This can be the exciting phase when it’s all beginning and the contractions may be up to 30-40 seconds long. Initially it can be unclear if labour has started, just give it time and see if your contractions intensify.
Early labour can last for a few hours or a few days – if it is taking a while, try to accept that this is your body getting ready for labour and get the support you need. These contractions are softening your cervix and they are getting your baby into a better position for labour.
You may experience a range of emotions and needs…Excited, worried, apprehensive, relieved, anxious, in need of support and company, empowered, happy, sore, tired, unsure of what to do, emotional, in need of some space, energetic, fidgety and in need of some distraction.
This range is completely normal – try to relax and listen to your body.
What is happening?
* Your cervix is softening, thinning and opening to about 4cm dilated – this can take a few hours or a few days and your contractions may vary from being completely mild and manageable to more uncomfortable and painful.
* Your baby can also be settling
into position in your pelvis.
* For some women the contractions will get closer together as labour progresses, for other women the contractions will stay the same time apart but they will become more intense and powerful.
* Early labour can be your opportunity to get used to your contractions and how your body feels in labour. Your contractions may be felt in your abdomen, in your hips and the tops of your legs or in your back and if your baby is in a more back-to-back position, you may experience more backache.
* In response to increasing levels of oxytocin, your contractions will strengthen. Your cortisol and endorphin levels will also increase to relieve pain.
What early labour can look like…When the contractions are mild, women tend to be alert & present, talkative and chatty, asking questions and being responsive. You may be active, walking about easily, your eyes will be open and you can be in & out of labour mode as your contractions intensify.
What helps in early labour?
- Be calm, supported and safe.
- Try to respond to and trust in your body.
- Having an understanding that early labour may take several hours, maybe even days, to move into established labour with powerful contractions.
- Keep going as normal because distraction can be important: go for a walk, potter about, cook, clean, watch TV, dance about to some tunes, go through your birth bag, chat to friends, fill the birth pool if you are having a home-birth.
- Try not to jump into labour mode too soon – be distracted until your contractions are demanding your attention and you have no choice but to focus on them. If you can be distracted, be distracted!
- Sleep/rest – you will need your energy later on so listen to your body and rest when you need to.
- Eat well and often – so you have energy when you need it for labour and birth.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and energised.
- Have a soak in the bath to help you relax and to feel more comfortable.
- Get support to feel safe and reassured – you might need your partner or friends/family, your doula or you might want to speak to a midwife.
- If you are feeling frightened, worried or anxious
or if you are unsure about something you are experiencing don’t hesitate to call the maternity unit to speak to a midwife or you can go to the hospital to get some reassurance. - Put your TENS machine on if you need some extra relief, especially if you have backache.
- Use your birth ball to be more comfortable.
- If you are unsure what to do, try to stay calm and listen to your instincts. If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed, use your breathing to stay calm and focused.
- If you have hired a birth doula, give her a call for more reassurance.
What can partners do?
- be calm and help your partner to also be relaxed and calm
- help your partner to be distracted
- encourage your partner to eat well and to rest
- listen
- be of practical help – make food, run a bath, help get the birth bag ready, give cuddles, measure the contractions, help put on the TENS machine
- make sure the car is ready
- while distraction is working, encourage your partner to keep occupied
Get checked out at the pregnancy assessment unit if you experience:
- any bleeding
- your waters break and the liquid isn’t clear
- a change in your baby’s movements
- a temperature or you feel unwell
- a feeling that something isn’t right
- signs of labour before 37 weeks
Issues that can impact early labour…
The position of your baby If your baby isn’t quite in the right position for labour and birth (ideally, his spine needs to be on the left side of your bump) you could have a longer early labour, as your baby moves into a better position.
Labour might be stop-start, which can be frustrating and tiring – try to combine staying upright with resting on your left side, to encourage your baby to change position.
If the position of your baby is causing a backache – a bath, a hot water bottle on your back or your TENS machine may help. A massage or pressure on your lower back may help to ease it as well. Leaning forward can also help to ease any backache.
Try to see these early contractions as positioning contractions – they are needed to move your baby into a better position for labour.
Breaking waters This happens in about 5% of labours and it can mean that your contractions might not start for several hours – try to relax, keep busy and wait for your contractions to start.
Your amniotic fluid will probably go with a trickle and you may need to see a midwife. The liquid should be clear and it should not smell. If your amniotic fluid goes with a gush or you are not sure, call the maternity unit for advice as they may want you to go in to get checked.
Your waters may have broken because your baby isn’t quite in the right position so gravity and movement may help to position your baby.
If you feel unwell, have a temperature or just feel that something is not quite right – get checked out at your maternity unit.
Being distracted with your mild contractions
Distraction, pottering about and being occupied can be an essential part of early labour. If you can be distracted, go with it. You might want to keep going about your day as normal when your contractions are mild, some women even keep the very early signs to themselves until they are sure that something is happening.
If it feels right, go out for a walk and you might fancy a bite to eat as well. If you would prefer to stay closer to home you could try doing some of the things you enjoy: cooking, baking, tidying, gardening, knitting, sewing, yoga watching a movie or have a little dance around your living room. You might want to sort out your birth bag, rearrange the house ready for your baby or be with your other children.
Calling your midwife or going to hospital…
When you feel ready for more support and reassurance, you may want to call your midwife (if you are having a home-birth) or head into the maternity unit.
Please don’t stay at home if you are feeling anxious, scared or unsure – speak to or see a midwife to get some reassurance so you can remain calm and able to work with your contractions.
If you are not in established labour your midwife probably won’t stay if you are having a homebirth or you may be sent home from the maternity unit – you probably just need more time for your labour to unfold and for your baby to move into a better position. Rest, potter, eat and drink and try to make yourself as comfortable as possible.
Your labour could unfold slowly or it could build up quickly – if in doubt use your breathing to stay calm and have a chat with a midwife for more information and reassurance.
Early labour may be different to your expectations…
It is easy to build up images and expectations of early labour from what we see on TV but the reality can be very different. On TV there is often not much of an early labour – it is all about 2 or 3 contractions and straight off to hospital, or the waters breaking and immediately off to hospital. But there could be several hours before it is time to head to hospital or to call for a midwife with a home-birth. And if your waters break, you might not have contractions for a while, if at all.
There can be a lot of normality in early labour – looking after your other children, cooking, tidying, walking the dog, watching TV, chatting and laughter. But the point at which you go to hospital could look more intense – with regular contractions, which are more powerful and demanding your focus. So there will probably be less chat and more focus on working with contractions, on staying focused and calm.
Module 1: Labour
Mindset For Labour & Birth
Overview Of Labour & Birth
Early Labour
Established Labour
As you go through this module and the resources, you can make notes, jot down your questions and start to develop your action plan for labour and birth.
And please don’t hesitate to message me below to arrange a conversation with me to talk through your questions.
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Welcome To Your Antenatal Course
1. Labour
2. Birth
3. Pain Management
4. Labour & Birth Challenges
5. Meeting Your Baby
6. Your New Baby
7. Relax & Breathe Resources
Copyright: Janine Smith
antenatal & postnatal specialist 