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Remember that labour, just like life, can be unpredictable. You might want to start planning what matters to you, with an understanding that things don’t always go according to plan and that circumstances and labours can change.
When describing labour, it is often talked about in stages. There is the latent or early stage of labour; the first stage, which is the longest part of labour where your cervix opens; the second stage when you will birth your baby; and the third stage which is all about the delivery of your placenta (afterbirth).
This can be confusing, as once you are in it, it is just one journey.
However, it is wise to understand what to expect at each stage, and to learn some techniques that will help to make your experience easier.
Some people would like to attend antenatal classes whilst pregnant and you can ask your midwife what is available at your local hospital. There will be many NHS or private paid for classes you might want to access with a little research.
The day you give birth will probably stay with you forever. It is worth starting to think about your choices and options early and if you have a birth partner, discuss with them.
Where Will You Give Birth
You might have already decided where to give birth to your baby and, if not, you can consider your choices here.
Your Hormones in Labour
- This oxytocin pulse creates a hormone rhythm
- This hormone rhythm is what creates regular contractions
- Without the release of oxytocin there will be no labour
Oxytocin is an intimate hormone. It responds to the environment and your emotions. Oxytocin likes you to be relaxed, calm and feel safe. It likes an environment that is dark, warm, familiar and feels cosy.
How to Increase Your Oxytocin in Labour
The birth environment can impact a great deal on your oxytocin levels. Begin to think about early labour. What can you do at home to increase oxytocin? Then think about how to keep the oxytocin high if you are moving into the hospital for birth.
Privacy
Dim the lights
You are more likely to relax in an environment that is quiet, warm and softly lit. Consider turning down the lights at home to rest. You could think about taking LED candles into the birth room at the hospital and ensure bright overhead lights are kept low.
Senses
Massage
Breathing techniques
The Endorphin Spaces
- Endorphins are mood-lifting chemicals
- Endorphins are naturally produced in the brain
- Endorphins increase tolerance to pain
- Endorphins make the labour experience more manageable
How Will You Manage Any Pain In Labour?
You might want to consider how you manage each contraction and what techniques you might use.
Explore your options for pain management in labour and what choices are on offer.
We already know that stress, tension and fear will lead to increased pain and that this can be managed with breathing techniques, massage, and creating the right hormones. Did you know that keeping upright and mobile during labour will result in a quicker and often more comfortable experience?
Upright Birth
For most of human history, labouring women have used standing, squatting and kneeling positions to give birth.
An ancient picture at the Temple of Esneh in Egypt shows Cleopatra in a kneeling position, surrounded by five other women helping her to birth.
In Europe until about the mid-1500s, midwives only attended birth.
When birth became complicated, surgeons were called, and birth began to move into a reclining position on a bed. By the 1700s most women were lying down to give birth.
The evidence for being upright:
- Gravity will help to bring the baby down and out
- Labour is shorter
- There is less risk of compressing the large blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen. When it is compressed by lying on your back there is a risk of less oxygen for baby
- Your uterus (womb) can contract more strongly and efficiently
- Your baby can get in a better position to pass through the pelvis
- It is less likely to tear your perineum
- It’s less painful than lying on your back!
So Why is Birth Lying Down Still Happening?
- Expectation of the public – media and TV portray birth on the bed
- Misunderstanding – for many people bed means rest and comfort, however, in labour the most comfort will come from keeping the pelvis open, wide and upright.
- Alternative furniture – often a hospital room will offer very few alternatives to a bed, which usually dominates the room
- Convenience of healthcare professional – it is undoubtedly easier for professionals (midwives and doctors) to have a labouring person on a bed at a good height for them
- Birth as a passive event – we may see birth as something that happens to us, rather then as something we actively do and can influence
- Analgesia – epidurals in labour result in bed birth due to the legs being numb and changing positions is challenging with the addition of a catheter, drip and continuous monitoring of the baby
- Complicated birth – you may need extra support with drips, monitoring or assistance to birth your baby
Enlist the help of your birth supporter and discuss and practice positions that already feel comfortable in pregnancy.
Improving Your Labour and Birth Experience
Positive expectations
Understanding the stages of labour
Massage
Using a birth pool
Your environment
Understanding birth hormones
There is a lot to consider when thinking about how you would like your labour to be. No one can predict how your birth will go. But one thing you can control is how much preparation you do beforehand.
Keeping your pelvis upright
Relaxation
Eating and drinking for energy
Breathing techniques
Feeling confident
Support from a great birth partner
Remember that labour, just like life, can be unpredictable. You might want to start planning what matters to you, with an understanding that things don’t always go according to plan and that circumstances and labours can change.
What Can Improve the labour and birth experience?
- Positive expectations
- Understanding the stages of labour
- Massage
- Using a birth pool
- Your environment
- Understanding birth hormones
- Keeping your pelvis upright
- Relaxation
- Eating and drinking for energy
- Breathing techniques
- Feeling confident
- Support from a great birth partner