There are many reasons why some labours are more difficult than others. Here are three of the easiest things you can do to help yourself, yet these can easily be forgotten during labour.
Hydration
Keep sipping fluids during labour (water, clear juice or others). Dairy products are not recommended as they can be more difficult to digest and so some women will throw them up.
Hunger
You need to have enough energy to sustain you through the process of labour. The average time of labour for first time moms is 14 to 20 hours, a time in which you would normally eat three meals! Before you get to the hospital, you can and should eat whatever your body feels like it needs. Once at the hospital, ask your nurse what you can eat if you are hungry. Your appetite will likely decrease as labour progresses. It is also quite common for women to vomit sometime in labour due to the powerful activity of the uterus so close to the stomach.
Fatigue
Rest, rest, and rest some more! Make sure you are taking enough time off work before your due date, if possible. If you are concerned you will be bored at home with nothing to do other than wait for labour to start, then get your hands on some good breastfeeding information or start planning to talk with breastfeeding experts so you can be as prepared as possible. Once labour begins, balance movement with rest when you feel you need it so you will have energy for however long your labour takes.