Why does labor stop progressing, and how you can prevent it during pregnancy

How to Help Prevent Stalls in Labor During Pregnancy

Ugh, the dreaded stall in labor.

What hospitals often call “failure to progress” is one of the most common reasons women are told they need a C-section. I hear so many women share stories about getting “stuck” at a certain centimeter or being unable to move past a certain point in labor.

Many walk away believing there was nothing they could have done differently. Even worse, some begin to blame their bodies, assuming they were somehow dysfunctional or incapable of giving birth.

Hearing this always makes me sad.

Stalls in labor can happen, and not every stall can be prevented. However, many of the factors that contribute to slow or stalled labor can be addressed before labor even begins.

You may be wondering: How can you prevent a stall in labor?

Part of the preparation begins during pregnancy. Some of it may even begin before conception. The rest comes down to the support you receive and the choices made during labor.

When we address mobility, pelvic balance, physical tension, emotional safety, and baby’s positioning early, we may be able to reduce some of the challenges that lead to interventions later.

Here are several things you can do during pregnancy to help prepare your body for a more efficient labor.

See a Pelvic Floor Therapist

Pelvic floor therapy is not just for postpartum recovery. Seeing a pelvic floor therapist during pregnancy can help identify areas of weakness, tightness, tension, or limited mobility before they become a problem during labor.

And please do not automatically start doing Kegels if you have never had your pelvic floor assessed.

Kegels are often recommended as a one-size-fits-all pregnancy exercise, but not every woman needs to strengthen her pelvic floor. If your pelvic floor is already tight or overactive, repeatedly contracting those muscles may increase tension and make it more difficult for the pelvic floor to lengthen and release during birth.

A pelvic floor therapist can help determine what your body actually needs.

See a Prenatal Chiropractor Consistently

Your body is constantly changing throughout pregnancy. As your baby grows, your posture, center of gravity, muscles, joints, and ligaments all have to adjust.

Consistent prenatal chiropractic care may help support comfort, mobility, and balance as these changes occur. It may also help address areas of restriction that could affect how freely your pelvis moves or how much space your baby has to settle into an optimal position.

Waiting until the final weeks of pregnancy to address months or years of tension may not be enough. Consistent care gives your body more time to adapt.

Walk Regularly

Try walking at least five times a week, gradually working your way up to three miles a day if your body and healthcare provider allow it.

Walking encourages natural movement through the pelvis and can help release tension in the hips and back. This may make it easier for your baby to descend and enter the pelvis.

Walking is also beneficial for your mental health. Gentle, regular movement can reduce stress, clear your mind, and help lower anxiety as you prepare for birth.

You do not have to start with three miles. Begin where you are and gradually increase your distance as your stamina improves.

Avoid Wearing High Heels Regularly

High heels change the way you stand and walk. They shift your posture forward, shorten the calf muscles and hamstrings, and can reduce mobility through the hips and pelvis.

During pregnancy, your posture is already changing to accommodate your growing belly. Regularly wearing high heels may add even more tension and imbalance.

Choosing supportive shoes that allow your feet and ankles to move naturally can help support better alignment throughout the rest of your body.

Address Birth Trauma, Sexual Trauma, and Anxiety

Labor requires more than physical preparation. Your nervous system and emotional well-being also play an important role.

Past sexual trauma, a previous traumatic birth, fear of pain, fear of losing control, or anxiety about medical interventions can make it harder to feel safe enough to relax during labor.

This does not mean that a stall is “all in your head.” It means that the body and nervous system are connected. When the body senses danger, it may respond with tension, fear, or difficulty letting go.

It is important to discuss your fears and past experiences with a trauma-informed therapist, counselor, childbirth educator, or birth support professional. Together, you can create a plan for what will help you feel safe, supported, respected, and in control during birth.

Create Balance and Mobility in Your Body

Your muscles, ligaments, joints, and fascia all play a role in helping your baby move through the pelvis.

However, everyday habits, repetitive movements, old injuries, prolonged sitting, posture, and previous pregnancies can create imbalances throughout the body. These imbalances may reduce mobility in the pelvis, contribute to tension in the pelvic floor, or limit the space available for your baby to move and rotate.

Creating balance does not mean forcing your body into perfect alignment. It means identifying areas that are overly tight, weak, restricted, or compensating and helping them function more efficiently.

Addressing these patterns during pregnancy may reduce positioning challenges in labor. It may also help encourage a baby who is breech, posterior, or otherwise poorly positioned to find a more favorable position.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference

Some of these recommendations may surprise you. They may even seem overly simple.

But birth is a whole-body experience. The way you move, sit, walk, process stress, and care for your body throughout pregnancy can influence how prepared you feel when labor begins.

These steps cannot guarantee a specific birth outcome, and they cannot prevent every labor stall. However, they may help improve your comfort, mobility, confidence, and physical readiness for birth.

And even before labor begins, that preparation can help you feel better during pregnancy and approach birth with a stronger, more supported mindset. for better support.

If you have dealt with stalls in labor before and want more help in this area I can provide a 1:1 Body Ready Method® Prenatal Assessment.

A Body Ready Method® Prenatal Assessment takes your history, assesses your body, and looks for clues about where there may be imbalances or restricted mobility that could cause hang-ups in labor. You’ll receive personalized exercises to address your specific body, improve overall mobility, and support a better pregnancy and birth experience.

BRM® is an approach that uses whole-body functional tools with the perinatal population and can help with:

● Body balancing to help the baby find their best position

● Prenatal aches and pains

● Pelvic floor dysfunction

● Core support to minimize issues with abdominal separation and diastasis recti

● A more efficient birth by optimizing the body during pregnancy

● A smoother postpartum recovery

If you don't want to wait until the free clinic, you can always book a 1-1 assessment with me, or a Body Ready Birth Class or Spinning Babies Parent Educator Class, for more in-depth knowledge and application!