Our top tips to help you have a positive labour experience
When to start timing contractions
Many women feel that as soon as they feel the first twinge, they should get the stopwatch out and start timing their contractions. Actually, in the early stages, this is not very helpful, as you are constantly looking for them to get closer together. Instead, try to carry on with something to help keep you from focusing too much on what’s going on. Potter about, maybe do some chores, fold some baby clothes, read a magazine or listen to music.
The way contractions come on is different for every woman. You might get weak contractions close together from early on, or you might have strong contractions quite a distance apart. The pattern that we’re led to expect , with contractions starting weak and far apart, getting gradually faster and stronger, does not happen for everyone. Your body will tell you when things are starting to get serious and then, timing makes more sense and gives you some framework for the progress of your labour.
Knowing when to go in to hospital
This one is tricky. Most of us are quite nervous about labour and the ‘right’ time to go to the hospital. We also worry that we might not get there in time, especially if you live a long way away or there’s heavy traffic in the rush hour, for example.
Bear in mind that a change of environment may slow down your labour. The peace and calm of home are far better at keeping you calm and relaxed and the journey and a change of scenery, added to the faster pace at the hospital may make you tense, causing labour to slow down. So try to stay at home as long as you can and get advice over the phone from your midwife.
Don’t stop eating and drinking.
Labour can take a long time. It’s physically and mentally exhausting and you need to ‘keep your strength up.’ So make sure you eat something when you feel the first labour pangs and keep snacking on things throughout labour to give you energy. Try to avoid very strong flavours like curry and garlic, as these can repeat on you later but go for things with plenty of punch.
Favourites include unsalted nuts, energy bars, crackers, fruit, dried fruit, biscuits, lozenges or sweets if your mouth gets dry, crisps and popcorn.
Likewise, keep hydrated as being too dehydrated may cause short and painful contractions. Keep drinking lots of water, diluted juice, coconut water, soup or broth but avoid energy drinks or fizzy drinks that have lots of caffeine or too much sugar, as this can make you feel hyper and then exhausted later on. A little sugar or glucose is good for energy but you don’t want to overdo it.
Try to pack an icebox with some ice and icepops too (have them ready frozen, the ice in small bags, with some iceblocks in the freezer) and have a few cartons of juice or small bottles of water that have been frozen. Don’t forget some straws. These drinks will start to thaw during labour so you’ll always have something cool to drink (have a few cooled but not frozen for the early stages). Small containers are easier to hold and your partner can hold them for you while you sip – and get lots of different flavours so you don’t get bored.
If you feel nauseous and unable to drink, you could have a drip to help you keep hydrated. Discuss this with your medical team in the labour room. You should be going to the loo frequently.
Try to keep active – even when being monitored
Why is it that many health professionals will ask you to lie down to monitor the baby’s heart rate or see how dilated your cervix is? It’s the most uncomfortable position for you and can cause your baby’s movements to slow due to pressure on the major vein that runs behind the uterus. It can also cause you to feel dizzy. So ask if you can be monitored in a different position – perhaps kneeling or lying on your side.
Try to keep active and upright as much as possible during labour for the same reason. Babies are helped out by gravity and the birth canal is able to open more fully when you are upright. Experiment with positions you find comfortable and when you need to rest, lie on your side or kneel forwards over some pillows. Try dancing, swaying, rocking your hips. Every four or five contractions, try to do some stretches, as the pain and nervousness that contractions bring on can make you tense. Get your partner to massage your neck and shoulders or lower back.
Shout, shout, let it all out
We’re brought up to be considerate of others and not to make a fuss. Well, forget all that. This is one time when shouting and letting out your frustration and pain can be a great way to help you get through. If you want to shout or scream, go for it. Midwives and Doulas will tell you that there are sounds that are similar to every woman in labour and they look out for them to give them a clue as to where the labour is.
Help your partner help you
Many women find it hard to vocalise what they want during labour or to ask for things – partly through feeling out of control, partly because you’re concentrating on your body. That’s where you can get your partner involved. Not only does this give you a voice if you feel overwhelmed, it also allows him to have an active role in the birth and to support you. Ask him when there’s something you want, from a pillow to a drink and if he needs to, he can ask one of your medical team if it’s not something he can provide. And when there are decisions to be made on how the labour is being managed, he can help by asking all the right questions.
You should be able to be involved in the choices being made about the birth of your baby at every step of the way, unless it’s a true emergency. So get your partner to help you discuss the implications of each choice with your medical team. Ask why something is necessary, what are the risks and alternatives and what would happen if you were to refuse it. Having all the facts is very empowering and avoids a situation where you end up with an intervention and don’t know why it happened.