Being emotionally ready can be a factor in your labour's progress. For some women concerns about dealing with the pain, parenting issues, having a healthy baby, the particular sex of the child or the act of pushing the baby out or tearing, can sometimes inhibit the labour process.
Being told that the baby is 'big' can also impact on your ability to dilate and push your baby out. For a few women, once this statement is made there is no turning back. Attempts to discount the prediction in their minds can be overrun by their subconscious still being concerned. If this is the case it may be difficult for the labour to progress smoothly because the woman is unable to relax.
If the woman is anxious, concerned, emotionally distressed or has specific issues about her baby or the actual birth, then these feelings can be reflected in:
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Weakened contractions; |
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The cervix not dilating; and / or |
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A reluctance to push her baby out. |
This is usually interpreted by the caregiver as 'slow progress', with a tendency to intervene, rather than working through the woman's issues.
The main underlying concern that many women will express is "How am I going to push this baby out?" and / or "What if I tear badly?" These can be very real concerns that can have an impact on the woman reaching the pushing phase in labour or actually pushing the baby out. By being specific about your concerns (other than the general concern of a 'big baby'), you can then source out potential physical and emotional support strategies to help with the labour.
Strategies can include using positions to open the pelvis during the pushing phase or using water to relax the woman and help soften and assist the perineum to stretch. These and others are discussed more fully in the next section on