What To Do During Early Labor + What Not To Do

[@Ama.921]

Do: 1. Get some sleep 2. Distract yourself (go for walk, etc) 3. Eat something (lots of proteins and water) 4. Breathe 5. Fill and empty bladder Don’t: 1. Rush to hospital (they might send u back home) 2. Call everyone 3. Don’t expect baby to come right away? Especially with first?

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

Yes to all!

[@karrissarobbins4410]

With my first 2 kids I was soooo tried I couldn’t cope at at all becuz I didn’t reset when I could and with this baby I will most definitely be trying to sleep and reset as much as I can in early labor

[@miriamkohr7292]

My daughter is 39 weeks. I am Curious how it can be that my daughter has had every single symptom of labor, except loosing her water. So far, for a full week, she has lost mucus plug, had bloody show every day for a week, vomiting, diarrhea, contractions every 3-4 minutes, low back cramping, baby dropped, lost 5 lbs in a week, vaginal discharge (stringy more mucus plug) I need advice. She has stayed at 1 1/2 cm dilated for two weeks. Her contractions are strong and stops her from being able to talk or walk. Baths don’t take the pain away. What can we do? Can someone be in true early labor for two weeks? Because that’s how long it’s been. 😫When will she have her baby?

[@shreyasood1937]

Hi! My water broke at 3am and I reached hospital at 7am. I actually slept! Contractions were 10-15 minutes. After doing an internal examination, they induced me around 8am. I think it was pitocin (sublingual). Then my contractions were very strong. I kept listening to your videos on breathing and delivered at 10.30am. I believe induction accelerated the contractions! But then why do they induce even when water broke itself?

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

shreya sood Pitocin Definitely accelerates contractions :) They likely induced because they wanted to speed things along after your water broke. Many hospitals have a policy where they want the baby to be born 12-24 hours after the water breaks because of a concern with infection. Were you able to manage the pitocin contractions with breathing? Hope it all went well!

[@katerinajablonski5209]

this does sound weird, right? if you were already in labor. did they give a reason to induce you, or did they simply want to speed things up?

[@shreyasood1937]

Bailey Gaddis yes, it went fine. They were not expecting that I will dilate 10cms in 2 hours. At the end they were so intense that I felt like I will pass stool in the room. Then the doctor came and did an internal examination and found I am 10cms dilated. And shifted me to OT. And then I learnt J breathing from you. So I kept doing that. I tried not to push the baby. I felt baby was coming out on his own. Although gynae told me to push thrice.Many thanks Bailey. You are a blessing. Forever grateful 🙏

[@shreyasood1937]

Katerina Jablonski I am not aware about the reason. However if I plan my second child I will be careful about this induction process.

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

shreya sood Wow! How amazing :) So glad you found the breathing helpful. And as you said below, hopefully you can avoid induction the second time around - it definitely sounds like you didn’t need it.

[@lauraabass1077]

Nice

[@MrsBryant1024]

What if you have a cerclage??? Shouldn't you go in immediately when you feel any real contractions to prevent your cervix from being torn?

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

A cerclage is typically removed around week 37 of gestation. If you go into labor before 37 weeks, you’re in preterm labor and should alert your care provider immediately.

[@fitrinabilah7413]

Didnt sleep a wink last night due to prodromal labor. Went to hospital and came back home cause i was only 1cm dilated. Reached home and my Mucus plug came out. I just woke up from a 2 hr nap eventho i could still feel the contractions every few minutes during my nap but i was too tired to care. I only breathe through them. I just ate a burger and going to take a nap again.

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

So sorry you didn’t sleep last night. Prodromal labor can be such a challenge. Hoping you go into active labor soon!

[@melodyprogress6110]

Happens to me also, right now!

[@saraha319]

I’m having such bad contractions and had spotting went to the hospital was 1 cm dilated only and sent back :( having major anxiety and pain at this point

[@fitrinabilah7413]

@@saraha319 i feel ya 😔. You will get through this!

[@kristinezerebkina9383]

❤

[@Lupita.h2024]

Hi! I’m pretty sure I am in early labor since I watched your early labor video. Everything you mentioned in that video is happening to me! My question is should I try and walk or bounce on my birthing ball to help things speed up or is it best to lay down and relax?

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

Guadalupe Hernandez Guadalupe Hernandez I would definitely try and get some sleep before you do anything else :) However, when you’re well rested eating a protein rich meal, doing hip swirls on your birth ball and going for a walk will all be beneficial. Hope this helps! And keep me posted!

[@Lupita.h2024]

Bailey Gaddis hey! Thank you for your advice! My baby was born on Oct 10!

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

Guadalupe Hernandez Wonderful! Congratulations! Hope all went well :-) Sending lots of love to you and baby!

[@gypsierose3611]

My second child I jumped on a trampoline while in labor But with all my kids it was fast labor

[@BaileyGaddisDoula]

Wow! What a cool idea!

[@twiztedtwinzanderson8069]

I jumproped with my daughter. Still no baby. Lol