Q: My childbirth educator suggested I plan an “early labor project.” What does she mean and what can I do?

A: Early labor lasts a long time—and it’s supposed to last a long time, so you need to relax and just let it happen. A “project” can help you look inward, connect with your creativity, and focus your mind, all of which ground you before the real work of birthing begins.

I recommend cooking or baking to my clients, and I did this myself when I was pregnant. In fact, my husband says that the bread I made in early labor with my son Sebastian was the best I’ve ever baked! Why bread? It takes touch and time. Your hands determine if you need more flour, more water, more kneading. You have to work through the fatigue of your fingers and arms as you knead. You have to stretch and push the dough, even when you want to quit. And this is exactly the kind of intention that will support you in labor.