The miracle of birth is an experience that many women look forward to their whole lives! Of course, it can be a bit intimidating too, especially when you haven’t been through it before. After all, you are purchasing a 7lb baby out of your body! However, reading an honest account of the sort of things you can expect can help to alleviate those nerves and put you in a much more calm and serene position for when Baby does decide to arrive. Luckily, it’s that kind of information that you can read all about in my post below. So what are you waiting for momma?
There are plenty of choices to be made beforehand
For many women, labor is scary because of the lack of control they experience. After all your body does take over and does what it’s designed to do. However, usually, this is something of a relief and allows the woman that is giving birth to relax and lean into the process.
Also, do remember that labor isn’t like it used to be back in the old days, in fact, women are prioritized and involved in modern labor situations. Something that means there are plenty of choices to be made both during the process of giving birth and beforehand.
One such choice is to come up with a birth plan. A plan of action that lets those around you know what your preferences are concerning how to give birth, the pain relief you will receive, and any other details that you find pertinent.
A critical choice here is whether you will give birth in the hospital, a birthing center, or even at home. The latter being an option that is increasingly becoming more popular, partly because of the excellent home care midwives can now offer, along with the fact that home birth can feel a lot calmer as well.
Of course, it’s also essential that you write down your preferences for pain relief too, including whether you want gas and air, or an epidural. The latter being a spinal blocker that can make giving birth much less painful. Something that makes it a popular and welcome choice for many women giving birth.
You’re not actually in active labor until you 511
The thing about labor is that even if you are having contractions, you aren’t actually in it official until they follow a 511 pattern. That is that they are lasting for a minute, five minutes apart. Of course, this can be a bit confusing especially when it is your first child because Braxton Hicks and starting construction can immediately make you think that labor has begun.
Luckily, if you get some tips on how to time contractions before you reach the end of your pregnancy, you can be much better prepared to know when the baby is actually coming. Something that can reduce a lot of the stress and worry of being in labor as it takes the urgency out of the situation.
You may need some extra help while giving birth
Next, don’t forget that no matter how much you want an entirely natural birth, you may need a little help when birthing your baby. In fact, this is incredibly common and is often done to speed the labor process along and ensure Baby comes out as healthy and as happy as possible.
In fact, there is a range of different procedures that this extra help may encompass including induction, where Pitocin is administered to the mother to start contractions chemically. Then there is help in the delivery rooms which may take the form of a vacuum, something that is now used instead of forceps, and on occasion, a small episiotomy may also be necessary.
Normal pants are a no-go for a good long time
Finally, it’s also good for momma to know a little about what happened after the birth as well, and one thing that you don’t tend to think about is that wearing your regular underwear isn’t going to be possible, for a while at least.
This is because after you have delivered a baby and the placenta after that, something that is usually super quick and easy, you will continue to bleed. In fact, you can expect to be given some very ‘glamorous’ pants from the hospital that will not only catch this but also will cool and soothe the area to relieve any swelling and discomfort.
Of course, you will need to continue to wear a pad for up to 5 weeks after the birth too, as this is how long it takes for all of the lining of the womb to exit your body. It sounds a bit gross I know, but just remember it is all worth it once you get to hold your little baby in your arms!