So, you've just received the ultimate kickstart alarm – labour is starting, and it's time to welcome your tiny human into the world. So many mixed messages of what you should do to get things moving along. But guess what? You've got this! Let's dive into 10 things to do (and not do) when your labour starts, and trust me, it's not all about pacing nervously and doing a huge hike.
1. Don't panic
First things first, take a deep breath and exhale out that anxiety. It's entirely natural to feel a little jittery when you start your labour, it's exciting that your baby is finally coming! But remember, your body knows what to do and that adrenaline rushing around your body might do the opposite of what you want and slow/stop labour. You're about to do something amazing, and panicking won't help - easier said than done, I know! But some tips below will help to ease that panic.
2. Don't chase the labour
I could say this over and over again! Commonly, in facebook groups, I'll see someone saying they've started having contractions and cue the comments of "go on a super long walk" "go up and down the stairs" "curb walking"! Basically, bloody exhaust yourself before you even begin. Labour has its own pace and you can't make it do anything it doesn't want to do. Trying to speed up your labour by doing a huge hike is only going to exhaust you, and you really need to conserve that energy. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Hold off on the walks (unless you have a dog etc, see below) So, don't try to speed it up by doing laps around the living room.
3. Distraction
If you normally take the other kids to school, carry on with that. If you normally take the dog for a walk, carry on with that. Needing to make dinner? Go for it. When in early labour, the majority of the time, you are feeling totally normal, so can carry on as normal. When the contractions start taking more of your concentration and energy, that's when we forget about the day to day stuff and use other techniques.
4. Don't watch the clock
Labour doesn't have a time, and watching the clock won't help. When you focus on the timings of your contractions, it brings you out of your inwards state and you go in to the thinking part of your brain, which in turn, can slow down labour. If you need to time contractions for the benefit of knowing when to call the midwives, this is the perfect job for your birth partner! You just focus on being in the moment and let you body do its thing.
5. Rest
A super important one. As above, in early labour, you'll mostly be feeling normal and we want to conserve that energy for when you need it later on, not you exhausted. So, rest up. By that, I don't mean have a full nights sleep. But any form of resting. Whether that's in bed and you sleep between contractions, or you chill on the sofa and just close your eyes and rest your body and mind just for a minute or two. A bit of shut-eye is ideal for early labour. If you can't actually sleep, that's okay, just rest the body and chill. It's like resting when you have a massage, you don't actually fall asleep, but you feel well rested.
6. Start practicing breathing and other tools
This is the perfect time for you to focus on your techniques and tools from hypnobirthing. Practice those breathing techniques so that by the time you're in full swing, you'll have it nailed. Breathing is a great distraction technique too. Other tools such as positive affirmation can help you in early labour to really believe in yourself and bring positivity to your mindset. Remember the tools we went through in the classes? Now's the time to use those practical tools and put them to use. If you want to know more, check out my hypnobirthing courses
7. Watch oxytocin inducing TV
Another great distraction technique is TV. And there's no rule with this, it's whatever you enjoy. It could be watching Friends (my first labour!), or a great festive film like The Holiday (my second labour) or perhaps watching true crime documentaries are your comfort show. I've become obsessed with watching Grey's Anatomy and it's not the happiest or most funny program by far (if you haven't watched it, get tissues or just save your emotions and steer clear) but you bet that would go on in the background in early labour if we have another baby! Whatever you love watching will release ocytocin which helps labour to progress.
8. Eat yummy food
In the lead-up to your baby arriving, stock the cupboards, fridge and freezer with delicious food and snacks that you love ready for early labour. Keeping energy levels up during labour is essential so when things start, get going with those yummy things you saved. For me it was crumpets - they went in the freezer a couple of weeks before due date and then they were easily toasted when needed. As well as KitKats! Indulge in your favourite foods in early labour - not only will they give you lots of much needed energy, but if its something you love, it'll get that lovely oxytocin flowing through your body!
9. Shower and bath
Ah, warm water – a labouring woman's best friend. A soothing shower or bath can work wonders in relaxing your body and relieving some of the discomfort. Some women prefers showers and standing, letting the water flow over their body, while others prefer to submerge themselves in to a nice warm bath. Do note, that if your waters have broken, don't put any bubble bath or similar in the bath, and have it plain water. Get some battery operated tealight candles in the bathroom to create that relaxing environment.
10. Believe in yourself!
Lastly, and most importantly, believe in yourself. Your body is meant to do this, and you have the ultimate power for this. You've been preparing for this for months and the time has finally come. You'll be meeting your baby soon, and you've got the strength, courage and determination to bring your baby in to the world, in their own time. Trust your body. Prepare for your birth with hypnobirthing
So, there you have it, your early labour survival guide. Labour is a journey, and how you experience it is up to you. Don't forget to breathe, laugh, eat, and, most of all, believe in yourself. You're about to start on an incredible adventure and journey, and you're going to be amazing! Congratulations!
I'm Bea, founder and owner of Bea's Birth & Boobs and I'm ready to help you have a positive birthing and feeding experience, that you can look back on in many years to come, with joy. Do you want a positive birth? Prepare for all eventualities of birth? Ensure your birth partner is ready to take on the important role of supporting you in the biggest day of your life?
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