Comments by "P M" (@pm2886) on "The Guardian"
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With respect, labour starts at 4cm. Unfortunately some women think it starts at the first contraction. You can be in early labour for days before getting to 4cm, so if you "over react" to those early contractions it will exhaust you, and exhaust your baby. It also makes you produce too much adrenaline, which can really interfere with progress, further causing problems for baby. I don't blame new mother's for this ... I blame those who are dishonest about the pain. When you're led to believe that labour feels like "bad period pain", you're going to lose your mind by 4cm. Childbirth educators, mother's, sisters, aunties, and friends .... please be honest about what to expect - it gives women the power to actually ride out the pain without losing their minds. It won't be such a shock.
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