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CAN YOU SLOW YOUR LABOUR DOWN, AND WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO?

No one knows ahead of time when labour will start, how it will start, how it will feel and how long it will take. You may want to slow or stop labour if you are starting labour before 37 weeks, as this would be regarded as preterm labour. If this is the case for you, then stopping labour is the goal, so that your baby won’t be compromised and will allow the medical team time to administer hormones and medications to mature your baby’s lungs and allow them more time to grow. Most often you will be given drugs to stop your labour, but there are some natural things you can try. This is important if your labour is moving too fast and you may be running out of time to get to the hospital.

REST AND RELAXATION

If your doctor has noticed signs of premature labour, the first and best thing you can do is get off your feet. Do nothing. This helps to keep the uterus calm and diminish the intensity of the contractions. You will most likely be booked off work too.

BREATHE

Your mind and your body are intimately connected. You can create physical change in the body by changing thoughts and feelings in your mind. Use your imagination, and visualise your uterus calming down. Do this in conjunction with slow deep breaths.

BATH

Take a long, warm (36°C) bath. This is a really effective way to get your uterus to quieten down and a wonderful way to pace your labour.

KNEE/CHEST POSITION

Spend time in the knee/chest position – with your butt higher than your shoulders. This moves the baby off the cervix and can cause labour to ease up a bit. ●