A lot of things can throw labor off track. So here are my top favorite ways to help your labor progress.

Imagine this – your labor has been progressing bit by bit and you feel ready to go to the hospital. You arrive and are admitted at 4-5cm. The nurses are monitoring your contractions and notice that they have gotten further apart and less intense. You notice it, too, but aren’t that concerned. This goes on for an hour or so and a member of the hospital team mentions that if contractions don’t start progressing again, they plan on giving you pitocin (a synthetic form of oxytocin, often used to increase contractions). You might hear the term “stalled labor” (I’ll get to that later). Pitocin is a tool in our medical tool box. When used appropriately, or I should say when medically necessary, it can be beneficial. But, oftentimes it is relied on a bit too heavily by hospital teams as the first answer to slowed down contractions. So, I’m sharing 5 ways to help your labor progress naturally – even if you’ve received an epidural.

Why Do Contractions Slow Down?

There are several reasons why contractions might slow down during labor, including:

Change of Environment

Many moms in labor feel in the groove with labor progressing at home and then once they get to the hospital labor starts to slow down. This is a common occurrence. Why? Because we feel most comfortable at home, in our own space, and when that environment changes to an unfamiliar one with lots of people, loud noises, and bright lights it can be a bit of a shock for us physically and mentally. This can make us tense up and slow the flow of oxytocin (the feel good love hormone that helps labor progress). It can take a while for our bodies to recalibrate to this new environment and get comfortable again.

Stress

Anxiety, fear, overwhelm, pain. All of these can cause undue stress on our bodies, again interrupting the flow of oxytocin. Our muscles need to relax and our minds need to stay calm to avoid an interruption to labor. This is, of course, easier said than done. But, it’s not impossible!

Baby’s Position

Your baby may not be in the preferred position (occiput anterior). If your baby is in the occiput posterior position, otherwise known as sunny side up, the baby will be positioned head down but its spine will be against the mom’s spine and therefore labor may be taking a longer time.

Baby’s Size

Practitioners often use a baby who measures on the larger size in an ultrasound as a reason to pressure birthing people to get a planned c-section. HOWEVER, it is crucial to note, that the only way to know if a baby is too big for your birth canal is to attempt the second stage of labor – pushing. But there are times, when a baby doesn’t fit in the mother’s birth canal or is malpositioned in the pelvis. Along with a labor that isn’t progressing for a long period of time, your care provider will watch your baby’s vitals carefully to look for any sign of fetal distress. It’s important to understand that while this isn’t super common, it can occur, and if it does, this is a situation in which a c-section is medically necessary for mom and baby. As always, make sure your choosing care providers that you trust and will keep you informed and part of the decision-making process.

As you can see, there are various reasons why contractions might slow down. So let’s get to the natural ways to help your labor progress.

5 Ways to Help Your Labor Progress

1. Everybody Out

You heard me. Kick all unnecessary people out of your hospital room while you’re trying to labor. Did your mother-in-law show up unannounced and is causing you stress? Sorry, she’s got to go. Kindly tell everyone, even the nursing staff, that you wish to not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary. It’s hard to get into a good groove during labor if you’re constantly being interrupted.

If you have a doula, ask for her help safeguarding your physical and mental space. There have been plenty of times I had to let the medical team know that we’ve got this and we’ll call if we need anything.

This is your labor. Create your necessary boundaries and don’t apologize for them.

2. Turn Off The Lights

Create dim lighting in your hospital room by turning off the overhead lights. This can create a more calm and sacred environment for you, PLUS dim lighting helps to stimulate melatonin in the body, the hormone that makes us sleepy. This will help further relax your body and mind so labor can get back on track on its own.

A little tip to add some fun lighting – bring some fairy lights with you! It’s a great way to add a little more comfort to a hospital delivery room. I always have them in my doula bag.

3. Nipple Stimulation

That’s right, get down with your bad self. Stimulating your nipples is a great way to get the oxytocin flowing again. You can do this yourself or involve your partner with some finger play. Try this for 15 minutes.

Or you could bring a hand or electric breast pump with you to the hospital, since breastfeeding helps to increase oxytocin. If you don’t have your own, the “Mother and Baby” or “Postpartum” unit in the hospital often has extras. So you can ask the nurses if you could get one, if necessary. Breast pumping has also been considered a safe alternative to help induce labor in women with low-risk pregnancies at 40 weeks and beyond.

4. Hydrotherapy

Taking a warm bath or shower can help reduce muscle tension, decrease pain, and increase relaxation. Not all hospitals allow women to labor in the shower after they’re admitted, so talk to your provider about your options. Some facilities may have a birthing pool available for your use. Typically, OB/GYNs don’t want you laboring in the shower. However, midwives often encourage hydrotherapy and I know a few who have even caught babies in the hospital shower!

Be aware that if you receive an epidural, you definitely won’t be allowed to labor in the shower or bath. Even if you have an IV, you may receive pushback or be told you can’t labor in the shower.

Extra bonus for birthing in the bath or shower – the warm water is great for your perineum!

5. Movement

Moving positions is one of the best strategies for helping labor progress. It is essential. Try different laboring positions to your comfort level and change positions every 20-30 minutes. Positions that help open the pelvis, like lunges, can be beneficial. Have your partner or doula help support you in different positions. You can also walk around or dance!

BONUS: Rest

If possible, try to get some rest. You can pick a comfortable laboring position that helps rest your muscles and give your body a break, or you could try lying down on your side with pillows or a peanut ball between your legs. Even sitting on the birthing ball or the toilet in the bathroom and leaning on your partner can help give your body a break.

If your labor has been intense and long, you might think of getting an epidural to get some relief. Receiving an epidural can be a great tool, especially in active labor, to be able to get some rest and let your body catch up.

There you have it! My 5 ways to help labor progress, just in case your contractions slow down at any point.