The question I get asked most on a hypnobirthing -antenatal course

Whenever I teach my hypnobirthing antenatal classes, one question pops up time and again so I thought I would try to answer it in today's blog post.

So what is this burning question that seems to cross everyone's mind?

How will I know when it's time to go to the hospital?

driving to hospital in labour

If you are planning to give birth either at a birth centre or on a labour ward, it's really common to worry about two things:-

Firstly, getting to your birth place too early and then having the faff of being sent home again.

Secondly, not getting there early enough and giving birth on the side of the road or in the car!!!!

The first happens pretty regularly as all we see on tv is people rushing to hospital after a dramatic burst of waters. It can be tempting to follow suit and head in a bit too soon!

We are also taught from a young age to fear birth, so going into labour can feel a bit stressful and the support of a healthcare professional might be the reassurance you seek.

The trouble with this is that labour can actually take a while to unfold and moving backwards and forwards, travelling between home and hospital, rather than relaxing at home in your own space can actually have the very frustrating effect of slowing labour down. Not what anyone wants at this time!

Now let me reassure you that the second concern (giving birth on the side of the road) isn't as common! Our minds are powerful and often our bodies will not let go of our babies until we feel really safe and ready! It's amazing how the labour sometime ramps up once you are all settled and calm in your chosen birth space.

However, please be reassured that if it did happen to you and your body just could not hold back any longer, you are perfectly designed to give birth (even in a car) and in actual fact minimising intervention and interference often helps birth to happen with more ease.

The longer we spend in a hospital setting during labour, the more likely we are to end up with a medicalised model of birth (more interventions) so getting the balance of arriving not too soon and not too late really is crucial if you are planning a physiological/natural birth with minimal interference.

The good news is that with a bit of knowledge and tapping into your instincts, you can work out the perfect time to jump in that car (or waddle)!

So when is that perfect time to go?

Well knowing the signs and trusting your instincts are key.

• You are looking for your contractions becoming more frequent, longer and regular. You will spot a pattern to them. The intensity of them will increase which is a good indication that your labour is progressing well.

• You may be told 3 contractions in 10 minutes lasting around a minute and it is time to go, but it's important to remember that we are all slightly different and if at any point you instinctively feel like you need to be at your choice of birth place then there may be a good reason for that, even if your contractions are still 10 minutes apart.

• For some people the contractions come even closer together and seem to roll in on top of one another and this could be a sign that baby may be in a less optimal position rather than you need to be heading to the hospital. Your uterus may just be working extra hard to get your baby into a better position. I talk about getting baby into optimal positions in my pregnancy support group which you can join via this link.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/170140069431867/

Another clue aboutwhen to travel is your behaviour during labour. Understanding what is normal and to be expected at each stage will will help your birth partner to know when you might want to make the move too.

• When it's time to make the move you will likely be going within yourself, not wanting to talk, in your own headspace and very focused on your labour. You will not be engaging with what's going on around you as much.

• You will probably not be able to talk through a contraction and will be focusing only on working your way through each contraction and then resting in-between.

• You will be needing support from your birth partner at this stage and using lots of different techniques such a breathing, movement, massage and other forms of natural comfort measures to help you (my courses teach all about these).

  
  

• You may be more vocal and possibly be making more primal noises that can feel really grounding and help release tension from your body (think moo or ahhhh or roar).

• If your labour is progressing well and in an undisturbed manner, your body will be producing pain relieving hormones which can make you feel a little hazy and high and this is a good sign that your labour is entering the active phase as these hormones don't start flowing until labour is established. Understanding how your body works in labour really is key to knowing when to make the move!

I always say to clients stay at home as long as you can and as long as feels right for you. It helps to set up a cosy, comfortable, relaxing space and nest into this first phase of labour. Labour can be a little stop start at first but when you feel things really flowing and a strong desire to be in the place you are planning to give birth in then do listen to that inner voice. A mother and baby are very connected in a physiological birth and you will innately know when it feels like time to travel, whether that's after only a couple of hours or a couple of days.

I hope this helps. There is no absolute definitive answer when it comes to when to when to go to your chosen birth space, but knowing the signs and having lots of techniques to enable you to feel more comfortable and calm can help you to stay at home until the time to travel clearly presents itself.

My birth preparation courses are about getting you really clued up about labour and making sure you and your birth partner know what to expect on the day and in the run up. We will cover everything you need to know to feel really confident about what to do and when, and how to manage your early labour at home too.

couples attending antenatal class

Your birth partner will understand what to look out for and how to make you feel truly supported through each stage of your unique labour experience and will be able to take charge through the journey to hospital or the birth centre. It's also not uncommon for couples to feel so confident about birth that they plan a homebirth which can be a wonderful option for many.

To learn more about what I offer and to book a course please take a look around my website www.forbabyforme.co.uk or get in touch for a chat. Courses run locally in West Yorkshire and help couples to have the amazing birth experience they deserve. Xx