Failure to progress.

This has to be one of my most loathed groups of words written onto a woman's maternity notes. Or proffered up as a description of why the labour seems to be going on for a little longer than expected.

The idea that labour is a pass or fail situation...and that the woman herself is the fault for this unnecessary mishap bakes my brain.

However, there is no denying that on occasion labour will either slow down or perhaps stop entirely.

‘Failure to progress’ is the cause of 34% of c-sections in the UK, 42% of c-sections in Queensland, Australia & 35% of c-sections in the United States (stats 2013) - this is a pretty big deal.

So, what to do when this happens?

Well firstly let’s think about mammals...and perhaps a birthing house cat if you’ve ever had one. They create the best birth space for them. Dim lighting, no observers, safety & comfort. Do you have that in this situation? If not then can your birth partner create this for you?

Do you like your care team? Okay, this seems a bit harsh...but if you are not gelling with your midwife or OB then you can ask to change them. Seriously, the relationship goes both ways and this may be the best thing for both of you.

Does your hospital have a physiotherapist for the maternity wards? If so then ask for them. They’ll have you crab walking, up and mobile, heading up and down the stairs, possibly using a rebozo or Shaking the Apples technique. They will be looking for optimal foetal positioning just in case the baby is in an awkward position.

See above: Get up and mobile. Sway, dance, lunge, squat...move, move, move and use gravity as much as you can.

Eat something. Drink something. Your uterus is the biggest bag of muscles in your body. If you are knackered then so will it be. Get some sugar and energy into your system.

Cry if you need to. Let it all out. Voice any fears or concerns that you are holding onto and let expectations and disappointments go. Just focus on the here and now.

Kiss and hug your partner. And if you feel comfortable, stimulating either your nipples or clitoris then this will help to give you a wonderful boost of oxytocin which is the hormone of uterine contractions.

One or none of these techniques may work, but knowing that you have them in your birth toolbox may just help to stack the odds in your favour for a positive birth experience.