What words, phrases or ideas REALLY helped you during labour?

[Gemmitygem]

Am trying to collect a list of motivating phrases or tips or mantras which people have found to be effective, or any visualisations (e.g. waves, marathon running, mountain climbing etc).

Have heard ones like 'take each contraction as it comes and imagine it's the last', a woman who swore by encouraging her cervix by shouting 'You go, cervix!' and saying 'open, open' etc.

or it could be what was most encouraging that your dp/dh said to you, or midwife, which really urged you on?

Very grateful to know what worked for others! (first baby due in 12 weeks and want to be prepared)..

Also a TENS machine helped if you put it in your pocket and it accidently gets knocked a few settings to high, its like an electric shock - soon takes your mind away from the contraction

2 things. Firstly the phrase was the MW kept telling me "you've come all this way yourself (keep it going)".
Through each contraction I would chant (in my head) RE-LAX as I breathed in (RE-) and out (-LAX). I lost it towards the end though and then I saw a sign on the side of the bed which read 'BIRTH-RITE' - so I started chanting that in the same way instead. Strange I know, but it worked...

If you can get hold of Stand and Deliver, sorry can't remember author, and/or the Michel Odent book (drat, title escapes me at the moment, maybe Birth Reborn?) they might inspire you to believe that you can do this. I had a not-nice first birth and was getting quite anxious about this one (due v soon) but lots of reading and hiring a doula AND booking a home birth means I am going into it without fear.

Oh and the MW asking the auxillary to fetch forceps & ventouse really, really helped!!!