Making delivery room more comfortable

[spookysoul]

Due second baby in June, have to go into hospital rather than home/birth centre as I had EMCS first time.
Last time when I went to the delivery room my adrenaline levels shot up, contractions basically stopped, labour slowed down and baby got into trouble, hence the EMCS. The room was so cold and uninviting, it really set me on edge and I felt so uncomfortable the whole time I was in there (nothing to do with fear of labour- had spent over 24 hours feeling happy and relaxed in my little labour ward side room, could quite happily have given birth in there). Even DH felt it, I could tell.

What can I do to try and stop this from happening again? I like low warm lights, I hated the bright lights in the room. And the horrible coldness and quiet. What am I allowed to do re lighting? Assume midwifes need to be able to see what’s going on!
Lots of people use music. I love music but it doesn’t not relax me in the slightest. Music is what I put on to energise me, not relax me. Had the radio on last time and it just irritated me. TV relaxes me (it’s to do with my anxiety, something about measuring time in those little chunks of tv shows/films has always helped since I was a child) but the TV in the room was broken. Watching something on a laptop doesn’t really have the same effect.

Other than start messing with the lights and hopefully turn the tv on, I don’t know what to do! I basically want to feel like I’m at home in my bedroom watching telly!

Can you work on learning breathing and relaxation techniques that allow you to focus on feeling calm regardless of where you find yourself?

@LaTomatina i really don’t think it’ll make much difference, it’s not a panicky kind of worry/anxiety, it’s more about feeling uncomfortable in the environment.
I was in a lot of pain in my induction room but I was comfortable and had absolutely no issues.

Delivery rooms usually have options for lights (main light and a dimmer light), you can just have the dimmer light on. Midwives don’t need bright lights on to be able to support you. You could also take fairy lights in and led candles/diffuser pod. Good luck!

Fluffy socks..

@AllSinging oh ok that’s good to know! Thank you

You can't do anything. They need the bright lights to see what they are doing in case baby gets into distress.

We had the lights dimmed last June and our midwife put on an amazing oil diffuser that smelt amazing (I can still smell it)! Highly recommend this as it instantly relaxes you.

My partner had the tv on for his own purpose but it did help calm me as his laughter made me feel good. Hopefully your tv works next time!

If you have an engaging midwife that helps, one that has a chit chat and a laugh! We had a lovely lady called Dawn who was a similar age to us so we spoke about relatable things. She was very good at stroking my arm and calming me down when things got intense.

I did pack battery tea lights and sprays but forgot about them! Perhaps bring some photographs of lovely memories that you can hang up around the room? You will be great and have lots of time to prepare

How long ago did you last give birth? When I had my baby 7 months ago there were too many options with the lights! You could just dim them or you could have different colour lights, one colour lights, loads.
Hopefully the facilities where you'll be going have improved since your last birth. Good luck!

@MissLC nearly a year ago. That’s good to know, I’ll have to play around with them when I get there! I doubt they will be that fancy at my hospital though.

@babyboybluex thank you for your comments, that all sounds lovely. I know it’s ages away yet but it’s something that’s bothered me ever since I had DS.
My midwife last time was a nice woman but quite no-nonsense and not really chatty or really warm if you get what I mean. Absolutely nothing wrong with her, very nice, just had more of a doctor demeanour than a midwife.
I am currently low risk despite the EMCS so hopefully it stays that way.