Common Mistakes at the Beginning of Labor

Here are some things many women do that can set them up for a high-intervention birth (vacuum/forceps, c-section) from the beginning of labor (please keep in mind that this has nothing to do with whether you want a natural or a medicated birth - absolutely nothing):

• Being induced with no medical indication - Many doctors will not induce if there is no medical reason, but many will if the woman goes even one day past her due date. They have forgotten that the due date is a rough estimate, and that the average gestation time for first-time mothers is 42 weeks. I know it's hard being pregnant for longer than you think you will be. But so long as everything is fine, labor will begin when it's best for the baby and for your body. (I've known people who have scheduled early inductions because their family was visiting and they want to have a baby to show to them).

• Going to the hospital too early - There is a balance between going to the hospital too late and the discouragement of being sent home because you aren't dilated enough to be admitted. There is wisdom in trying to stay at home as long as possible - at home you can eat, drink, and move freely. Labor progresses more quickly here than it will at the hospital (see below). And don't put too much weight on timing the contractions. The general rule of thumb is to wait until contractions are 5 minutes apart in a regular pattern before going to the hospital. I have found, through my experience and hearing the stories of other women, that the times of contractions has little to do with the amount of work being done. You can have contractions two minutes apart and still be dilated to 1 cm. Adhering to the 5-minutes-apart rule is not as helpful as using the amount of focus required from the laboring woman as a gauge.

• Staying in bed on your back - This position is the worst for laboring women. With an epidural in place you don't have much choice, and even then most hospitals encourage laboring on your side rather than on your back. The weight of the baby cuts off the oxygen supply to the uterus, decreasing contractions and possibly putting the baby at risk. Also, remaining upright causes gravity to pull the weight of the baby down against the cervix, helping it to dilate more quickly. When laboring moms walk around and move, they respond to the contractions in ways that encourage progression of labor.

• Spending too much energy when labor is easy - Many times women are so excited for the onset of labor that they stop their regular activities and concentrate very hard on contractions that are not difficult to handle. If they expend too much energy early on, they will not have the strength they need when labor gets tougher, and are setting themselves up for fatigue. If you can speak and walk through contractions, then keep going about your usual business; when it is time to pay attention, you will know.