How to prepare for a long labour

Before I gave birth to Adam, I had one main fear. A fast labour, like I experienced with my second baby, Olivia. I was taken by surprise and it required very different tools and techniques than a longer labour. So, I practised what I preach. I prepared for a fast labour, mentally and physically.

But as I always say, these babies don't follow a plan! My labour with Adam was the exact opposite. It was long and slow.

So here’s my advice to help you prepare for a longer labour.

Protect your energy from the start

As we approach our due date, I challenge anyone not to search 'The early signs of labour'. We can't help it! We know what they are. Tightenings, losing the mucus plug, the bloody show, strong bowel movements. But when they arrive, we still wonder, 'Is this actually labour?'

I think our threshold for saying, 'This is it,' is too high.

As soon as you're feeling tightenings that begin to carry some discomfort, it's helpful to say, 'OK, I'm on my way to meeting my baby.' Don't just carry on as normal. We don't know how long labour will last, but even these early moments can be tough and tiring. This is the moment to preserve energy. Nest, stay near home, take it easy, hydrate and build up oxytocin, doing whatever you enjoy.

Learn to recognise fear

As my labour with Adam went on, I found myself questioning things. Is the baby in the wrong position? Should I seek help? Or is this simply my body getting ready for the right moment?

The first was my fear voice, the second was my instinct.

I see this all the time as a doula too. When we allow our fear voice to take over, we can end up acting on something that's based on our subconscious mind rather than an actual sign or symptom. If we listen, this voice gets louder and more urgent, leading us to seek a solution we don't necessarily need.

Your instinct is the voice you do want to listen to. This is the voice that responds to your body, how you feel and what you need in the moment.

Of course there are times when we need support and our instinct is telling us that. But being able to recognise fear is really important. This is the basis of everything I teach in Birth Box.

Ask yourself if there's something holding you back

During my labour with Adam, I had one last thing to do - my final live masterclass before maternity leave. Thousands of women had signed up and I desperately wanted to teach that class before the baby arrived.

As soon as I logged off, I sat down on the sofa smiling, and suddenly felt a much stronger contraction than all the others. Labour ramped up almost immediately.

I don't think that was a coincidence and I've seen it happen so many times.

The body's process is so intrinsically linked to the mind that it's not unusual for people to set their out of office, start maternity leave... and labour starts the next day. They buy that crucial item for the baby... and contractions begin.

Sometimes labour is long because that's simply your story. It's nothing you're doing wrong. But sometimes there's something keeping you busy mentally. So if your labour is taking its time to get going, it's worth asking yourself if there's anything you're still holding on to.

Protect your oxytocin

It's very normal for labour to come and go, especially in the earlier stages. Oxytocin, the hormone labour needs to progress, is fragile. Even the smallest distraction can cause it to retreat. So there are lots of practical things you can do to protect it and help it build up over time.

Stay in your safe space. Not at your in-law’s house (like I was!) or at the shops. Somewhere where you wouldn’t mind being naked in front of everyone in the room! Otherwise your body probably won't let its guard down.

Don't clock watch. Timing contractions every now and then can help give you a direction of travel. But timing every single one, looking at your phone and waiting for them to start and finish can pull your focus. Try to surrender to what's happening and accept that labour is rarely a linear journey.

Listen to your hypnobirthing audios. Even if you're still pottering around, if you've practised with them during pregnancy, they'll help you relax. Start listening to your favourite tracks!

A long labour is tough, both physically and mentally. But if it ends up being your story, I hope this gives you confidence. Sometimes your body simply needs more time.

If you want to learn more about these techniques and tools, plus lots more, it's all taught within Birth Box, which includes the Oxytocin Bubble album of audio tracks.