The early labour (or latent) phase is usually spent at home, and there are plenty of things you can try to ease any discomfort you have whilst also encouraging labour to progress well.These simple techniques can also help throughout labour:
having a warm bath or shower
sleeping/resting in between contractions
eating and drinking, little and often
staying calm and relaxed and focusing on deep, slow breathing
distraction techniques such as cooking or watching TV
massage from your birthing partner, particularly on the lower back and/or shoulders
trying different positions or going for a gentle walk.
The early labour (or latent) phase is usually spent at home, and there are plenty of things you can try to ease any discomfort you have whilst also encouraging labour to progress well.
These simple techniques can also help throughout labour: