Friend 14 hours into home birth and tired...

[Devendra]

She is being amazing but so so tired. Contractions are between 1.5 and 3 mins apart and 1 min in duration but has been like this since about 3pm. She has been on her feet most of the day as everytime she sits or lies the contractions slow up... Any witchy womanly speedy tips to hand ladies?

Nipple stimulation. On hands and knees with bum in the air.

Thank you x

Clary sage armoatherapy oil? don't know any good pressure/reflexology points - maybe try googling?

Agree with the nipple stimulation, but I was told at my pregnancy yoga class that the all fours with bum in air position would slow things down.

If your friend has a birthing ball- would it help to lean over that? I put mine on the sofa to give it some height and leant over it that way.

What does the mw reckon?

I had a v long first home birth (well over 24hours) and would advise you to make sure she eats as much as she can! My blood sugar was so low by the end that my contractions ended up getting further and further apart, it was knackering.

If she can't eat then sips of ice cold coca cola between contractions worked brilliantly for me second time round.

All fours but bum down would give gravity a chance - leaning over a birth ball or elbows on the sofa? Get loads of pillows / cushions and see if that helps?

Can she lie on her side between contractions if she needs a rest? Then her birth partner can help lift her back up to all fours for the contraction itself.

Good luck!

What does her midwife recommend?

spoonfuls of honey
sugar in water

• to help with energy

definitely agree with the nipple stimulation

My first was a bit like this - the MWs were feeding me almost neat orange squash for energy. was gross but did help.

Coke would probably be nicer

Flapjacks, biscuits, anything she fancies to eat or drink, starbursts sweets too :)

Ok we have done the nipple stimulation and she now leaning forward upright on sofa which seems to be doing the trick. One min apart and very strong. Midwife is on the way. she has been snacking and drinking most of the day but nothing to eat for a couple of hours. Not long now I think xx

Woooo how exciting!

Great news Devendra- hope you've got a baby by now.

How exciting - a baby on the way!

Something I read from Mary Cronk (very experienced MW) - sometimes contractions do slow down, or even stop mid-labour. Whilst the default thing is to feel that something should be done to get things going again (position changing, nipple twiddling, augmentation in hospital with syntocinon to bring contractions back) actually, sometimes it's just the woman's body taking a short break to allow her to get her energy back, and then they start up again naturally.

Rest and be thankful FP!

Beautiful baby boy born at 03.21am. All health and happy. Thanks for your suggestions.

Hurrah!

Hooray

Great news- pass on our congrats.

Yey & well done :)

Congratulations and well done to your friend.
It's always lovely to hear of another home birth.

(couldn't help with the original question, because DD2 forgot about the gaps between contractions!)