[TRANSCRIPT OF ANSWER]
“So we’re at the birth center right now and we’re going to describe some early labor positions and I have some help here. Tim and Christie are going to go through early labor positions that you can use at home because it’s going to be a little early for you to go to the birth center or a little early for you to go to the hospital.
For those of you that are giving birth there and they’re going to help us walk through positions of early labor that can best help you as a mom and dad at home to prepare for your little one to come. So you guys ready? Absolutely. And are you guys ready to do it with us? Let’s do early labor.
What does Early Labor Feel like?
So we’re going to talk about early labor. Early labor can stop and start several times and for some couples, it might be hard to identify is this real labor, is this going to turn into something? And the truth is, I don’t know for all of you, but it will at some point go into the real thing.
Mild Contractions
Early labor is contractions that are anywhere from four to 10 minutes apart. They’re coming in those waves and they’re lasting 30 to 60 seconds, and there’s a nice little bill to them. They may be a lot like the Braxton Hicks contractions that you’ve had over the last several weeks with a little bit of tightening across your uterus, but now they’re starting to change a little bit with some cramping, either in your lower back or the lower uterine segment across your pubic bone. They’re also starting to maybe take your breath away just a little bit at the peak of each contraction.
Other Symptoms of Early Labor: What to Expect?
And if you’ve had other signs and symptoms like loose stools or bloody show, or even some leaking fluids, then it probably will lead to an active labor pattern really soon. So let’s just assume that this actually goes, you know, my grandpa says early, labor’s a lot like starting a lawn more. You start it and it almost goes, you pull it again and it almost goes, and then sometimes the third time is when it actually goes. So let’s just say that you’ve had a couple of practice runs and now your body’s taking off.
These contractions are getting a little closer together and Tim and Christie are going to help us demonstrate that. Tim, starting to time some of Christie’s contractions, he’s been noticing that she slowly starts to breathe a little different every like four to six minutes and they’re about 60 seconds long or uterus gets tighter during this time and he’s starting to work with her to maybe help her with some comfort measures during this time. It’s a little early to go in for a labor check. They’re just getting started in this and they’re going to do most of this early labor work at home.
Different Early Labor Positions to Ease Pain
Side-lying
So let’s get started in some early labor positions. One of my favorite positions for early labor is Side-lying. This position allows a mother to sleep in between contractions, fully relaxed, letting her body go even during the contraction while giving access to her partner to help open up her pelvis and support her where she might be having some extra pressure. So you can see that Tim is working on her Hip right there to help open up the pelvis.
With each contraction, he also has access to get to her sacrum or he can give it support through pressure or circular motion as the baby descends. The other great thing about sideline is it helps a baby rotate and come down into the pelvis. So with every like six, eight contractions or every 45 minutes or so, she can actually turn sides and now he can have access to the other hip and to help the baby rotate down and around.
Modify Side-lying – Put Pillow between Legs
One of the ways that we can modify Side-lying to help open up the pelvis even more and give a mom some support is to put pillows in between her legs. This allows more room for the baby to enter the pelvis and allows more pressure on the cervix as the baby enters the pelvis to Aden dilation and descent. Sometimes when adding a pillow, we need to actually add two or three to give them a mom enough room to open her pelvis and allow a little bit less pressure and a little more descent for the baby, so that there’s more rotation of the baby and it can come down on the cervix nicely.
So Christie, does that help to open up your pelvis? Some do you feel that opening up as he’s rubbing on your sacrum there too? Great. And while Christie tries to rest and drift off to sleep and get as much relaxation as she can in between each contraction you at home should practice that too so that you’re ready to rest in early labor and build as much energy stores as you can for the actual labor that we are unsure how long it’s gonna last.
Semi Reclining Position
So another early to active labor position that we’re going to demonstrate is a semi-reclining position. And this can be used if mom is getting a little tired in between these contractions and yet she needs a little more support. She can lay back into our partner’s arms, she can bring her knees up to encourage the baby to come down into her pelvis and she can rest deeply in between the contractions. But being well supported by her partner in each contraction.
Semi reclining is a great position to use anywhere and at any stage in labor. You can use it in early labor to help a mom gain lots of rest in between contractions and still encourage descent of the baby and changes in the pelvis with her knees up or down. She can also use it in active labor. She can use it in very late labor as well.
It gives mom good support from her partner, helps release lots of oxytocin because they’re nice and close to keep those contractions coming and really encourages the baby to come down into the pelvis as she rests. It can be done on a couch. It can be done in the living room, on the floor anywhere. Your partner can have a solid surface behind him so that he stays in that position for a while and then mom can lean back into him.
Walking
So behind me, you’ll see that Tim and Christie are walking. Walking is a great way to facilitate the baby coming down and it’s a great way to spend early labor. You’re going to want to alternate some activity with rest during this time so that your body can have rest for active labor and that you can also work the baby down. So a lot of time spent walking is actually one of your best activities that you can do and you should do it with your partner.
Lots of long slow touches during labor help keep oxytocin levels going so that contractions can get closer and longer and bring that baby down.
Slow Dancing
Another really good position for early labor is slow dancing. This position is great because it gives your partner some support. It also allows for long, slow touches and closeness. The energy that made the baby gets the baby out. So let’s work together. Moms can hold onto their partner and dads can have access to their hips and to the lower back with a rocking Swain sensation to bring that baby down nice and easy on the pelvis and to facilitate the baby coming down into scent as well.
Tim and Christie are doing a great job at the slow dancing. I think we’re going to have another baby. That was a funny joke. Do you have to edit it out?”
