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    Lamaze Early Labor Infographic

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    ionela stoica
    Early labor is the phase before active labor where contractions start and stop irregularly as the cervix dilates to 6 cm and the baby moves into the pelvis. It is usually the longest phase of labor, lasting 6-12 hours for first-time mothers. During early labor, women can stay at home as long as contractions are not 3-5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute for 1-2 hours. Partners and doulas can support women in early labor by timing contractions, keeping her mind occupied, and providing physical comfort.

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    Lamaze Early Labor Infographic

    Uploaded by

    ionela stoica
    35 views1 page
    Early labor is the phase before active labor where contractions start and stop irregularly as the cervix dilates to 6 cm and the baby moves into the pelvis. It is usually the longest phase of labor, lasting 6-12 hours for first-time mothers. During early labor, women can stay at home as long as contractions are not 3-5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute for 1-2 hours. Partners and doulas can support women in early labor by timing contractions, keeping her mind occupied, and providing physical comfort.

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    Early labor is the phase before active labor where contractions start and stop irregularly as the cervix dilates to 6 cm and the baby moves into the pelvis. It is usually the longest phase of labor, lasting 6-12 hours for first-time mothers. During early labor, women can stay at home as long as contractions are not 3-5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute for 1-2 hours. Partners and doulas can support women in early labor by timing contractions, keeping her mind occupied, and providing physical comfort.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    35 views1 page

    Lamaze Early Labor Infographic

    Uploaded by

    ionela stoica
    Early labor is the phase before active labor where contractions start and stop irregularly as the cervix dilates to 6 cm and the baby moves into the pelvis. It is usually the longest phase of labor, lasting 6-12 hours for first-time mothers. During early labor, women can stay at home as long as contractions are not 3-5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute for 1-2 hours. Partners and doulas can support women in early labor by timing contractions, keeping her mind occupied, and providing physical comfort.

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    Keep Calm and Labor On!

    Know what to expect in early labor


    Oh baby! You just had your first contraction.
    Is this it? Should you grab your birthing bag and head out?
    You may be in early labor — the phase that comes before active labor.

    WHAT HAPPENS IN EARLY LABOR?1


    • Hormonal changes continue to prepare mom and baby for birth and breastfeeding
    • Pre-labor (irregular on and off contractions that occur during the last weeks of pregnancy)
    gradually gives way to early labor DID YOU KNOW?
    • Contractions may start and stop several times before developing a rhythm The average length of early labor is 6-12 hours
    • Contractions generally start off mild, may last 30-45 seconds and occur every 20 minutes for first-time moms (early labor is usually
    or so apart, then become longer, stronger and closer together shorter for experienced moms).7
    • Cervix dilates to 6 cm to prepare for childbirth as the baby moves down into your pelvis2 It may even last 24 hours or more, which
    • Early labor is most often the longest phase, more than half of the total labor time can be perfectly normal.

    THERE ARE BENEFITS TO STAYING HOME HOW CAN YOUR PARTNER OR DOULA SUPPORT YOU?
    DURING LABOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE:

    Gives you more flexibility to move


    freely—which can reduce the risk of
    Pregnancy
    medical interventions3 to Parenting

    Helps increase the labor hormone, Offering comfort, Helping time contractions – Keeping your mind
    oxytocin—which allows the cervix to physical care and Lamaze’s Pregnancy off labor with
    thin and open4 reassurance to Parenting app has a simple activities, like
    contraction counter playing games

    STAY COMFORTABLE BY : 5

    Resting Drinking plenty Going for Moving around Focusing on Using a warm Reading a Asking your
    and of fluids and a short or changing slow, deep pad or ice pack good book or doula or partner
    relaxing eating what walk positions breathing on your watching TV for a gentle
    appeals to you lower back massage

    HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO GO?


    Active labor begins when contractions are roughly 3-5 minutes apart, last 1 minute and have been that way
    for 1-2 hours.6
    However, listen to your body. If you feel it's time to go to your birthing facility, follow that instinct and/
    or call your care provider first-especially if your water breaks.

    Learn more about early labor in a Lamaze class, in-person or online, so you can be prepared!

    PUSH FOR THE SAFEST, HEALTHIEST BIRTH POSSIBLE. VISIT WWW.LAMAZE.ORG/PUSHFORYOURBABY TO LEARN MORE.
    1,6 Lothian, J.A., McGrath, K. (2012, April 24). Your step-by-step guide to giving birth. [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.lamaze.org/StagesOfLabor
    2 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Safe prevention of the primary cesarean delivery. Obstetric Care Consensus No. 1. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
    American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2014): 123:693–711. doi: 10.1097/01.AOG.0000444441.04111.1d
    3 Regan, M., McElroy, K., Iobst, S., and Lothian, J. (2015). Optimizing childbirth outcomes through adoption of healthy birth practices.
    4 Childbirth Connection. (April 2011). Understanding & Navigating the Maternity Care System. Retrieved from http://www.childbirthconnection.org/article.asp?ck=10184#oxytocin
    5 March of Dimes. (May 2014). Vaginal birth – Stages of labor. Retrieved from http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/stages-of-labor.aspx
    7 Mayo Clinic. (2013, July 18). Labor and delivery, postpartum care - Stages of labor: Baby, it's time! Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/stages-of-labor/art-20046545

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