When it comes to managing labor pain, there are lots of alternative methods out there for women who want to avoid an epidural. You can lie in a warm tub, drape yourself over a birthing ball, or even take a few puffs of laughing gas to soothe those painful contractions. (For what it's worth, yelling obscenities at your partner also works — and that one's completely free!) But chances are, you've never heard of this one: Squeezing a comb in your hand. Yes, really.
According to Wisconsin-based doula Jen Davel, fine-toothed hair combs have actually been used by birth workers for years.
"I heard about the practice of using a comb to alleviate discomfort of labor while at a home birth," she tells CafeMom. "The midwife suggested the mother use it. Ever since I have kept one in my doula bag."
The reasoning behind why it works might just surprise you, though. In fact, Davel — who co-owns Fox Valley Birth and Baby with Mary Nieland and Laura Kralovetz — recently took to Facebook to share the little factoid. And let's just say, it went BONKERS.
"When gripped in your hands, a comb can help hit acupuncture points in your hands," the post explains.
"It also plays into the gate control pain theory," the post continues. "This theory states that the brain can only focus on a select number of sensations. Because the nerve endings are closer on your hands they reach your brain faster. Helping your body forget about the contractions."
(An update to the post later explained that the key to it all is to let the comb hit at the base of the fingers and across the palm of your hand.)
Um. Okay. Wow.
By now, Davel has offered a comb to the moms she works with more times than she can count — and it's definitely come in handy.
"I offer a laboring mom a comb when I notice her tensing her body or she is becoming fearful," she says. "The comb not only creates a distraction for the brain but also hits the pressure points in the hand. Many women find it helpful immediately."
Seriously — why don't more people know about this?!
Since the post was first shared on July 15, it's racked up over 21K shares and 23K comments from people whose minds were equally blown.
"Wish I would have known about this!!!" wrote one woman. "So cool!!
"I will now be packing my hospital bag with a comb," wrote another.
"I wanted my sister to dig her nails into my arms when I was in labor because it distracted me from the pain," noted one woman. "I think that idea is true. Because it really helped."
Another woman said her doula actually brushed her hair during labor, and she "loved it!"
(Wow — talk about a full-service doula.)
Duvel, Nieland, and Kralovetz all say they were surprised -- but delighted -- to see their little post go so viral.
"We were shocked!" Kralovetz tells CafeMom, adding that most of the messages so far have been positive. "Many expectant mamas seem to be grabbing combs and excitedly preparing for labor now!"
And that's exactly the kind of helpful guidance the women at Fox Valley Birth and Baby aim to bring the mothers they work with.
Davel, who provides support and assistance as a certified labor doula, says she works to educate and serve women and families in the best way she can.
"Many women don’t know their choices, and I work to help them make informed choices through education," she tells CafeMom.
But she's just one part of this three-woman show — which also includes Nieland and Kralovetz, who are both photographers, videographers, and placenta specialists (because yes, there is such a thing!).
"At Fox Valley Birth and Baby, we offer birth and postpartum doula services, photography and videography, placenta encapsulation, childbirth education, and lactation help," Davel explains.
(Something tells us that now that their little hair comb post has gone viral, their phones are going to be ringing off the hook.)
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Save this comb hack to your Pinterest boards to learn more about how it can help release your pain during childbirth!
