Frightened of Labour?

Apart from learning about the physiology of labour, classes will help you learn relaxation and breathing for early labour. Although breathing and relaxation during contractions won’t mean you have a pain free labour, there’s no doubt that fear leads to muscle tension. This in turn makes you exhausted and more vulnerable to pain. Whereas, if you’re confident when you go into labour, and you know what to do and what to expect, you’re much more likely to have a good experience.

If pain is your biggest fear

Which it is for most women, you’ll find it more reassuring to know what type of pain relief is available, and when it will be offered to you in labour. Gas and Air (Entonox) is always available in delivery rooms, as is pethidin. The vast majority of first time mothers opt for an epidural, but if you think you want this option, be realistic about your choice of hospital – choose one with a large maternity unit, and check that an anaesthetist is always available there.

So what makes a labour long and difficult?

The type of labour you have is largely dependent on two factors – the shape of your pelvis and the size and position of your baby. Unfortunately, you have no control over either of these.

But there is another interesting fact relevant to first time mothers. For some reason, one in ten first babies present in a slightly awkward position, called Posterior – or O.P. This means that although the baby is head-down, he’s facing the mother’s pubic bone rather than her hip. If the baby is in this position, the labour usually takes longer, as the baby’s head has to rotate another 90 degrees before he can be born. That’s why it’s so common for first time mothers to have a long labour. O.P. is less common in second labours, which tend to be shorter in any case.