Episode 109: Supporting Early Labor
from Doulas of the Roundtable Hosted by Doulas of the Roundtable
Supporting early labor is a necessary skill for labor doulas. Yet many doulas may not know how to approach early labor from a mindset of patience vs the instinct to try to move labor along. Early labor can be a time of anxiety and doubt for expecting families. Contractions may come and go, and they often wonder, "Is this labor?" They often look to their doulas for support and advice. The tincture of time is one of the most useful tools for supporting clients through early labor. Yet many doulas recommend activities such as walking, sex, nipple stimulation and may other approaches that risk physically exhausting the client long before active labor begins. We recommend a different approach to our clients. Our approach focuses on rest, relaxation and distraction. The reality is that early labor is a 'diagnosis' made in retrospect. Contractions don't always mean labor. Uterine irritability, dehydration, Braxton-Hicks contractions or even prodromal labor may trigger contractions. Join us as we discuss how we help clients navigate the complexities, excitement and frustrations of early labor.
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