Whichever way you choose to prepare for your birth, the one thing you probably have in mind when thinking about what's coming up - if you're planning a vaginal birth - are those powerful sensations that come with the most transcendent physical experience of a lifetime. And you're most likely wondering what does birth feel like.
Contractions, sometimes also referred as waves or surges, are generally described as tightening feelings across the tummy and sometimes into the lower back and thighs.
Each surge will bring you one step closer to meeting your baby. Firstly by making space (cervix dilation), and then by pushing baby down the birth canal so they can meet you earthside.
How does this work?
Your uterus is made of 3 layers of muscles. Through what is commonly referred as the first stage of labour, the outer layer (vertical bands of muscles) works in tandem with the inner layer (horizontal bands of muscles that encircle baby and come down to form your cervix). During each surge, the outer layer will draw up and pull on the inner layer to get these bands of muscles out of the way and make space. Cervix opens.
By the time you reach the 'second stage' of labour, your cervix is fully dilated and the inner bands of muscles have moved up. They have gathering at the top of your uterus, ready to act like a mighty piston, ready to push baby down and out to the world through the next surges.
So, What Does Birth Feel Like?
In the context of a physiological birth (vs induced labour), surges usually begin as mild sensations, similar to period cramps, sending you the signals you'll need to make your way to your 'safe place' for things to progress. Birth unfolding in a matter of minutes in the frozen aisle is more likely to happen in movies than in your local supermarket....
After what can be a couple of hours or a couple of days, your surges will start building up and become more regular and more intense.
Surges are like waves in the sea, they'll start gentle and mild, and then build up to a short peak before tailing off. Between each surge you may not feel any discomfort at all; a pure blissful rest.
Will my surges help me keep track of progress?
We all wish that there would be a clear timeline for us to keep an eye on during labour. But trying to do this in the context of physiological birth is pointless and can truly damage someone's birth experience. If your care provider tells you at some point that you have another x number of hours to go, this is utter BS. Proof is in my birth story. No one can tell you how long it will take for you to move from one 'territory' to another. Cervical dilation is just one picture in time, for some women it will take 12 hours to go from 1 to 10cm, for others it will only take a couple. Just trust that your body knows...
So although no one knows how long each phase will last, your surges might still be a good indicator of where you're at at any point in time. Below is a rough idea of what you may notice in terms of pattern as you journey through your own labour.
Latent stage - the first niggles:
lasting about 15-30 seconds
every 10-20 minutes
slight tightening in the vagina, period like sensations.
At the start of the 'opening stage' of labour:
lasting about 40-50 seconds
every 10 minutes
still similar to period like sensation - getting increasingly powerful.
Moving onto the established 'opening stage' of labour:
lasting about 60 seconds
every 3-4 minutes
pressure building toward the front of the vagina, more discomfort in the lower back - baby is moving down!
At the end - home stretch:
likely last over a minute
only a minute or less between them
Might come with a strong urge to push
How can I cope with the sensations?
Some women would describe their labour surges as very painful while other would describe them as powerful but not painful, these sensations will naturally vary from one person to another, but there are things that you can do to relieve the discomfort.
Prepare for your birth with women-centred antenatal education and Hypnobirthing. The quality and depth of the birth prep programme should be more of a decision factor than the social experience when booking your course.
Slow and relaxed breathing is incredibly powerful to remain calm and relaxed. Tension in your body will increase discomfort and can make labour much longer to progress.
Movement is also key to a more comfortable and positive birth experience. Sway and rock your pelvis. Dance and bounce on your ball. Birth day party kinda vibes!
Surrender to the surges and tune in to your body's urges. Birth is a physiological process that doesn't need strategic input. Quiet your 'thinking brain' and let your instinct take over - it's powerful stuff!
Allow yourself to make any noises you find helpful! Our birth 'songs' help us release endorphins - our natural pain killer!
Remember that the peaks are short and they will always be followed by rest. When the rest becomes almost too short to settle between each wave, it means that you're close to meet your baby! Focus on that moment, you've got this!
Other relevant reads:
For more information about my Complete Hypnobirthing Course - click here.
Photo by Monet Nicole