how do you quicken the process once it has begun?

[booyhoo]

once the contractions start, is there anything you can do to make it go as fast as possible? or is that just out of our control and will take as long as it takes. this is 2nd baby but for 1st i literally refused to get off the bed for the whole process. friend who was birthing partner later advised that i should have been on my feet and moving. is she right? what worked for all you lovely ladies.

The more active and upright you are, the more pressure the baby's head puts on your cervix so it helps it to dilate a bit quicker, in theory. You're using gravity to assist the process if you're upright.

There is a limit to how much that helps because the baby's position also has a big impact on how quickly things move.

Eg, if it's back to back, it has to rotate as well as move down so it takes longer.

So, yes, she's right, be as active as you can and also try to get the baby into a decent position beforehand (google Optimal Foetal Positioning) to give you the best chance of it all going nice and quickly.

well im 38+2 and the baby is engaged with back to tummy. is that likely/possible to change?

Babies can do all sorts of weird moving around at the last minute!

Definitely keep mobile during labour as this should (in theory) make it quicker. Avoid an epidural. Remember statistically subsequent labours are quicker than first. Good luck.

Yes, moving around and staying upright does help - you're using gravity to help that way.

I think its huge balance between being active and reserving energy for later on in the birth. I think that regularly changing positions is important, but you may not want to be upright for your entire labour.

I also think that breathing is important. It helped me to keep my breathing calm and regular, rather than hyperventilating. I used the natal hypnotheraphy CDs before the birth to try and get myself in a calm frame of mind. Sometimes women get an aderaline rush in labour and this can cause blood to go to the arms, legs and brain rather than the uterus. If the uterus does not get enough oxygen you can end up with anerobic respiration which causes a build up of latic acid and makes labour more painful.