What can I expect when I go into labor?

• Labor progresses in 4 parts: early, active/transition, pushing/delivering the baby, and delivering the

placenta.

What is early labor?

• Inthisrstphaseoflabor,contractionshelpthecervixdilate(widen)andefface(thinout)from0to

6centimeters.

What do early labor contractions feel like?

• Contractionsaremildtomoderateinintensityandhaveashorterduration-about30to45seconds

each.

Should I stay at home or go to hospital in early labor?

• Therearemanybenetstostayinghomeduringearlylabor,including:

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 Allowsforbirthingpeopletoreturnhomeandrestintheirownenvironment.

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 Allowsforlateradmissiontothehospital,whichisassociatedwithlowerratesoflaborinter-

ventionsincludinguseofoxytocin,articialbreakingofwaters,epiduraluse,andinternalfetal

monitoring.

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 Decreasesprobabilityofanattemptedvaginalbirthendinginacesareansection.

• Youwillfeelcontractionsevenwhenyouchangepositionsandwalkormovearound.

• Youwillnolongerbeabletotalkthroughcontractions.

What do I do when I think I may be in active labor?

• Itcanbehardtotellifyouareinactivelabor;ifneeded,checkinwithUCSFL&DTriageat415-476-

7788aboutwhentoarrive.

• YoumaybegivenspecialinstructionsifyourwaterbrokeorifyoutestedpositiveforgroupBstrep

(GBSisaroutinetestthatisadministeredasyourduedateapproaches).

Early Stage of Labor:

FAQs & At-Home Care Instructions

 Takeadeepbreathinthroughyournoseatthebeginningofacontraction.

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 Holdyourbreathatthetopforamoment.

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 Then“sighoutslowly”eitherthroughyournoseorpursedlipswhileimaginingapartofyour

bodyrelaxing.

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 Ingeneral,theexhaleshouldbetwiceaslongastheinhale,socountingcanhelp(forexample:

infor4,holdfor2,outfor8).

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 Strongmassageofthebackmusclesorhips(counterpressure)duringcontractionsmayhelp

relievethepainofbacklabor.

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 Tellyourlaborcoachexactlywhereandhowhardtopush.

• Changepositionsoftenduring-walking,kneeling,orsittingonabigrubberball(birthball)are

good options to decrease pain perception.

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 Changingpositionsoftencanalsohelpdilatethecervixmorequickly.

• Practicemindfulness-basedcopingstrategies-usespecictechniquestofocusonthepresent

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 Therearemanymeditationsformindfulness,guidedimagery,andpainreductionontheinter-

net.

• Waterimmersion-takeawarmshowerorbath,warmwatermayeasepainandstress.

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 Warmbathsduringlaborareassociatedwithlowerratesofepiduraluse.

• Aromatherapy-canhelpwithperceptionofpainaswellasanxietyandfear.

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 Ingeneral,lavenderandchamomilearecalming,peppermintandcitrusscentsareenergizing.

• Finddistractions-duringearlylaboryoucanwalk,playcards,watchTV,orlistentoyourfavorite

candistractonefromlaborpain

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SomeTENSunitsarespecicallymadeforlaboranddelivery

• TherapeuticRest-ifyouarriveatthehospitalinEarlyLabor,youmaybeoffered“morphinesleep”

priortogoinghome(seeTherapeuticResthandout).Thiscanhelpgetyou2-5hoursofrest.

• Avoid“paincatastrophizing”-trytothinkaboutcontractionsas“intensesensation”ratherthan

“pain”andavoidanticipationofpainbetweencontractions,whichcanheightenstressandanxiety.

Remember to stay hydrated and nourished during early labor! Labor is like a marathon, not a sprint, and

you will have more energy and your contractions will be more effective with adequate hydration and nour-

ishment!

 Passgreaterthanaquarter-sizedbloodclot,

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 Severepaininyourbellyorpelvisthatdoesn’tgetbetterbetweencontractions,

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 Havenotbeenabletofeelthebabymoveforseveralhours,

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 Asuddennewheadache,visionchanges,orseverepaininyourliver(upperrightsideofyour

abdomen),or

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 Youthinkyouhaveafever.