building options that can help you feel more supported and confident as you navigate labor.

Ready to Build Your Birth Toolbox?

At The Breezy Doula, these comfort measures are just a few of the tools we use to support families through labor. We also help families practice breathing techniques, movement and positioning, relaxation, partner support, and ways to navigate decisions throughout birth.

If you're ready to learn more and feel genuinely prepared for labor, A Breezy Birth is our on-demand childbirth education course designed to help you build that toolbox before your baby arrives.

Inside the course, you'll learn practical techniques, how to use them, and when they may be helpful, so you and your partner can approach birth feeling more informed and prepared.

You don't need to know exactly how your birth will unfold. You just need options, support, and the confidence to use the tools available to you.

start preparing for free!

Start with our FREE A Breezy Birth Mini Course to get an introduction to the tools and education we use to help families feel more prepared. Then, when you're ready to dive deeper, explore the full A Breezy Birth experience.

We are here to help you have A Breezy Birth. Gain all the tools and skills you need. We can’t wait to see you in the course!