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The art of the long labor involves helping a mother keep up her morale while addressing her body's needs for such marathon activity. We can sooth the mother, especially helping her ease her back pain when we can. But it is important to address the reason for the long labor when we can. When the issue is in the tissue there is something we can do. Tight muscles, tight ligaments -these can be relaxed with body work and even by things the mother can do herself, or with the help of people at her birth. There are four specific techniques that are amazing.
Our bodies do matter.
Start in early labor with this series of activities:
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Sifting with the woven Rebozo (Mexican scarf) between contractions
When a birthing woman is lying down, do an diaphragmatic release (abdominal release). Its a myofascial technique that a birth partner can do for a woman.
Do a forward leaning inversion during 1-3 contractions (3 if you are in a long labor pattern, 1 if you have given birth before or aren't sure you need help to progress, but just want to do something.)
Reposition the baby towards the cervix. If you know that the baby is facing forward (posterior presentation) or you have back labor in any case, there is a simple technique that works wonders. When you can anticipate a contraction coming (contractions have to be somewhat regular) begin an Abdominal Lift, also called a Belly Lift, and hold it during the contraction. Let go of your belly in between contractions. Do a Belly Lift up to ten times if your labor has the pattern described on the Abdominal Lift description on this website.
Then, during several contractions after that, stand and lean forward. Have your knees be soft. Locked legs tighten your mind as well. Letting there be a little movement in your knees, a little bend, just enough not to be locked straight, will help you be more intuitive and fluid in your labor. It lets your pelvis move a bit. Lean ing forward helps babies rotate and labor progress. |
The second thing to do in labor is to keep working with Gravity.
You can rest, you don't have to stand all the time! Read Rest Smart to find how to rest in ways that actually help labor to continue and not stall out.
When you do feel the need to move, get up. Move around. Be vertical. Its surprising how often women find being up and moving more manageable than lying on their hips or their back in bed. Need to rest again? How about sitting on a birthing ball or a birth stool? Don't have a birth stool? Oh, yes! Every home and hospital room has a porcelain birthing stool. Sit for three contractions and then stand for one or more. That way you can keep swelling to a minimum in your tender places.
The third thing to do is movement.
You've release some constriction by bringing your body into better balance. You are being mindful about gravity friendly positions. Now you may need to move your pelvis to help your baby move down.
Is early labor long but not so painful?
A long early labor concerns many women. First of all, it takes a lot of attention and mental energy. Its easy to wonder if the next contraction will be the one to really do something. When to call the doula or doctor, when should the partner come home, what to do about other children? And when does the pain start?? We can tire ourselves out before labor even really begins.
Eating foods that are easy to digest, like simple soups, smoothies or yoghurt are favorite labor foods. Toast is a classic, but not too nutritious, so don't forget root vegetables and an easy-to-digest protein. I craved a salmon sandwich and enjoyed salmon for the first time in my life during the early part of my second labor.
A long early labor might occur for a woman whose had a few babies already. Sensitivity to estrogen surges can bring on night-time Braxton-Hicks or practice contractions ( a friend called these squeezies). A full moon or approaching weather front (barametric pressure drop) can eitehr bring on practice contractions or bring on a gradual, slow beginning. If you can eat and rest normally, getting good sleep at some point each 24-hour period, things are generally fine. Keep in touch with your birth attendants and relax.
A long early labor for a first time mom or a VBAC mom may indicate a need for engagement. A long early labor sometimes means that this baby needs to rotate some more before fitting into the brim of the pelvis.
Is baby engaged? Has baby dropped? Read the article on chin tucking for more information on how to help your baby get into the pelvis so that labor can progress.
See more about what to do first in a long labor in the Spinning Babies articles in the section on The Three Principles.
Is the labor long and painful?
Some women will need more than these basic suggestions. In
labor, there is a series of techniques that solve most labor stalls,
especially in the presence of contractions, if not contractions, sleep
(without drugs if you can) and eat some oatmeal or other healthy carbs
to restore a labor pattern.
The techniques to overcome a labor stall differ a little if you are in bed or if you are able to be up and moving. If you are in bed, due to sickness, high blood pressure or an epidural, use the Roll-over as best you can.
Technique to overcome a stall or stuck baby
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Technique |
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Rebozo jiggling (sifting)
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Mother is on hands and knees with her helper behind it. Do the gentle sifting in between contractions. The helper stops sifting and stays still while lifting the weight of the baby during a contraction. This can be done for 2-3 minutes or from time to time during the labor. Its a wonderful way to relax without drugs. Done gently and symmetrically, it can be safe. Have the nurse or midwife check the baby's heart beat when you get in this or any new position before starting your technique. Most babies love the hands and knees position, but I want you to be paying attention to your baby and yourself above all else. |
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Standing Sacral Release (If in bed, do an abdominal release) |
This is an easy comfort technique that relaxes tension in the sacrum allowing more freedom for pelvic movement. Any and all fascial release is suggested, if techniques are known. If the techniques are not known simply skip to the next technique. |
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Forward-leaning Inversion |
See the video on this site. Have help doing this in labor. Its intense, it may feel good on your back, but some people will feel full in their head or chest. Have a doula or friendly your face helping you relax and breath through three contractions doing the Inversion. Do this for three contractions in a row and stay in place between contractions. Make sure your knees are cushioned and your elbows, also! |
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Pelvic Floor Release (also called Side-lying Release) |
This technique is also best with "spotter" support in labor. This means, have a helper! Hold the pose for three contractions on one side and three on the other. It is very important, very important, do you want me to repeat that, its very important, to do this on both sides to let your pelvic floor become symmetrical and more loose. Otherwise, you haven't helped matters at all. If three is too much, try two on each side. Maintain the positions in between contractions. |
Follow these up with a rest in a Rest Smart position, or when up, standing with knees soft (not locked) and leaning over a friend, a counter-top, etc.
See Professional Help in the Labor section.
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