Blog · Birth preparation
Labour Preparation Tips for First-Time Parents
If this is your first baby, labour can feel like the biggest unknown of your life. You've probably heard every kind of story by now, from the dreamy to the terrifying, and none of them are about you. The good news is that there is a lot you can do in the weeks before birth to feel calmer, more prepared and more in control of how you respond to whatever unfolds.
Learn what actually happens in labour
Fear grows in the gaps where information should be. Understanding the stages of labour, what contractions are doing, and what the hospital or your midwife will be checking for takes a lot of the mystery out of it. A good antenatal class or a few sessions with your doula will walk you through early labour, active labour, transition and birth, and what each one tends to feel like.
You don't need to become an expert. You just need enough of a map that when something happens, you can think "ok, this is that bit" rather than "something is wrong".
Practise your comfort tools before you need them
The tools that help most in labour are the ones you've already practised. In the last few weeks of pregnancy, try a few of these with your partner:
- Slow breathing, with a longer out-breath than in-breath
- Counter pressure on the lower back and hip squeezes
- Upright and forward-leaning positions over a ball, the bed or your partner
- Warm water in the shower or bath
- A TENS machine, if you're planning to use one
Practising when you're calm means your body remembers what to do when it counts. It also gives your partner something real to do, which most partners are desperate for.
Talk through your preferences
Have a think about what matters most to you. Pain relief, movement, monitoring, who is in the room, skin to skin, how you'd feel about different interventions. Writing a short birth preferences document helps you get clear, and it helps your care team understand you quickly. Keep it to one page and expect it to flex on the day.
Know when to call
Your hospital or midwife will give you their own guidance on when to call and when to come in, so ask them about it at your next appointment and write it down. Whatever their timing advice, call straight away if your waters break, if you notice bleeding, if your baby's movements change or slow down, or if anything simply feels wrong. You are never a nuisance for calling.
Look after the basics
Labour is physical work. In the final weeks, prioritise rest, keep eating well and stay hydrated. In early labour, try to rest or distract yourself rather than timing every contraction. Eat something light if you feel like it, keep sipping water and save your energy for later.
Build your support team
Think about who you want around you and what you need from each of them. Your partner, a family member, your midwife and your doula all play different roles. Continuous support during labour is one of the most consistently helpful things you can have, and it's worth planning for rather than leaving to chance.
If you'd like help preparing for your first birth, I'd love to chat. A free call is a good place to start, and there's no pressure at all.
This article is general information only and isn't medical advice. Always talk to your midwife, GP or obstetrician about your own situation.
