Urgent advice needed - girlfriend in labour now!

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Hi everyone I'm posting and my girlfriends username. She went into labour at 7 o'clock this morning. We are having a homebirth and the midwife has been keeping regular checks on us. She is finding it most comfortable in the bath, either on these or lying down.
Contractions were five minutes apart but are now six minutes apart but seem to be lasting longer at one minute 30 seconds.
When she has a contraction she finds it best to squat up and down with the breathing.
She would like to know does anyone have any tips or advice to make it go faster?
Thanks in advance!

Dad to be, sat on the loo.

[Northernlurker]

First baby? That can take a while.
Keeping active is the best thing I found. Can she bear to move about? If you live in a reasonably quiet are it might be worth her going for a short (very short) walk outside. Not if you're right on a main street with lots of people around though.

[combinearvester]

Unless it helps her cope / distract from the pain I would stop timing the contractions, but I accept this is what people usually do!

Does she have a birthing /gym ball or anything she could bounce on? I bounced on the bed for one of mine! Might be an idea to get out of the water for a bit anyway and maybe pacing around holding on to you (like a weird dance) if no ball, can help things move downwards

Sounds like you're all doing really well anyway.

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Honestly, the best thing? Turn off all the lights, turn on a side light or light some candles if you are that way inclined. Hide the clock/phone.

If her contractions were close but are now slightly further apart, there is a risk she will start getting stressed, which can counteract all the hormones you want to encourage. Just zoning out for a bit could encourage things.

Then, in an hour or two (or whenever things seem to be really picking up), time how many contractions she has in 10 minutes. That is how MW's do it. Not timings between but 'two in ten' or whatever.

If she is in the bath, make sure she doesn't get cold.

[combinearvester]

You'llLaugh your username is particularly apt for this OP

I forgot to ask what do you mean 'went into labour'? Have her waters already broken?

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

Yes, I do sometimes feel awkward when I post on sensitive threads, and periodically change it .

[Northernlurker]

By the way - if she refuses to move out of the bath and generally starts acting odd you may want to get the midwife back quick. Sometimes labours can progress very 'quietly' and she could be further on than you think. Don't tell her any of this though - she'll either kill you or be disappointed.

[ImpYCelyn]

Stop timing. Hide the clock. Dim the lights/turn them off and use candles. Make things cosy, you need to feel safe and comfortable to give birth. Make sure she doesn't get chilly in the bath - heating on and top it up regularly.

Do you have stairs? Walking up and down them can help.

I took my birthing ball into the sitting room and bounced/swivelled on it whilst watching a silly, funny film.

Also, sit on the toilet, feed wide apart, and read some naughty stories helps with the hormones.

[ImpYCelyn]

^feet, not feed. I saw it as I hit "post"

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Thank you for all the advice! It is our first baby. She is doing well and standing up in the bath. Keeps doing little wees and contractions now 6 1/2 minutes apart.
Bouncy ball didn't work as she felt too low. Walking is an option but we don't want her to become too tired for the main event. Make sense??
Midwife calling back at 10pm.
Thanks for all the messages! X

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Oh! And waters still yet to break. Midwife did do a mini sweep this morning though.

[nilbyname]

Keep active, walk up and down the stairs, go out into the garden for a change of scene. Sometimes a change can help move things along.

Take paracetamol. Eat honey for strength. My DH gave me teaspoons of it during labour.

[pinkyp]

This helped me, I was In the bath and everytime I had a contraction I got my oh to poor water over my tummy whilst I breathed...I don't think it helped the pain but it distracted me...I gave birth mins later and I swear it's because I was relaxed

[Badgerina]

Lots of kissing. Honestly! Dim the lights, and cuddle and kiss - it gets the oxytocin flowing

[ninja]

get her to eat some dried fruit - it won't speed up labour but will help things along afterwards (iyswim) also good energy which she might need.

Distraction is good - watch some TV, do a quiz (I know it sounds mad but I went to the cinema at 15 mins apart) and watched test the nation at 5-10 mins apart and it takes your mind of it a bit.

[OnlyWantsOne]

The only thing that got me to focus on any thing other than the pain was my boyfriend looking my square in the eye through each ad every contraction and telling me how amazing I am :)


Good luck :)


Turn the lights down and chill


Play some music and give her a snog!

[ImpYCelyn]

This sounds mad, but could she try to have a little nap - lying on her side. I did that at 5/6 mins apart and 15 mins later they were 2/3 mins apart! Even if they don't speed up, it'll help her save energy or get some more for the final push!

[StarlightMcKenzie]

good luck

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

If she is standing in the bath, she might want to try getting out and having a little stomp about. Not walking miles to tire her, just a little wander. Going up and downstairs crab style can be good too.

Please do try and stop timing the contractions for a bit. It does sound like she could start to get stressed about it.

[Jojoba1986]

Being in the bath may well slow things down so it's not surprising that her contractions are getting further apart. If you want things to pick up try to encourage her out of the bath & keep her upright for a while!

Make sure she keeps drinking - juice if you've got it! It's cooling, refreshing & high in sugar for a little burst of energy!

Hope everything goes well for you!

[UterusUterusGhali]

The little wees might be that her hind waters have broken. Not that that's a problem.

Put down the contraction app or whatever. Just go with the flow. Put some soothing music on.

[SarryB]

How exciting!!!

No useful advice, but good luck :)

[charlienash25]

How have things progressed now?

Is LO here??

[Shagmundfreud]

This thread is like a multi-headed cyber-doula.

Love it.

Hope OP is holding his baby by now.

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Everyone he was born at home, today at 4.40 weighing in at 9lbs! He's bloody amazing!!

Thank you all for the advice we tried nearly everything, get in the bath definitely slowed things right down for her, but it also turned out the baby was back to back and my waters are made of steel apparently. It took the midwife 10 mins to Pop them at 8cm.

Not off to find the section about how to care for 3rd degree tear (argh annoying!!) and how to breastfeed. Thanks again everyone!!

[PollyIndia]

As, congratulations shouldibecrossabout this! Xx