The subject of slow labors is near to my heart because I am not lucky enough to be one of those women who gives birth in an hour or even a few hours. No, for me it’s an event that will last for nearly an entire twenty four hour period. I find myself becoming envious when women tell me their stories of super fast deliveries. Coping with a slow labor can be challenging, but there are some things you can do to make it bearable.
When you have slow labor, doctors seem to feel a need to move things along. This happened with each of my pregnancies. Once I arrived at the hospital and didn’t follow their guidelines for progression, the interventions began. Pitocin was started, my water was broken and then I asked for pain relief. It is a vicious cycle. Unfortunately, many women don’t fall into the guidelines of what is considered to be normal.
The problem with many of these interventions, is they can actually slow the progress and result in more interventions. In “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth”, Henci Goer talks about how epidurals and being confined to bed can interfere with the natural progress of labor. There are reasons for slow labor that aren’t really helped by Pitocin. These can include the positioning of the baby and fear or anxiety in the mother.
The best way to cope with a slow labor is to understand the labor process. Your body must go through many changes in order for the baby to emerge. The cervix need to soften, become thinner (effacement) and dilate to ten centimeters. The baby needs to turn and move through the pelvis and down the birth canal. Not all women will go through this process according to the doctor’s timetable. The baby has no idea how long this is supposed to take.
There are some things you can do to cope with a slow labor. Stay hydrated during labor. Sip water continuously from the first contractions. Staying well hydrated is very important. Dehydration can make contractions less effective and can contribute to exhaustion in the mother. If the hospital won’t allow you to drink water, suck on ice chips.
Changing positions can help the baby move through the pelvis. Upright positions help as does changing positions often. You can try walking, using a birthing ball, leaning, rocking and lying on your side to deal with the pain and help move labor along.
Time your contractions intermittently during labor. If you don’t see regular progress, take a break from timing for a while. This will help take your mind off a slow labor, particularly in the beginning. Take a walk, nap, rest, watch a movie, play a game or anything else you enjoy to take your mind off the clock.
Create a peaceful environment for labor. A calm atmosphere will help you stay calm. Choose support people carefully. You want calm, positive people around you during this time. Keep negative people away, as their attitude can rub off and cause stress. Long labors can be tough on your support person. A good coach is needed for long labors to help you stay focused and provide comfort.
If you have a history of long labors, talk to your doctor or midwife. Address the issue in your birth plan. Include feelings about interventions and which you want to avoid, if any. If your doctor knows you tend to have very long labors, he may be less likely to try to manage your labor.