Early Labour

I am a Private Midwives Ltd Midwife and as such am able to support women holistically taking into account their physical, psychological, emotional and social wellbeing. There is no better time to have compassionate support than when you are expecting and baby and it is for this reason I wanted to give you some information that may assist you once you go into labour.

What happens at the start of labour you may be wondering? Well this is the time that your cervix begins to soften or “ripening”. Yes it is at this point that your cervix changes from the consistency that is firm and muscular like the end of your nose to wonderfully soft like your ear lobe. Hormones released by your posterior pituitary gland are bathing your cervix in order to bring about such changes, but you too can assist the process. At this stage your cervix is ready to stretch so help it along with upright positions and keep your Bump forward leaning, a great time to scrub all your skirting boards!

Back to this early stage of labour the bit that for a first timer can s-t-r-e-t-c-h your patience it is important to pace yourself because time is taken to alter the cervix. Now that your cervix is lovely and “ripe!”  Its soft consistency allows the contractions to change it, so that it shortens and merges with the lower segment of your uterus. If you have already had a baby this is done in the run up to labour but with your first baby this is the reason that labour tends to be longer.

Now it is time! Let the dilation begin! By the rhythmical muscle contractions of the uterus the cervix stretches open and once fully stretched open to 10cm the 1st stage of labour has ended!

What can help? Think U F O!  Upright forward leaning and open!

Upright

positions staying mobile and altering your positions help your contractions to work more effectively.

Forward – leaning.

Your uterus moves forward as it contracts so to lean forward makes it work more efficiently.

Open. 

This means making good space in the pelvis if you are lying on your side remember to put a couple of pillows between your knees.

Other things that help are to keep snacking frequently, drink plenty and empty your bladder about every hour.

If all this seems a lot to remember and you feel anxious about the birth, why not contact us at Private Midwives to see how we can help take the stress out of birth.