Your Questions Answered
What is early labor and how should I prepare for it?
Early labor is when the cervix is becoming soft, moving forward in the pelvis, thinning out, and opening to 4 centimeters. Labor can start quickly, with contractions every few minutes, or it may be more subtle-with contractions every five to ten minutes. You may feel an intense backache and you may experience loose stools. Contraction sensations are different for every woman and with each baby. They may start in your back and wrap around toward your pelvic area, or they might be felt real low. Labor contractions distinguish themselves over time: They will become more intense and they will not fade regardless of whether you are walking, or resting, or taking a shower. Trust that you will know when the time has come that your baby is ready to be born.
What to do? Well, carry on! Whatever the activities of the day are: laundry, work, sleep, or eating, you need not be interrupted-at least not right away. Studies have established that when mother and baby are healthy, the best place for them during early labor is at home. Certainly, you may call your healthcare provider whenever you like-and definitely call if your water breaks, or when the contractions are strong and regular and increasingly demand your concentration. There is great variety in the length of early labor and it depends on many factors. Early labor for a mother’s first baby is usually the longest stage of labor, with a mean length of eight hours and rarely exceeding twenty hours. If labor starts during the night, try to rest as much as you can-even intermittent sleep will help you during the next day when your body needs all of its reserves.
Some physical activities that greatly assist early labor include walking, cleaning, stretching, slow dancing, and yoga. Being upright and sitting on a yoga ball are great positions to aid the forces of gravity. And when it is resting time, the knee-chest or sidelying positions help to open your pelvis. Listen to your body. If you feel the contractions in your back, then forward leaning positions like leaning over the counter, or the knee-chest position can facilitate the baby’s rotation in your pelvis.
Sometimes, activity doesn’t feel good and you may want to simply try to relax between and through your contractions. Massage is one relaxing option. Essential oils such as lavender, clarysage, and arnica are known for easing tension and supporting labor. A foot/ankle massage, in particular, pressure points at the pinky toe and the ankle, are linked with uterine activity. Other methods include paced or patterned breathing, hypnosis (an increasingly popular technique and offered at Harbour Women’s Health), taking a shower or bath, listening to music, or simply spending some quiet time to yourself. In addition, a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit, supplied by physical therapists and work by stimulating certain nerve endings so that your mind is getting some competing stimulation, has been known to be helpful
Outside resources such as books, seminars, and websites are great ways to find out more detailed information. One recommended book is Birthing From Within by Pam England, (www.birthingfromwithin.com). She encourages mothers to pick a labor project. That is, determine how you would like to pass the time during your labor. Some women get the nesting urge and instinctively clean during this time. Others may want to collect sea glass at the beach, or bake and freeze a few casseroles to have on hand.
As physicians and midwives, we understand that labor is not a linear process. Labor is an incredible, spontaneous, at times mysterious, life force. So although we cannot plan perfectly for labor’s arrival, it is still nice to have a few ideas of what might best comfort you, physically and emotionally, when your labor begins. Here at Harbour Women’s Health we encourage you to speak to your provider to discuss any questions or concerns you may have during this important time.