HOW TO KNOW IF I AM IN LABOR?

[@amyellison1595]

Alice, I took your childbirth class to become my daughter's doula and I must say it was money well spent! She had her baby yesterday and I just had to tell you, I believe some of the tips you gave were extremely helpful. This was her first baby and her labor was lightening speed. I didn't even have time to fully unpack my "birthing tool box." Her baby dropped at 34 weeks 1 cm dilated, mucus plug at 36 weeks dilated 2 cm 60% effaced station -3. So we were on the edge of our seats for a month. She lives 2 hours away from me and we didn't think this was going to be an issue, lol. Fast forward to 39 weeks...she messaged me at about 4 pm that she had bloody show so I called her and she was having cramps but nothing else. I told her to time her "cramps" so with mild protest she did. They were all over the place...2 min, 17 min, 5 min 20 min, etc. I sent her the above video and told her that the fact she could time them at all was probably a very good sign she was in early labor. She truly was in denial and wanted a nap badly so, as her doula, I said "Great Idea". I, being an inexperienced doula, decided to wait and see. She woke up from her nap at 9:20, more bloody show, cramps still very irregular. But I decided it was go-time so I showered and hit the road. (I'd been living out of a suitcase for a month, so I was ready) I arrived at 1 am to find her sitting on the birthing ball in the living room with her husband behind her. She said "We may need to go on to the hospital. I said why? how are your contractions? (I was expecting to nap off and on til morning) She showed me the app, 3 MINUTES apart for the last hour! Yep, it's time to go. We arrived at the hospital at 2 am, dilated 3 cm 80% station -1. After being evaluated for an hour to make sure she was in labor Stretchy 4 cm still 80%. Using very firm counter pressure to help relieve contractions that were now coming 1 min apart and much stronger. In the next hour she was admitted, IV started, bag of fluid and epidural with contractions coming with no rest between. After the epidural she was checked 8-9 cm water breaks baby's heart rate bottoms out. Six nurses descend and begin shifting, flipping and adjusting mommy, baby's heart rate recovers. Nurse checks and can't get her fingers more than an inch inside. We're ready to push. Talk about whiplash, that happened so fast. She pushed for 24 MINUTES and at 6:04 am out pops a beautiful 6 lb 7 oz 19 1/2 inch long baby girl named Sophia Rose. She was so small her head wasn't even mis-shapen. I attribute her small size to the fact my daughter was only 92 lbs when she got pregnant and I attribute her quick labor to preparation. She did the raspberry leaf tea, dates, kegel exercises, lots of prayer and everything I heard you talk about in your videos to make labor easier. Thanks for all your advice and training, you are AWESOME!

[@birthtoolbox]

WOW!!!! This is awesome!!! Congratulations to everyone. Your daughter rocked that birth (and her birth prep too) And excellent doula work Amy!!!

[@edvh88]

I love that you have an engineering degree, I work in the trades (locksmith) and I think it’s so cool when women especially get into fields where we are under represented! 40+1 weeks here, first timer... some light cramping is all I’ve had so far.

[@birthtoolbox]

I agree Emily! Wishing you the best of luck on your birth journey!

[@ethnolisa]

Hello Alice, yours are the best videos my partner and I have found so far, you do not make the pregnant person scared, your videos are calming us down and inform us, exactly what we needed, we learnt a lot, and we are so grateful for your work! Thank you!

[@birthtoolbox]

Hooray! Thank you for letting me know too. I'll be teaching live classes every night from June 1 - 14th here on KZbin and would love for you both to join.

[@AlternaIlva]

Thanks for this video. I'm 38+2 first time mom and thinking about this all the time

[@birthtoolbox]

You are welcome! I am glad that the video was helpful. There are more on the channel covering all sorts of topics for childbirth. Our mission is to make sure that you are prepared.

[@LeftieLoosie]

Homework. Forgot to comment on the asymmetrical video although those have been some of my favorite strategies in my previous births in helping to start labor... this is my first time taking an actual class.... but I've done so much research that I didn't feel like I could possibly learn anything new especially after doing it myself 3 times already... but I've been pleasantly surprised that I have learned quite a bit so far!

[@yellowberrypie]

2 more weeks, your videos are super helpful!!

[@birthtoolbox]

Yay!! I’m so glad and so excited for you!!

[@jeffnewton66]

Thanks for another helpful video!

[@birthtoolbox]

Glad it was helpful and thank you for letting me know Jeff!

[@AmyCox16]

Thank you for the video! 3rd baby but my first chance to try for a TOLAC!

[@birthtoolbox]

Good luck!! Sending you positive laboring thoughts!!

[@ashb2404]

What do braxton hicks feel like. I don't remember them with my older children... Is it likely to never experience them?

[@birthtoolbox]

Some people never experience them. This video might help describe how they feel kzbin.info/www/bejne/boe6i4etq993lc0

[@shannonabney3401]

Even as a mother of 3 already I can say it can still be questionable but definitely feel more aware of what is going on with my body.

[@birthtoolbox]

Yes! Can be tricky.

[@kaliharple7952]

Hi Alice! Your video was very helpful! I also watched your True vs. False video! I’m 39 weeks + 3 days pregnant. I’ve had the “balling” sensation over the past couple of weeks but last night around 1:00AM, all through the night and up until now (10:00AM) they made a definite change from balling/pressure to sharp pains! They are low, like mensural cramps and I have to breath through them....but NOT always 🤔 I thought for sure things would progress but they aren’t getting closer together yet. They have a start, peak, and stop but they are all over the place with their timing ⏱ 11 min, 8 min, 30 min. Lasting anywhere from 30-60 seconds What’s your option? I could check all the boxes on the “True Labor” side of the list, they are sharp and hard to breath through, BUT the consistency just isn’t there yet....is this still early labor? Does this mean it could be just hours before they get closer or more regular? Or am I getting ahead of myself? Thanks!

[@birthtoolbox]

Your description sounds very much like early labor!! During early labor they tend to be unorganized and you can get a random easy one in there too. My advice for you is to REST and stop timing for awhile. Rest is so so so important. Even if you can just lie down for a bit. When you notice they feel different start timing again. Hydrate and rest! So excited for you.

[@rainacampbell6256]

I've had what I think were braxton hicks, 2 times and once was around 220 and the 2 time was 256 but small like a minute or 2 each. And that was today they hurt like period cramps.

[@birthtoolbox]

Could be Braxton Hicks!

[@rainacampbell6256]

@@birthtoolbox I hope so. Im so excited. I signed up for your free class and im 33w3d today!

[@ElizabethAToe]

Educative!

[@birthtoolbox]

Thanks!

[@tanyalancasterbeisert8244]

When you know, you know!

[@birthtoolbox]

That's right! And if you aren't sure then you probably aren't in labor or it's really early.

[@nessforbes7400]

Just gave birth to my baby a few hours ago. Watching this video that morning. Lol. If you gotta pause to talk. It’s probably a contraction. I tried walking, eating, drinking hot tea, sleeping and nothing. Contraction kept at it. If I could describe it… the contractions felt like tightening so strong in my abdomen I couldn’t bare it!!! Similar to menstrual cramps but not exactly. It’s like a painful charley horse. You have to wait till it subsides then it will come again. 😢😅

[@birthtoolbox]

Congratulations!!! Thank you for following up with your experience. ❤️❤️❤️