A laboring mother is having contractions about every five minutes apart, and they last for about 50 seconds each. They are painful at the peak. In between contractions, she can relax her muscles, but she wants to focus only on labor: she doesn't want any distractions. What can a doula do to support this mother?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Because the mother wants to focus on the labor, practicing specific breathing techniques helps her work with her contractions and resting periods. The doula might also suggest the mother visualize the baby moving down through the pelvis, or that she move in response to contractions. If the mother has a ritual, the doula can continue to honor that ritual without interference. Dimming the lights also creates an environment of privacy allowing the mother to focus on labor. A change of locations or positions, as well as proposing distractions, may cause the mother to lose her focus and disrupt her coping.

A Laboring Mother Is Having Contractions About Every Five Minutes