- Ignore it. It probably seems crazy, but try to ignore your early labor as much as possible. Continue doing whatever it is you normally do at that time of day. Sleep, work, make dinner, etc.
- Rest. Early labor is not the time for movement (Active labor is the time for activity.) Sleep, rest horizontally between contractions, lay on the couch, etc.
- Stay hydrated. Dehydration in labor is never fun and can make getting an IV port difficult if you’re heading to the hospital later in labor. (Dehydration can also cause contractions, so make sure you’re drinking!)
- Take a bath. Especially if your early labor starts in the evening. Take a bath, and then go see if you can sleep!
- Distract yourself. If you can’t sleep/rest, watch a funny movie or show. Bake some cookies. Go on a slow, relaxing walk. Stay lightly busy (again, try to avoid exhausting yourself here) to keep your mind occupied.
If you’ve had a baby before, what helped you in early labor?
