There are many strategies that women can use to help support themselves during prelabour. They include:
Remembering it is just the beginning. Prelabour may last an hour, or it may last for days. Some women experience very painful Braxton-Hicks contractions in the last weeks of their pregnancy, which feel like prelabour, so try to stay calm and be patient.
Remembering it can take a while. An average first labour lasts approximately 12 to 14 hours. This is from the time a woman moves into the
active 1st stage of labour (established labour) until the birth of the baby and does not include prelabour. Hence the origin of stories from our mothers, grandmothers or other women about how they "laboured for days!"
Carrying on as normal, as best you can. This helps conserve your energy. Call your caregiver(s) for reassurance if you need to.
Trying not to phone everyone to let them know unless support people need to travel or you need to make arrangements for their own family. Friends and family mean well, but if the phone starts ringing day after day with everyone wondering if you have had the baby yet, it can wear you down.
Turning the answering machine on or turn off your phone so you can manage your calls. Leave a message like "No we haven't had the baby yet - we will ring you when we have some news". This may give people the idea to leave you alone (and can be helpful if you have passed your due date!)
Going for a walk if you feel energetic or resting if you feel tired. Follow the needs of your body. There is a fine line between stimulating your labour by being active, and exhausting yourself before the actual labour starts, especially if the prelabour is prolonged.
Packing your bag ready for hospital. A list of what to take is covered in
What to pack for labour.
Resting when you can. If prelabour starts during the night try and sleep or rest. If you can't sleep, have a long, warm bath or a hot shower (only shower if your
waters have broken