There are lots of ideas and suggestions for ways to navigate labor. You can find ideas on Instagram, Facebook, blogs, in books, from talking with friends and family and sometimes total strangers will feel the need to tell you what you can do. These suggestions and ideas may work for you, or they may not.  I have a personal favorite suggestion I share with all my clients that I think will benefit every one during labor.

My personal favorite tip is:

                            Ignore labor as long as you possibly can!

That's it, that's my favorite tip!

In order to finish labor strong, you need to have something in reserve to pull from. I want clients to still have something in the tank as they start recovery and postpartum.  If labor starts and it is your normal bedtime, go to bed. If labor has started and it's the time you normally go for a walk, then go for a walk. If you are in labor and you have a lunch get together scheduled, go to lunch.

I anticipate that labor for a first baby will take 24 hours, and I anticipate 8-12 hours for susbsequent babies.  Everyone wants a short labor, but short labors are the exception. How long labor will last is always unknown until it is finished so I think preparing for a long labor is wise. The best thing a Mom can do when labor starts is ignore it. Yes it's exciting to know that labor is finally happening and that you will meet your baby, however saving your energy and attention will pay off big when you are running on more than adrenaline after birth.

If your labor starts, and you are timing every single contraction. If labor is happening and you stay up through the night trying to make it progress. If labor is going and you put your life on hold. If labor is progressing and you don't make space to rest. You will be exhausted by the time it is over. When you give labor all your attention before you can't ignore it, you most likely won't have anything in reserve when you need it. Ignoring labor as long as you possibly can takes less of your energy, and sets you up to finish strong.

I had my hospital births a good number of years ago.  Since then I have learned so much as I worked as a doula, and later as I began my midwifery practice.  When my babies were born, doulas and lactation consultants were not a thing, and midwives were rare.  Laboring in a hospital bed on your back while hooked up to an IV was expected for hospital birth.  If I knew then what I know now and what is available today was common then, I'd do things differently.
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• I would have a doula.
• I would  be up and moving instead of laying in bed.
• I would labor using water for comfort, preferably in a tub.
• I would eat more than ice chips.
• I would labor at home, and wait before heading to the hospital.
• I would go to LaLeche League meetings, read books and watch vidoes on breastfeeding to be better prepared to nurse my baby.
• I would be less of a "good" patient and more of an advocate for myself.
• I would ask questions to better understand the risks and benefits of my options during labor.
• I would take a childbirth class such as a Bradley class in addition to the hospital class.
• If was an option back then, I would use a midwife and plan on a home birth.
• I would come home and spend the first 4-5 days snuggling with my baby and not doing anything besides nursing my baby and sleeping.

The changes I would make are changes that empower women in labor, and support them in a way that does not restrict choices.  They are the changes that I incorporate into my midwifery care and that I have many conversations with my clients about.  I want my clients to ask questions, to eat and drink during labor, to move how their body tells them to move, to be prepared for breastfeeding, and to have good labor support.

There are times when we need to transfer during birth.  If baby lets us know they are not happy, or Mom is having challenges and things have moved outside of normal then it can be time to seek the care and help a hospital offers.

Here are the things I want my clients to understand:

• I want the best possible outcome for Mom and baby, that's why we transferred.
• Hospitals have tools that I do not have, and those tools will be helpful or necessary for the situation.
• I value the skills and expertise of the hospital providers, and I am grateful they are able to help.
• If hospital policy allows, I will stay with Mom at the hospital through birth and for a short while after birth.
• If hospital policy does not allow me to stay, I will be available by Skype or another platform if preferred.
• ​I do not have privlieges to practice midwifery in the hospital, so I will shift into more of a doula role providing labor support. I will assist as much as hospital staff are comfortable with. This varies among hospitals.
• Hospitals have protocols they have to follow, and they may not have much wiggle room within those protocols. The protocols may be in place to allow the hospital to be more efficient, or may be required by the liability insurance of the hospital. If we have time, we will go to a hospital that does not have protocols prohibiting a desired outcome such as VBAC.
• I will share pertinent information from the chart, and provide lab results to hospital staff to facilitate a smooth transition, and to make sure they have all the information they need to provide the best care they can for Mom and baby.
• I will provide postpartum care once Mom and baby are released from the hospital.

Hospital care can be beneficial and lifesaving when labor and birth move outside of normal, and I am thankful we can turn to them if needed.  I know transferring is stressful.  I will do my best to make the transfer as smooth and stress free as I can.