What Is A High Contraction Number On Monitor?

Most of us have heard of the word ‘contraction.’ What TOCO Number is a Contraction in 2023?

Type of contraction	TOCO number
Braxton Hicks contractions	Varies between 5-25 mmHg
Active labor contractions	Intensity of a contraction is between 40-60 mmHg
Second phase of labor	Intensity of contractions increases to 50-80 mmHg

Contents

1 What is a normal contraction number on monitor?
2 How high is a contraction on a monitor?
3 What is the normal range for CTG in pregnancy?
4 Are Braxton Hicks picked up on monitor?
5 What does Toco 50 mean?
6 What is strong uterine contractions?
7 Can you sleep through contractions?
- 7.1 What is normal contraction rate pregnancy?

What is a normal contraction number on monitor?

In the first stage of labor uterine contraction (UC) gradually increases from 25 mmHg to about 50 mmHg. Frequency of contraction is 3–5 per 10 min and the basal tone is 8–12 mmHg. During the second stage there further increase in the UC and it typically reaches 80–100 mmHg.

How high is a contraction on a monitor?

Braxton Hicks Contractions vs. True Labor | Ochsner Health Braxton Hicks contractions are the unpredictable, sporadic and usually non-rhythmical contractions that, So how do you know the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labor contractions? What are Braxton Hicks contractions? The term originated in 1872 when an English doctor named John Braxton Hicks described the contractions that occur before real labor.

Also known as “false labor” or “practice contractions” these contractions can begin as early as the second trimester but are more common during the third trimester. The intensity of Braxton Hicks contractions varies between approximately 5-25 mm Hg (a measure of pressure). For comparison, during true labor the is between 40-60 mm Hg in the beginning of the active phase.

Braxton Hicks contractions are not considered true labor because they do not cause cervical change. Remember – if your contractions do not increase in intensity or frequency you are likely experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. Unlike real contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions are:

Irregular in intensityInfrequentUnpredictable Non-rhythmic

For the majority of pregnancies, the Braxton Hicks contractions are tolerable and not disruptive of day-to-day activities. But for some pregnancies, they are very disruptive because of the pain, discomfort and lack of sleep, even causing trips to Labor & Delivery to rule out labor.

Changing positions. You can lie down if you have been standing, or go for a walk if you have been sitting or layingTaking a warm bath for 30 minutes or lessDrinking water (sometimes contractions may be brought on by )

Baby on board? Check out for resources to help guide you through the next nine months. How will I know if it’s true labor? It is usually suggested that women determine if the contractions are regular in frequency, intensity and duration. For example, it’s not true labor if:

Contractions are every 10 minutes, then 20 minutesYou can laugh and talk through a contraction, but then the next one brings you to tears One contraction lasts two minutes and another lasts 20 seconds.

If you are experiencing contractions, time the duration and the time between contractions. It’s time to call Labor & Delivery for further instructions and come in for evaluation once contractions are regular in frequency and:

Occurring less than four minutes apartRegular in duration- each lasting 40 seconds or moreAnd regular in intensity and getting stronger by the minute

Remember – Braxton Hicks contractions are a normal physiologic event during pregnancy. Most of the time they are tolerable and once you begin to experience them you are usually near the end of your pregnancy. Always consult your physician if you are concerned.

What do the numbers on a contraction mean?

Reading a Fetal Monitor Can Help You See How the Baby Is During Labor Fetal monitoring, in one form or another, has been around for a long time—over 350 years, in fact. Prior to the 1970s, a healthcare provider (usually a doctor, nurse, or midwife) would use a stethoscope designed for pregnancy (fetoscope) to listen to the heart sounds (auscultation) of a fetus.

The technology for electronic fetal monitoring arrived in the 1960s and 1970s but had to undergo reliability testing before hospitals and clinics started to use it.
Electronic fetal monitors provided a graph (on a paper printout at first, and later, on a computer screen) that showed how a fetus’s heart rate responded to contractions.

Fetal monitoring is one way your provider can monitor how well your baby is coping with, An advantage of electronic monitoring over the fetoscope method was that it could be done without requiring the provider to be at the patient’s bedside. Here’s a quick overview of how electronic fetal monitoring is used, as well as how to interpret what you see (and hear) on the monitor.1 Johner Images / Getty Images Fetal monitoring can be performed in several ways, depending on the needs of the patient and the capabilities of the facility.

Physically, fetal monitoring can be done externally or internally.
The timing of the monitoring can be continuous or intermittent.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that intermittent fetal monitoring with an electronic fetal monitor, handheld, or stethoscope can be used to monitor low-risk women during labor.

2 Electronic fetal monitoring produces a display on a computer monitor or paper graph that records the fetal heart rate and contractions. In the image above, you can see the fetal heart rate marked with the blue indicator. Contractions are in red. When you’re looking at the screen, the fetal heart rate is usually on the top and the contractions at the bottom.

When the machine prints out graph paper, you’ll see the fetal heart rate to the left and the contractions to the right. Sometimes it’s easier to read printouts by looking at them sideways. The monitoring strip in the will also be visible from a bank of monitors at the nurses’ desk, which lets staff watch the monitors without having to come to a patient’s room.3 On the left-hand side of the image above, you’ll see a y-axis in each of the graphs.

The blue indicator shows the marking of the fetal heart rate. These are beats per minute (bpm), which are measured in increments of 10 with markings every 30 beats. The red indicator on the bottom tracing shows the strength of a contraction, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

The higher the number, the stronger the contraction.4 The horizontal line, or x-axis, is measured in minutes.
Between the blue and red indicators is a single minute.
Within each minute are lighter lines, each of which measures a ten-second increment.
There are six sections for every minute.
Combining both the top and bottom (x and y-axes), the graphs line up with the heart rate directly above a contraction that is happening at the same time.

Once you are settled in your labor room, ask your nurse, midwife, or doctor for a quick tour of the fetal monitoring strip or monitor.5 MICHAEL DONNE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images No single type of fetal monitoring will be right for everyone. How often it’s necessary to check on the baby and labor will differ from person to person—and even from labor to labor in the same person.

Are experiencing fetal distress in your current labor
Are having an epidural
Are having an induction of labor
Have certain medical conditions
Have had a previous cesarean birth
Have had multiple babies

When you’re in labor, fetal monitoring helps your healthcare team monitor how your baby is coping. There are different types of fetal monitoring, and the kind you will need will depend on your situation, as well as your provider’s preference. Start having a conversation with your provider about fetal monitoring at your prenatal visits.

Ayres-de-Campos D. Am J Obstet Gynecol,2018;218(6):545-546. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.03.011
Stout MJ, Cahill AG., Clinics in Perinatology,2011;38(1):127-142. doi:10.1016/j.clp.2010.12.002
Alfirevic Z, Devane D, Gyte GM, Cuthbert A., Cochrane Database Syst Rev,2017;2(2):CD006066. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD006066.pub3
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)., Obstet Gynecol.2009;114(1):192-202. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181aef106
Johns Hopkins Medicine.,
Zhao Z, Zhang Y, Deng Y., JCM,2018;7(8):223. doi:10.3390/jcm7080223
Harper LM, Shanks AL, Tuuli MG, Roehl KA, Cahill AG., Am J Obstet Gynecol,2013;209(1):38.e1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2013.04.001
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: Reading a Fetal Monitor Can Help You See How the Baby Is During Labor

What is normal contraction range?

Contractions in active labor generally last between 45 to 60 seconds, with three to five minutes of rest in between. In transition, when the cervix dilates from 7 to 10 centimeters, the pattern changes to where contractions last 60 to 90 seconds, with just 30 seconds to 2 minutes of rest between.

What is a strong contraction toco number?

Braxton Hicks contractions. Varies between 5-25 mmHg. Active labor contractions. Intensity of a contraction is between 40-60 mmHg.

At what contraction count should I go to the hospital?

When to Go to the Hospital for Contractions & Labor – Your Contractions Are Stronger and Closer Together If this is your first baby, you should go to the hospital when your contractions feel strong to you, last 45 to 60 seconds each and occur every 3 to 4 minutes for at least 2 hours.

If you’ve had a baby before, go to the hospital when your contractions have been occurring every 5 minutes for at least 1 hour. Your Water Breaks Call your doctor if your water breaks and notify him or her of any color or odor. If you feel water leaking or gushing from the vagina, you should go immediately to the hospital as the water breaking can be one of the last things that happens before your baby is born.

If You Are Bleeding Heavily It is normal to have a small amount of blood and mucus discharge known as “bloody show” when the cervix starts to open. You do not need to call your doctor for bloody show. Wait until your contractions are stronger and more frequent.

Bright red bleeding, which looks like a menstrual period, is not common and may be a sign you need immediate medical care.
If you are bleeding heavily, do not stand up or walk.
Call 911, lie down and stay on your side until help arrives.
Whom to Call Please notify your obstetrician when you are going to the hospital.

If you are bleeding heavily or you think it is too late to get to the hospital, call 911. If your baby is about to be born, paramedics will assist you. They may also arrange for an ambulance to take you to the hospital. If paramedics decide there is no urgency, they may instruct you to go to the hospital on your own.

You might be interested: What Does A Chest Compression Feedback Device Monitor?

What is the normal range for CTG in pregnancy?

Normal antenatal CTG trace: The normal antenatal CTG is associated with a low probability of fetal compromise and has the following features: Baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) is between 110-160 bpm Variability of FHR is between 5-25 bpm Decelerations are absent or early Accelerations x2 within 20 minutes.

Are Braxton Hicks picked up on monitor?

Do Braxton Hicks show up on NST? – Yes, it’s possible for Braxton Hicks contractions to show up on the contraction monitor during an NST. The monitor will pick up contractions even if you can’t feel them or don’t know you’re having them.

What does Toco 50 mean?

dermofeel® Toco 50 non GMO is an antioxidant for cosmetic formulations which contains a natural composition of mixed tocopherols from certified non-GMO sources. The tocopherol content is at least 50%. This material provides effective protection of oxidizable ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

This material is supplied by Evonik Dr.
Straetmans GmbH, a subsidiary of Evonik. Dr.
Straetmans is a trademark of Evonik Operations GmbH.
No retailer information is available at this time.
The information presented here was acquired by UL from the producer of the product or material or original information provider.

However, UL assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained on this website and strongly encourages that upon final product or material selection information is validated with the manufacturer. This website provides links to other websites owned by third parties.

What is the maximum number of contractions?

Abstract – Objective: Increased frequency of uterine contractions is a component in the cluster of causal conditions that can lead to fetal hypoxia and acidosis and increase the risk for neonatal neurologic injury. For most international obstetrical societies, 5 contractions per 10 min averaged over 30 min is considered as the upper limit of normal uterine activity. We hypothesize that it might be safer to adopt an upper limit of 4 contractions per 10 min. Methods: We reviewed our 1970’s research database containing 475 patients with closely monitored and well-documented labor and neonatal assessments that included cord blood (CB) pH, base excess (BE), and continuous recording of neonatal heart rate (NHR). Using data segregated by the proportion of the last hour before delivery when uterine contraction frequency (UCF) exceeded 4 and 5 contractions per 10 min respectively, we evaluated outcomes (CB BE, pH, Apgar scores at 1 min, the status of NHR at 16 min after birth, and the proportion of births that did not the result from normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries (NSVDs). ANOVA established relationships between UCF cutoffs and these outcomes. Our sample size is sufficiently large to provide the ability of UCF, per se, to accurately detect an alpha region of,05 88% of the time with an effect size of,15. Results: During the last hour prior to delivery, a UCF cutoff at 4 contractions per 10 min performed better than a UCF cutoff at 5 contractions per 10 min to enable the earlier identification of risks for abnormal outcomes. The longer UCF was increased, the worse were the outcomes that were measured, and the region >4 but ≤5 contractions identifies the beginnings of worsening conditions in a variety of measures of poor outcomes. Conclusion: Lowering the recommended threshold for UCF from 5 to 4 contractions per 10-minute period as averaged over 30 min facilitates earlier detection of potentially compromised fetuses and is also an important contributor to a multicomponent contextualized approach to risk assessment. Keywords: Uterine contraction frequency; base excess; electronic fetal monitoring; fetal reserve index; fetal scalp sampling; pH.

What are 3 signs that labor is approaching?

Other signs labor could be near – Dr. Emery says that while there are other potential signs of labor, they have less real science to back them up. These signs of labor include:

Fatigue.Lightning crotch pain (sharp, burning or shooting nerve pain in your pelvis caused by your baby’s position).Loose stools or diarrhea.Sudden burst of energy (which Dr. Emery says is often associated with nesting, or the strong desire to get your home ready for baby).

“One or more of these labor signs might happen for some women, but there’s no clear evidence that they’re related to pre-labor or early labor.”

How do you count early contractions?

How Contractions are Timed – Contractions are intermittent, with a valuable rest period for you, your baby, and your uterus following each one. When timing contractions, start counting from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.


Time Contraction Starts	Duration of Contraction
10:00	45 Seconds
10:10	45 Seconds
10:15	60 Seconds
10:20	55 Seconds

What is the contraction rate in early labor?

What are stages of labor? Labor (also called childbirth) is the process of your baby leaving the uterus (womb). Labor is divided into three stages:

Labor
Pushing and birth
Delivery of the placenta

Every woman’s labor is different. And your labor may be different each time you have a baby. But there are patterns to labor that are true for most women. Learning about the stages of labor and what happens during each one can help you know what to expect once labor begins. What is a birth plan? A birth plan is a set of instructions you make about your baby’s birth. It includes things like:

Where you want to have your baby
Who you want to be with you during labor and birth
If you want medicine to help with labor pain
If there are cultural traditions you’d like to follow during labor and birth
If you plan to breastfeed

Before your due date, use the March of Dimes birth plan to help you think about how you want your labor to be. Share the completed plan with your partner, your health care provider and the staff at the hospital where you plan to give birth. What is a doula? You may want to have a professional support person help you through labor and childbirth.

Help you stay comfortable
Explain what’s happening during labor and birth and any procedures you may have
Encourage you and give you confidence
Support your family and friends who are with you during labor
Let hospital staff know what you need
Help you get started breastfeeding

Having a support person like a doula can be good for you, your baby and your family. It can help you feel good about your birth experience. Having a doula can help:

Shorten your labor
Reduce your need for pain medicine during labor
Reduce your risk of needing a cesarean birth or the need for your provider to use forceps or suction with a vaginal birth
Your baby get a good Apgar score at birth. Your baby gets an Apgar test right after birth to check his overall health. The test checks his heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes and skin color.

To find a certified doula, ask your provider or go to DONA International, You also may want to have your partner, a friend or a family member be a support person to help you through labor. They can go to childbirth education classes with you to learn ways to help, like timing your contractions, helping you relax and helping you move around to find a comfortable position.

Ask your provider about childbirth education classes in your area.
If you decide to have a doula or another support person help you with labor and birth, put their names and contact information in your birth plan.
Share your plan with your provider and with hospital staff.
What happens in the first stage of labor? The first stage of labor is the longest stage.

For first-time moms, it can last from 12 to 19 hours. It may be shorter (about 14 hours) for moms who’ve already had children. It’s when contractions become strong and regular enough to cause your cervix to dilate (open) and thin out (efface). This lets your baby move lower into your pelvis and into your birth canal (vagina).

This stage of labor ends when you are 10 centimeters dilated.
The first stage is divided into three parts: early labor, active labor and transition to stage 2 of labor.
Early labor For most first-time moms, early labor lasts about 6 to 12 hours.
You can spend this time at home or wherever you’re most comfortable.

During early labor:

You may feel mild contractions that come every 5 to 15 minutes and last 60 to 90 seconds.
You may have a bloody show. This is a pink, red or bloody vaginal discharge. If you have heavy bleeding or bleeding like your period, call your provider right away.

What you can do in early labor: This is a great time for you to rely on your doula or labor support person. Try the methods you learned about in childbirth education classes about how to relax and cope with pain. During early labor:

Rest and relax as much as you can.
Take a shower or bath.
Go for a walk.
Change positions often.
Make sure you’re ready to go to the hospital.
Take slow, relaxing breaths during contractions.

Active labor This is when you head to the hospital! Active labor usually lasts about 4 to 8 hours. It starts when your contractions are regular and your cervix has dilated to 6 centimeters. In active labor:

Your contractions get stronger, longer and more painful. Each lasts about 45 seconds and they can be as close as 3 minutes apart.
You may feel pressure in your lower back, and your legs may cramp.
You may feel the urge to push.
Your cervix will dilate up to 10 centimeters.
If your water hasn’t broken, it may break now.
You may feel sick to your stomach.

What you can do in active labor:

Make sure the hospital staff has a copy of your birth plan.
Try to stay relaxed and not think too hard about the next contraction.
Move around or change positions. Walk the hallways in the hospital.
Drink water or other liquids. But don’t eat solid foods.
If you’re going to take medicine to help relieve labor pain, you can start taking it now. Your choice about pain relief is part of your birth plan.
Go to the bathroom often to empty your bladder. An empty bladder gives more room for your baby’s head to move down.
If you feel like you want to push, tell your provider. You don’t want to start pushing until your provider checks your cervix to see how dilated it is.

Transition to the second stage of labor This can be the toughest and most painful part of labor. It can last 15 minutes to an hour. During the transition:

Contractions come closer together and can last 60 to 90 seconds. You may feel like you want to bear down.
You may feel a lot of pressure in your lower back and rectum. If you feel like you want to push, tell your provider.

What happens in the second stage of labor? In the second stage of labor, your cervix is fully dilated and ready for childbirth. This stage is the most work for you because your provider wants you to start pushing your baby out. This stage can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as a few hours.

Your contractions may slow down to come every 2 to 5 minutes apart. They last about 60 to 90 seconds.
You may get an episiotomy. This is a small cut made at the opening of the vagina to help let the baby out. Most women don’t need an episiotomy.
Your baby’s head begins to show. This is called crowning.
Your provider guides your baby out of the birth canal. She may use special tools, like forceps or suction, to help your baby out.
Your baby is born, and the umbilical cord is cut. Instructions about who’s cutting the umbilical cord are in your birth plan.

What you can do:

Find a position that is comfortable for you. You can squat, sit, kneel or lie back.
Push during contractions and rest between them. Push when you feel the urge or when your provider tells you.
If you’re uncomfortable or pushing has stopped, try a new position.

What happens in the third stage of labor? In the third stage of labor, the placenta is delivered. The placenta grows in your uterus and supplies your baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. This stage is the shortest and usually doesn’t take more than 20 minutes. During the third stage of labor:

You have contractions that are closer together and not as painful as earlier. These contractions help the placenta separate from the uterus and move into the birth canal. They begin 5 to 30 minutes after birth.
You continue to have contractions even after the placenta is delivered. You may get medicine to help with contractions and to prevent heavy bleeding.
Your provider squeezes and presses on your belly to make sure the uterus feels right.
If you had an episiotomy, your provider repairs it now.
If you’re storing your umbilical cord blood, your provider collects it now. Umbilical cord blood is blood left in the umbilical cord and placenta after your baby is born and the cord is cut. Some moms and families want to store or donate umbilical cord blood so it can be used later to treat certain diseases, like cancer. Your instructions about umbilical cord blood can be part of your birth plan.
You may have chills or feel shaky. Tell your provider if these are making you uncomfortable.

What happens after your baby is born? Congratulations! It’s time to hold your baby! Right after birth your provider places your baby skin-to-skin on your chest and covers him with a blanket. Holding your baby skin-to-skin helps your baby stay warm as he gets used to being outside the womb.

It’s also a great way to get started breastfeeding,
You can start breastfeeding even within an hour of your baby’s birth.
Even if you don’t plan to breastfeed, hold your baby skin-to-skin so you get to know each other right away.
Your baby will welcome your gentle touch, and this closeness can help you and your baby bond.

After birth, your body starts to change to help you heal. Your provider takes your temperature and checks your heart and blood pressure to make sure you’re doing well. If you had anesthesia during labor, your provider makes sure you’re recovering without any complications.

What are ideal contraction times?

How Long Do Contractions Last? – Each stage of labor is characterized by the degree to which the cervix has dilated, as well as the timing of contractions:

Early labor : The cervix has dilated from completely closed to 3 centimeters (cm) in diameter. Contractions are mild—similar to menstrual cramps—and irregular. Each contraction lasts 30 to 45 seconds and occurs five to 20 minutes apart.
Active labor : The cervix will dilate from 4 cm to 7 cm and contractions will be stronger and last longer. Usually, they will last 45 to 60 seconds, with three minutes to five minutes between each one. This is the point where you should generally call your provider and/or head to the hospital or birth center.
Transition : During this final phase of labor before the birth of your baby, the cervix opens completely—from 8 cm to 10 cm. Contractions can be so long and intense they may seem to overlap. Each one will last about 60 to 90 seconds with just 30 seconds to two minutes rest between each.

In general, labor can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours for the first delivery and about 8 to 10 hours for subsequent births. However, everyone is different and every pregnancy is different. Some people are in labor much longer or shorter than average. Individual pain tolerance and perception vary quite a bit and should be considered as well.

How many contractions in 10 minutes?

How long contractions last – Each contraction usually begins gently, builds up to a peak and then tails off. At the start of the first stage:

they may last about 40 to 50 seconds you may get one every 10 minutes

By the end:

they’re likely to last over a minute there’ll probably be less than a minute between them

What is the contraction number for a CTG?

Uterine contractions – They are quantified as the number of contractions present in a 10 min period and averaged over 30 min. Normal: ≤ 5 contractions in 10 min.

Does Toco measure the strength of contractions?

Introduction. Women in labor are traditionally monitored with the tocodynamometer (TOCO), which is based on the pressure force produced by the contorting abdomen during uterine contractions. The contractions are measured by a pressure transducer placed on the patient’s abdomen.

What is strong uterine contractions?

Parturition – At term, maternal uterine contractions cause the fetus to be forced from the uterus, a process called parturition. Uterine contractions generally begin at the top of the uterine fundus and spread down toward the cervix. Uterine contractions during the final trimester increase the strength of the uterine muscle.

Called Braxton-Hicks contractions, these are slow, rhythmic contractions of the uterine myometrium.
Oxytocin dramatically increases the strength and frequency of uterine contractions and can be used to initiate labor if labor does not begin spontaneously.
During natural labor, uterine contractions increase in intensity and force the fetus into the birth canal.

Stretch of the cervix causes the reflex release of additional oxytocin from the posterior pituitary, further increasing the strength of uterine contractions in a positive feedback cycle. In addition, stretch of the cervix can directly increase the strength of uterine contractions ( Fig.16-6 ).

During labor, uterine smooth muscle contractions increase in strength and frequency until the fetus is expelled.
Expulsion is facilitated by abdominal muscle contraction.
Estrogens, and the hormone relaxin, secreted during the final stages of pregnancy, loosen the ligaments and connective tissue of the birth canal.

Expulsion of the fetus removes the stimulus for labor, and the uterine smooth muscle contractions now compress the size of the uterus. Uterine contractions in the 10 to 45 minutes after birth dislodge the placenta. Uterine contraction also compresses the uterine blood vessels, limiting maternal blood loss after placental detachment.

Can you sleep through contractions?

A lot of women worry about coping with labour when they feel tired. They hear of births that go through, not only one night, but even two or three. How in the world does a woman do that and stick to her resolve for birthing how she had hoped to? It is possible! I have been with many women in labour through the night and helped them fall asleep. They have continued on to have positive, healthy births and feel super proud of their efforts, albeit ready for a good sleep afterwards! It can start in early labour when women can get tired from pacing the halls because “that’s the only way I can get through the contractions”.

Yet time and again, 20 minutes after arriving to be with them, they are sleeping blissfully between them. So how do you get from vertical to horizontal and feel able to manage the pain? How can you pass hours of contractions from the comfort of your bed? For normal, natural labour to go smoothly we need contractions to get longer, stronger and closer together, enough so that your cervix fully dilates and your baby descends and is born.

To manage labour a woman needs to manage her energy input with her energy output, otherwise fatigue can cause problems. She also needs to understand what happens in normal physiological birth so that she can work with/relax into the sensations she feels and not resist them.

This is important for the birthing team to be on board with also.
It’s understandable that she may not like the feeling of labour.
But if she can be aware of the value of her labouring efforts, then she may drop into a place of trust, rhythm and flow to support the physiological process.
Even so, most labouring woman will hit a psychological wall at some point in the labour and doubt her birthing ability.

So anticipate it, prepare for it and realize it’s a sign that she needs support to help her through this stage. Encouraging her and having pain relief techniques to use in these moments helps enormously. If in her efforts to work with the labour she has come to a place of doubt or stuckness, a place where she can’t see how to change from the thing she is doing, eg walking the halls through the night, or leaning over the hospital bed on her achy knees, I offer a few suggestions to help re energise her body and mind:

Realize that transition from one position to another will make the pain feel different, maybe worse for a moment, but have faith that her body can find a new rhythm to relax better and sleep easier.

In my experience, finding a new rhythm that works takes a few contractions of extra support, trust, encouragement and pain relief techniques. Use relaxation techniques to help her release tension and soon fall asleep. The birth preparation techniques learned and practiced through pregnancy need to come into action here. Whether that be through breath, massage, visualizations, music, smell, warmth etc the list goes on.

Think about the fact that she is trading the new 45-60 sec contraction discomfort for 2 min of blissful, recharging sleep.

Understand that the pain of a new position could be the best thing to help her labour progress. The baby is rotating through her pelvis and needs regular position changes to help.

Use Birthing with hypnosis techniques to lead her into a sleep like trance.

Play around with positions before labour to practice where she can be comfortable. You may find other places than the bedroom can also work eg the bath, propped up with pillows in the lounge room etc.

Recognize that in later stages of labour, near full dilation, the hormones of oxytocin and endorphines can make her feel very tired and tranced out, which are an encouraging sign of progress.

These tips and ideas are not exhaustive and you should always talk to your care provider if you are concerned about the health and wellbeing of the labouring woman or her baby. If you are reading this and are expecting.now is the time to be prepared for birth so you will feel more confident and able to navigate your birth.

Do bodywork, learn birthing with hypnosis, do an independent active birthing workshop and encourage your support person to join you.
If fatigue does begin to overcome you, and you don’t feel ready to go to the hospital or you wish to delay going into hospital until you are in strong active labour, then call the hospital midwives for advise, talk to a knowledgeable friend or a skilled Birthready doula to help you through.

By Erika Munton Birth Works offers Birthready active birthing classes and Birthready doula’s, We offer guidance, support and education to help expectant parents plan, prepare and experience birth in a more joyful and empowering way. Birthready doula’s are usually booked during the pregnancy but requesting a doula during labour is also possible.

What is the normal number of contractions in CTG?

Normal: 5 or fewer contractions in 10 minutes, averaged over a 30-minute window. Uterine tachysystole: more than 5 contractions in 10 minutes, averaged over a 30-minute window.