The book Birthing From Within has probably had the greatest influence on me regarding the labor process. One of my favorite ideas from this book is the labor project, which is described on page 125:
"A good labor project involves physical movement, contact with your normal daily life, and mental engagement in a way that blocks obsessive focusing on your labor progress."
For me I think the key is avoiding focusing on labor. None of this sitting around timing contractions when it's still fairly early. I want to stay upright and active and engaged in life until labor intensifies and truly requires my full attention. With Silas' birth this meant that once I knew it was the real deal (sometime after midnight), I got up and started getting the house in order. I did a bit of extra cleaning, and started working in the kitchen preparing some "labor-ade" and granola bars. I intentionally did not look at the clock during this time. I did have to stop and breathe during contractions, and I didn't get around to finishing the granola bars. But I think it helped tremendously to stay fairly busy during this part of labor.
For this birth I'm planning to do the same. With a home birth, it's sort of like you're about to have company over, so I'll certainly have cleaning and tidying to do to get things in order. Now if only I don't have to do it in the middle of the night this time, I'll be one happy mama.
