What can I do in the latent phase of labour?
It is not possible to say when active labour will begin. It
could start in a couple of hours, or several days, so try to
stay as relaxed as you can, and distract yourself from
focussing only on the contractions. There are things you
can do to distract yourself, such as,
pottering around the house
taking a walk
watching a DVD
taking a warm bath, putting a bath towel in the
water with you to cover your tummy and keep it
warm
using a hot water bottle on any areas that ache
such as your back, tummy, under your bump, or
between your thighs
having a nap
doing some relaxation
massage
keep your breathing quiet and relaxed, breath in
gently, and sigh out slowly
keep as mobile as you can, while remembering to
rest when needed to save energy for active labour
try out different positions to become comfortable
such as
standing, squatting, kneeling using pillows, bean
bags and birthing balls