Labor Is Not A Straight Line

We live in world of logic, rationale and cause and effect. While labor does produce effects, it is rarely a straight path. You may have to make many loops and turns to get to your destination — the baby! Examine your view of what labor should or will be. Is your vision realistic?

During a normal unmedicated labor, you may experience any of the following:

• Surges that start up for several hours and then stop. This may happen over hours, days or even weeks.
• A labor that speeds up and then slows down.
• A plateau at 4cm, 6 cm or 9cm where you suddenly aren’t making the same amount of progress as before.
• You get to full dilation and then labor stops for several hours before the urge to push comes (this is a great time to take a nap!)
• A labor that stops completely if you feel scared, vulnerable, or like you’re being watched.
• Pushing really hard for an hour or more without being able to see or feel any descent of the baby (this is because what is happening is internal — baby’s head is molding and your tissues are stretching — a lot of work is being done that you can’t see).

Originally published at www.nightingalebirth.com.