Try this one-minute exercise for labor prep ❄️

You’ve probably heard that birth is 90% mental — and we believe that’s true.

That’s why we love this exercise we ran with our current Birth Prep Circle cohort last night. We call it the Ice Holding Exercise, and it’s one of our favorite ways to practice using coping tools for labor before labor begins.

Now, holding ice obviously isn’t the same as having contractions — but it’s a safe and effective way to experience discomfort for a short period of time and practice staying present through it. It’s a great opportunity to see what really helps when things get intense.

Here’s how we did it:

We asked everyone to grab a few ice cubes and hold them in their hand for one minute — three separate times.

Round 1: Just notice what you feel. No tools or distractions, just observation.
Round 2: Hold the ice again, but this time focus on the discomfort. Notice how quickly your mind wants out.
Round 3: One last round — but now use your coping tools. Breathe, move, visualize, repeat affirmations, or let your partner help with grounding touch or words of support.

After each round, we talked about how it felt — and every single time, the same realization came up:

“When I focused on how bad it felt, it was harder to get through.”
“When I used my tools, it was still intense, but I could handle it.”

That’s exactly why we love this exercise.

It’s not really about the ice — it’s about what happens when you shift your focus. When you use your tools, you realize you’re capable of working with the intensity instead of feeling consumed by it.

That’s what labor is all about: finding your rhythm and leaning on the tools that help you stay grounded when things get real.

🧊 Try it for yourself

Grab a few ice cubes and give it a try — three rounds, one minute each.

If you have a partner, invite them to join. Have them practice offering touch, massage, or words of encouragement while you experiment with different coping tools.

Notice what helps. Notice what doesn’t.

You’re not just testing pain tolerance — you’re building confidence and learning how to work with your body (and mind instead of fighting against it.

Because when labor comes, that mindset makes all the difference.

Always in your corner,
💛 Kayla & Leslie