what counts as labour....

[strgee]

I've never posted on the internet in this way, but since it does seem a good way of spreading information, I would like to spread some information that I know from experience really really helps women when it comes to having their babies. I have been a doula (birth companion) for many years now and what seems to be key to the short and easy births that mostly take place, is that the 'mums' really and properly understand what real labour is. Despite what the books and NCT tell you, strong and regular contractions do not labour make...again and again I hear about experiences where women are quite happy to ignore what's happening and do life as normal all the while the contractions are 5 mins apart, but the moment it accelerates to one every three minutes and they drop to their knees, they rush off to hospital only to find they are not dilating, not in labour, and now of course, feeling very defeated and demoralised. In fact, a first-time woman in labour would need to be having that level of contractions for quite a few hours (labour wards do tell people this but mostly it's ignored), to be utterly focussed while resting as well as working, (as in if hub tried to talk to you, you would look confused and properly tell him to bugger off) and as well as that, have a sense of pressure in your backside, like wanting to go to the loo. Finally, you would most likely be making quite a lot of noise (though not always). If you wait at home, where you are comfortable and safe and relaxed until all these things are happening, 1) you are very much more likely to be coping well and 2) pretty likely to be in labour. And it's when women arrive in good, established labour that they just fly on through and have a baby in their arms in a few hours. So remember, anything other than the above is incredibly unlikely to be labour and shouldn't even be described as that - taking this it is/ or it isn't approach, really helps women to maintain stamina, the right positive mindset, to conserve energy and focus....etc etc. Any questions, come right back to me, and if anyone is able to benefit from this, would love to hear from you...

I am going to be interested in what experienced mums say about your advice as I am only having my first DC and have no experience. However your simple guide seems to be contrary to what I am being told in my antenatal classes. Maybe its because the area I live in is over an hour to the nearest hospital or maybe its because the ladies in my class are largely first timers? We are being told that when a strong regualr contraction patterns is established we need to phone the hosp straight away and will be asked in for an examination. We may well then be sent away but we mustnt try and tough it out at home without checking first. What do others think?

Yes Jasmine, I would be worried especially, with first time mums,that more serious things would'nt be picked up in time, I agree with you that it is not really a big deal to go in , be checked and then get sent home again if all is well, if all isn't well you will be in the right place to get it sorted.

What a stupid post.

If you are in pain and suspect you are in labour get seen!

Do not sit around waitng to be totally incapacitated by the pain

With my DD I went from the contractions having no effect on my cervix (still 2-3 cms at excamination) to fully dialted within a few hours - and the contractions were the same intensity and time apart.

I think that while there is a valid discussion about what a woman is told to 'expect' and the sense of being told how to behave when she is experiencing certain feelings (ie go in at x point when you are having y number of contractions lasting for z amount of time), I don't think any blanket, one size sits all guide for what happens is helpful either. Your model surely replaces one with another. I think they use the guide they do (regular minute-ish long contractions, 3 in 10, unable to cope well) etc merely as an average as you just can't cover every eventuality and in the event, they can tailor advice to the individual.

I don't really like anecdotal evidence to support things, but to illustrate why blanket advice doesn't work. I had no pressure in my bottom at any point, made no noise and actually didn't have any perceived breaks in contractions from the moment of labour's onset, so no differentation between resting and surging.

The absolute best thing to do is to listen to what your caregiver tells you antenatally. They will know you, know your individual circumstances and answer specific questions. If when labour starts you at any point wish to go in (and let's remember you don't have to have been in labour for hours and hours with back to back contractions etc to deserve pain relief for example), you go in an get checked, accepting that it could result in being sent home again. You don't HAVE to stay at home because it's not been going on long enough, or you have no pressure, or you're making no noise or any other arbitrary measure of how labour is progressing.

And I think there's a lot to be said for listening to your body. You may be the woman who does not contract regularly or for a minute or more at a time. You might wake up in full, blown established labour. You might not have any downward sensations. Whatever your body does and how you experience labour, the maternity services are there for you to consult when you feel ready.