In active (or established) labour, surges occur regularly. The length and intensity of contractions increase and continue regardless of what you are doing. At the same time, there is a progressive thinning, shortening, and opening of the cervix (neck of the womb). You will typically be advised to make your way to the midwifery unit or hospital at this point, if you aren’t there already.

What if labour slows down?

Some of us will choose to give birth at home and can continue our hypnobirthing techniques almost uninterrupted as labour progresses. For others, the trip to the hospital or midwifery unit has the potential to slow labour or even stop it. This can also happen unexpectedly and very normally, in which case you just need to remain calm the best you can and trust that your hypnobirthing techniques will support you. Here are some ideas for bringing labour back on in either situation:

Ask for access to warm water, either in the birthing pool or a shower.
The calm environment you’ve described in your birth plan should already be dimly lit, but if it isn’t, ask for the lights to be lowered or turned off.
Go to the WC and sit
Go for a walk if you feel up to it.
Sit on a birthing ball.
Stimulate your nipples (this is not advisable in every case; please check with your doctor or midwife).
Have your partner stroke you or massage you.
Do the Cove of Confidence relaxation session, available with this course.

How to use your techniques as labour progresses

Use your Waves of Relaxation for your surges, remembering to begin and end with a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 relax breath.
As you complete a surge, your partner may remind you to take a nice, controlled breath (while breathing in themselves) and say “5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and relax” as you breathe out.
Between surges, stay internally focused and go to your place of relaxation. You and your partner may like to practice your waves of relaxation with an anchoring phrase that is personal to the two of you to take you into a deeper state of relaxation when he squeezes your hand.
Your partner’s soothing strokes should help with endorphin stimulation.
If your partner notices you tensing your jaw or any other signs of tension or stress, they can make positive suggestions such as “you are calm and relaxed” or whatever feels instinctively right to them at that moment.

Advice for the birth partner at this stage

Here are some prompts the birth partner can give at this stage of labour:

Between surges

So calm, so comfortable, and so at peace
Drift away into relaxation.
That’s it. Nice and relaxed.
Every muscle is limp and at ease.
Feel the calm and the peace.
Relax and trust that your body knows what to do.

During surges

Trust your body; take long, deep breaths.
Your body is totally limp; go with your breathing.
Breathe deeply and follow your body’s lead.
Body limp, arms limp, and legs limp
Body limp, shoulders limp, chest relaxed
Breathe nice, deep breaths. Supporting the baby.

As you approach birth, you may notice that you feel compelled to change how you are breathing. This is the time to start humming your baby down with your surges (see Article 10). Follow your instincts and begin humming. If you express that your breathing is no longer working, your partner could suggest that you start humming. Continue to follow your body’s lead and do what feels right for you.

Hypnobirthing in Active Labour