A labour or childbirth beadline is such a lovely way to keep track of special moments! It’s a collection of often colourful beads strung together on a strong fishing line or similar thread. You can get creative by using different-sized beads to represent contractions and breaks; some folks even choose different colours or use both! I personally enjoy working with wooden beads, but really, any material can work beautifully. I love using shiny new beads along with pre-loved treasures from broken jewellery or charming finds from charity shops. #labourbeadline #labourbeadlines
Labour beadline for childbirth education
How do I use a labour beadline?
Labour beadlines are a fantastic way to create a visual and tactile learning aid of the stages of childbirth/labour! During an antenatal class or a doula 1:1 you might invite your participants to label the different stages and even chat about the variations they notice. Adding pictures of positions and self-help tools along the timeline can spark discussions about the best techniques to try at each stage.
For those teaching students who are visually impaired, using these beadlines serves as a wonderful tactile teaching aid in your classes. Just imagine how effective it can be to use different-sized beads to represent contractions versus breaks!
What do the beads mean?
Each larger bead, or those of different colours, stands for a contraction. The smaller beads at the beginning stand for mild contractions and will appear in an irregular order initially. As we progress, the gaps or breaks between these beads will shorten, and the contractions will become stronger, shown by larger beads. Knots or specially shaped rigged beads symbolize the transition phase. A larger special bead, like a heart-shaped one, beautifully represents the birth of the baby, while a smaller special bead at the end stands for the placenta.
When can I use a labour beadline?
A labour bead line is a wonderful resource for use in large groups, smaller gatherings, or one-on-one sessions. When working with larger groups, it can be advantageous to set up two or three labour bead lines, allowing parents-to-be to explore, interact with, and engage in hands-on learning. I’m pleased to share that most of my labour bead lines are designed with accessibility in mind, making them particularly suitable for visually impaired parents-to-be, as all the contraction beads are larger than the pause/break beads!
Where can I get a labour beadline?
You can absolutely create your own labour/childbirth beadline! It takes just 1-2 hours to design one, and if you prefer, you can also check out the ready-made options or even order a customized one from my website. We have a variety of lovely labour beadlines available for both singleton and multiple pregnancies. If making your own sounds like fun, I also offer…
- labour beadline kits with everything you need to start beading!
- a self-paced online mini course
