How to avoid labor stalls | What to do when labor does not progress

Labor takes time. Let's face it. All of us desire a short labor, but sometimes our babies may need a little more time than others. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. The saying, "Labor is a marathon and not a sprint" is 100% accurate.

A stalled labor is when your contractions space out or stop after having had a consistent contraction pattern. This can last for a short period of time or for many hours. Even if you experience a stall, it doesn't mean that labor is over or that you have to change your birth plan and resort to unnecessary interventions. You always have options!

So, how do we continue along the marathon without stopping (or stalling) and what can we do to avoid stalls? Because again, we ideally don't want to labor longer than our baby needs us to. I’ve created a list of the most common reasons that labor stalls and how we can avoid it.

1. Fear / Mental Preparation

Our mind is the most powerful tool in labor, but fear is the biggest threat. Fear in labor causes cortisol levels to spike and oxytocin levels to drop - leading to a stall in labor. Remember that we want those oxytocin hormone levels to be high because it can naturally induce labor and also helps soften the cervix. It is important to overcome these fears BEFORE labor begins! Put in the time and effort to do the hard work of preparing mentally to bring your baby into the world earlier rather than later.

2. Dehydration / Hydration

Dehydration can be the cause of a really uncomfortable labor experience for many women. Being dehydrated can not only cause stalls, but it can make the baby not so happy and show up in a wonky contraction pattern. It is even possible that the baby may experience heart decels, which is not good.

Another complication of dehydration is that it can even lead to lower amniotic fluid which adds a whole new list of risks in and of itself. You can read more about dehydration in pregnancy here.

Stay OVER-HYDRATED before and during labor.

3. Environment

We often see labor slow down when in an environment where you don't feel safe or when switching/transitioning from home to the hospital. Labor where you are comfortable for the longest period of time. It is important for your mind and body to remain calm. So laboring in a calm and safe environment (with your partner/support person) is a great way to avoid labor stalls.

4. Stationary / Movement

Staying active and keeping the pelvis in optimal position during your pregnancy (and labor) will encourage the baby to get into a better position and help labor progress. Doing pregnancy safe exercises like different variations of curb walking is a great way to help your baby get into the optimal birthing position.

5. Full Bladder

Did you know that not emptying your bladder can cause labor to stall? Yes! It's important to empty your bladder frequently in labor to avoid holding the baby up. Literally, by having a full bladder you are holding the baby higher and not in the optimal birthing position. Plus, if you’re staying hydrated like you're supposed to (and like I told you in step 2) then you will absolutely neeeeed to empty your bladder.

One of my biggest goals is to help you mamas advocate for you and your baby. Being educated and prepared is the best way to go into labor.

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