When it comes to labour, people often have lots of questions, especially if it's their first baby. I'm going to share some of the most common questions I get asked and hopefully help you to feel better prepared for what to expect as your labour starts.
What is early labour and how will I know if I'm in labour?
The early stages of labour are also known as the latent phase where your cervix is softening and thinning out ready to open (dilate) for your baby to be born. Before labour begins, your cervix is very long, thick and closed in order to keep baby inside. When labour begins, your cervix needs to soften, move forward and thin out before it begins to dilate. In order for this to happen the muscles of your uterus need to contract at the top which will move baby down, putting pressure on your cervix.
Sometimes in the later stages of pregnancy, you may experience Braxton Hicks contractions where the muscles of your uterus are practising for labour. Braxton Hicks aren’t usually painful, you may feel tightening coming and going in your tummy and it may feel slightly uncomfortable. The length and time of this early labour can vary from person to person. For some, it may only last a couple of hours but for others, it can last days. It is quite common at the time for your surges/contractions to be irregular and last varying lengths of time and intensity. Your surges will commonly begin in the evening time but can start at any time of day. Sometimes, you may find that your surges may become regular for a short time and then fizzle out again. It can be a very start-stop process at this stage which is all very normal. If your surges do fizzle out try not to be disheartened, your body is most likely giving you a much-needed rest. Make the most of these rest periods when they come and never feel like the surges you’ve had were a waste. These surges still will have made changes to your cervix and are bringing you closer to meeting your baby.
When do I need to call the midwife / go to the hospital?
In the early stages of labour it is common for your surges to be very irregular, lasting different lengths of time with varying levels of intensity. As your labour progresses these three elements of your surges (contractions) will come together. They will become more regular, usually around 3-4 surges within 10 minutes. The length of time each surge lasts will also be similar with each surge lasting around 45 seconds to a minute. You will also find that the intensity of your surges will become more consistent. Rather than some feeling mild and others feeling strong, you will find that they are all of a similar intensity. Once these elements all come together and you have an established pattern that is fairly consistent then this is usually a good sign that your labour is progressing into the active stage of labour. Once this pattern becomes regular it is usually at this point that it would be a good time to inform your health professionals. That being said it is important to also always listen to your instincts and contact your caregivers when you feel ready or with any concerns you may have.
What things can help me in the early stages of labour?
🌸 Continue doing whatever you are doing and follow your normal routine for as long as you can.
🌸 Anything that distracts you, it’ll get to the point where you are no longer able to be distracted.
🌸 Take a nice warm bath.
🌸 Rest / nap when you can, it can be tempting to keep going but if your body is telling you to rest and you are able to then go ahead, you will be grateful you did later.
🌸 Use your birthing ball.
🌸 Go for a nice gentle stroll.
🌸 Watch a funny film or TV series (help to release oxytocin when we laugh and smile)
🌸 Focus on your breathing when you feel necessary taking long slow breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try to make the exhale longer than the inhale.
🌸 Use a TENS machine.
🌸 Listen to relaxing music, guided meditations, guided relaxations or hypnosis scripts (if using hypnobirthing)
🌸 Eat well to keep energy levels and drink to keep hydrated.
🌸 When not resting or napping try to remain upright and mobile where possible.
If you have any questions about the early stages of labour or would like to share your experiences of this time please get in touch, I would love to hear from you.
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