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Labour: helping nature along
It’s natural to hope that labour won’t last too long. After nine long months many women are understandably anxious to see their babies. Some may even believe that a short, sharp labour would be better than a long drawn-out one. But wishing doesn’t always make it happen. Some labours are long and intense. Some stop and start – and then stop again – seemingly for no reason.
Often when this happens a woman is told that she is failing to progress. The implication of this is that her body is somehow misbehaving. Sometimes that can be the case. But often it is the result of drugs and procedures used on maternity wards. Many women are encouraged to give birth in a semi-reclining position. In this position the woman is labouring against gravity. The baby’s head may not be pressing firmly against the cervix – signalling it to release oxytocin – the hormone which stimulates contractions.
Epidurals can slacken the pelvic muscle making it harder for the baby to rotate into a favourable position. And although synthetic hormones such as prostaglandin and syntocinon are often used to accelerate labour, in some cases they make it last longer. This is because the uterus is a muscle. When this muscle becomes overstimulated by large doses of synthetic hormones it eventually becomes tired and ineffective. It also stops providing oxygen to the baby – a major cause of foetal distress.
While few would choose to have a long labour, surveys show that the length of labour is unimportant to women, provided they have good emotional support, remain in control and maintain their ability to cope with contractions.
How long should labour last?
Labour is a totally individual thing and no one can say how long it should be. Some labours, particularly first ones, are long. With first-time mothers, the cervix is less elastic than it is with subsequent births. In any labour it is perfectly normal to have periods of activity and rest. As long as your baby is fine, you can confidently consider gentle alternatives to get labour going again.
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