Exhausted in Labour? What to Do When You Feel Too Tired to Go On.
Is it possible for someone to just be too tired to give birth? When a labour has gone on… and on… and on…?
There are a few big factors that lead to maternal exhaustion in labour. Knowing them and spotting them may well help to avoid or reduce them.
1. When it looks like labour is starting - don’t stop doing what you are doing.
What do I mean by this? Well, if it is the middle of the night and you wake up aware that labour is starting, do not jump up out of bed and start pacing around the house. If you can, just go back to bed. Sleep. There could be a long journey ahead so don’t skip the opportunity to sleep and rest. If you are too uncomfortable to stay in bed then relax in a warm bath or use hot water bottles against your tummy and back and doze. Stay resting.
2. Eat and drink
If you were to run a marathon you would be advised to eat and drink throughout. Not great big meals but little and often to supply your muscles and brain with the carbohydrate and fluids that they need. Although there are risks to running a marathon and some people will get sick the main advice for the majority of racers is to take on food and liquid. Your uterus is the biggest bag of muscles in your body and it is working hard. The best fuel for muscles in action are carbohydrates and hydration. This could be a sugary drink, a chocolate biscuit, a spoon or two of honey or a sweet tea - whatever works for you.
The stopping of eating and drinking in labour was done during the mid 20th Century when the main form of analgesia for cesarean section or any intervention would have been general anaesthetic. With the rise of epidurals and spinal blocks a GA is much less used. If you are at an increased risk of GA your birth team will of course discuss this with you first. If not, eat and drink as you need to.⠀
3. Listen to YOUR body
If the oxytocin is flowing. If you feel safe and respected and all is good then birth will usually happen fairly simply. In which case let your body do the work. Your body will push your baby down and out when the time is right. Coached pushing from too early on or for too long a period of time will be exhausting. Relax in between the surges, listen to your body, get into optimal birthing positions such as on all fours, supported standing or squatting or just chill out on the toilet. When you can rest. REST.
If you are not comfortable enough to rest then you can always utilise further analgesia such as an epidural, have a nap and recover then let it wear off enough so that you can get back onto your hands and knees and birth your baby.
We do know that women have huge reserves of energy during labour and birth. We just need to protect and shore up that energy and respect our bodies enough to birth our babies within a calm environment and supported by a great birth team.