This accessible text highlights what we know about "early labour". Drawing on cutting-edge research and the expertise of an international team of authors, it looks at how maternity services currently care for women in the early phase of labour and discusses where and how this care could be improved. The early phase of labour is an area of tension for women, midwives and other healthcare professionals. Current services often fail women, putting the onus on them to decide when to come into hospital and then sending them home 'not in labour', creating a revolving door that can lead to anxiety, stress, fear and negative communication between women and midwives. This book explores why this happens and the challenges that it places on women and the midwives that care for them. It works to define what "early labour" is and teases out some of the issues that definitions of the early phase of labour raise for both woman-centred care and the management of services. Presenting innovative approaches to practice in this contested area, this book includes vignettes from women exploring their experiences of the early phase of labour in different models of care. Key point summaries and boxed recommendations for practice help readers transfer their learning to practice. This is an essential read for all midwifery students and staff. It is an important reference for paramedics, obstetricians, and other health professionals working in maternity care.