3.1.4  Helping the mother to manage her contractions

In early labour she may be able to sleep. Many women feel very tired when their contractions are strong. They may fear they will not have the strength to push the baby out. But feeling tired is the body’s way of making the mother rest and relax. If everything is all right, she will have the strength to give birth when the time comes.

To save her strength, the mother should rest between contractions, even when labour first begins. This means that when she is not having a contraction, she should let her body relax, take deep breaths, and sometimes sit or lie down.