The “Rest and Be Thankful” Phase of Labor
- hannahfgreenwood
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
You’ve probably heard of early and active labor, but have you heard of the “rest and be thankful” phase of labor? 🌸
There’s a misconception that reaching 10cm dilated means it’s time to jump right into pushing, but for a lot of folks, there’s a brief break before it’s time to meet your baby.
This is what we in the birth world refer to as the “rest and be thankful” phase of labor!
It occurs after transition (the back-to-back surges that take you from 8-10cm) but before actively pushing. During this time, it can actually be normal for contractions to space out or temporarily stop.
This pause doesn’t mean anything is wrong.
It is simply an invitation to rest — and sit with the knowledge that you’ll be meeting your baby so soon! 🪷
Keep this bit of info in the back of your mind if you find yourself nearing the end of labor & wonder why you’re seemingly catching a break, when you’re so close. Sometimes there can be urgency from the care team to speed things along with interventions like pitocin or rupturing your membranes (also known as AROM or “breaking your water”). It’s wise to have a discussion with your care provider about the benefits, risks, and alternatives to these options. Getting your baby earthside sooner rather than later may be necessary if either you or your baby show signs of needing help.
Medical decisions aside, you can use this time to sip some water or electrolytes, snack, cool off with a wet washcloth, and connect with your partner or support people. Positions that work with gravity can be great during these moments! I love the throne position or hands and knees to encourage descent but still rest between surges.
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