Focusing on something other than labour can help distract you from pain.

Tommitrise Collins had a dilemma. As a university student in America, she needed to sit a two-hour psychology exam as part of her degree in criminal justice. The online test was scheduled for November 12.

That would have been fine, except Collins was a little busy that day; the 21 year old happened to be in labour.

While the solution seemed simple - ditch the test and focus on having her baby - Collins decided to do the opposite, sitting the online exam while in her hospital bed. That's right - while she was in labour.

"It took me 4-5 hours after the opening of the test to try to put the pain to the side and do it so I wouldn't have to do it later and I could enjoy my newborn," she told Fox 5 News.

Her sister Shanell Chapman was so inspired by Collins' determination, she posted about her on Facebook. "Contractions 3 minutes apart and still takes her Psychology Test! You are going to be a great mom baby sis!" she wrote.

Collins not only finished the test in less time than allocated (she completed the two-hour test in 90 minutes), she also passed and became an internet sensation when her sister's photo went viral.

The new mum isn't the first, and definitely won't be the last, woman to choose to do something unexpected during labour. 

When Renata Ogilvie, 34, was in labour she didn't have any exams looming. But, as director of a communications company, she had two major public events coming up, both of which required intense organising.

In between contractions, she checked her emails and discovered some pretty "urgent" requests heading her way.

Instead of choosing to deal with them at a more convenient time, Ogilvie decided to hold a meeting with her business partner, right there and then.

Luckily, Ogilvie's business partner is also her sister, so at least she didn't have to usher a bunch of colleagues in work suits into her delivery room. But she did have to tap in to her professional side. "Strangely enough, I was able to concentrate and stay in work mode while I was in labour," she says.

That said, she needed to keep "pausing" the meeting during each contraction. Amazingly, she was able to launch straight back into business mode after each contraction ended.

Ogilvie's husband, who was also in the delivery room, found the situation "hilarious". Her midwife also said that attending a business meeting during labour was a "first" for her.

"We accomplished a lot," Ogilvie notes, adding that when they were finished the meeting her sister went out to grab them all coffees. By the time she returned with their steaming brews, Ogilive had a surprise for her.

"While she was gone I had my baby girl!" Ogilvie says.

While Lyza Saint Ambrosena, then 28, didn't need to work during labour, the impending delivery of her baby caused her to make a drastic decision. While in labour, she decided her long locks simply had to go.

"I was in the shower and called out to my husband for the scissors," she says. "He came rushing in wondering what was going on and I told him I was cutting my hair."

Saint Ambrosena chopped her lengthy tresses, giving herself a short bob. She said her flowing hair had been "frustrating" her for a while, but that she was hesitant to cut it as it felt part of her personality.

During labour, those concerns flew out the window. She was far more interested in getting her hair out of the way - for good. 

Even though the chop was a spur of the moment decision made at an unusual time, Saint Ambrosena was glad she did it.

"I loved the look of it… It fell around my neck all curly, and was dry by the time baby was born. I didn't regret it one bit!" she says.

Midwife Amanda Bude is a big believer in women doing whatever feels right to them when in labour, as long as they stay safe, of course.

"Often if there is an obstacle in their mind, they won't labour properly until the issue is solved or rectified so they are then at peace mentally to move forward and welcome their bub," she explains.

Focusing on something other than labour can also help distract you from pain, says Bude. She adds: "I don't believe in telling mums to 'save their energy' for labour".

However, she says that the majority of women in labour can't even imagine sitting an exam or attending a meeting, which is totally fine.

"Once labour is established, most mums-to-be establish their mindset on meeting their baby, connecting with their support person and keeping calm and relaxed."

After all, giving birth is a big enough achievement without having to consider "achieving" anything else at the same time!

- Essential Baby

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