Page 35 - The Doula Hub - Flip book_Neat

W H A T I S ”F A L S E L A B O U R” ?

• The most important thing to understand is that it’s not false, it’s very real, and it
is doing something very useful and productive.

• Like the orchestra tuning up before the main performance, these contractions are
versions of the real thing but are not the real show – but to play properly, those
instruments have to be tuned.

• Some people compare it to a marathon being run in stages – and often women
with a long prodromal stage find that when labour does begin they are already
several centimeters dilated.

• There can be a temptation to “get things moving” or keep things moving, but the
truth is that this isn’t necessary. If your body and baby are ready for birth, you
won’t need to kickstart it and certainly won’t be able to stop it.

• Often early contractions are manageable, and you can talk and move through
them, which means you still have time to get some rest and snacks.

• The best things you can do in this time are: ignore the contractions as much as
possible, eat normally, do things that make you relaxed and happy, drink lots and
go to the toilet often.

• Call your midwife for reassurance and then bunker down and get into your
bubble.

• You have no need to be timing the contractions until you are focusing on nothing
but labour – usually when contractions are around 3 in 10 minutes and lasting for
30 seconds to a minute.

• Try to avoid fixating on contractions or surges. Timing them, counting them,
becoming frustrated between them can result in a loss of faith in your own body.
This is part of the process.

• Early labour can last a week