The most helpful topic discussed in a childbirth class is how to labor at home. Learning to differentiate what is labor and what is not and learning tools on how to labor at home for 10 hours or so until it’s really time to go.
Hospitals don’t take on mothers who are in very early labor and most parents end up in a hospital way too early thinking that it’s happening but it’s really not. You are experiencing early labor or moving towards active labor.
The tools for laboring at home are mainly a combination of the following:
• Breath work: Use certain breathing techniques
• Positioning: Good labor positioning
• Partner help: Applying counter pressure, moving the pelvis, and helping the mother to find the best position during labor