“My water broke!” is something we hear quite often, but what happens next? Before you wheelchair your way into the hospital doors, we will discuss how to best prepare for your visit. Here are The Cradle Boss Baby’s 8 essential tips for your long-awaited labor and delivery visit.
- Take a maternity tour of your hospital: We recommend doing this in the beginning of your third trimester. Visiting the place where you plan to deliver will help to calm nerves, familiarize yourself with the labor and delivery team and see exactly where you’ll be on your big day. Since the pandemic, virtual tours have become a great alternative option too!
- Choose your support person: This is a person who will be with you throughout your birthing experience. Whether it’s a spouse, family member, friend, or midwife, he/she should be encouraging and excited for you. You may be allowed to bring in more than one individual in the delivery room with you depending on your hospital’s policy.
- What are contractions? In few words, they help to push your baby out. Labor contractions happen when the muscles of your uterus tighten and then relax. As early as week 20 of pregnancy, you may notice “Braxton Hicks Contractions”, which are false labor contractions in your abdomen. Real contractions typically start at week 40 of pregnancy. If earlier, you may expect preterm or premature labor.
- Early Labor Contractions: During “true labor”, contractions start as persistent and grow to be stronger and more frequent through every labor stage. In early labor (which could last hours or even days), you will be experience contractions at home. Do your best to relax with music, light walks and showers/baths.
- I Need Pain Medication: Once you have arrived at the hospital, your cervix is expected to dilate to 10cm (crazy, right?) so contractions are expected to be more intense and regular. If you feel symptoms such as leg cramps, nausea and back pain, a doctor may recommend anesthesia or pain medication to help with any discomfort.
- Seek Comfort During Active Labor: Your supportive person(s) and delivery team want to make you feel comfortable just as much as you do. Have you ever wanted to roll on a birthing ball? Now’s the time! Heck, why not ask your spouse for a massage? In transition, or the final part of active labor, contractions can last up to 90 seconds! Consider changing your position to feel most comfortable in times of discomfort.
- That’s Right, Push! In the second stage of labor, it can take from a few minutes to a few hours to push your little one out. If you’ve had an epidural, it may take even longer. This is completely NORMAL. Remember when we talked about changing positions? That applies here too. You can push while you sit, kneel or even, squat. After your baby’s head is delivered, his/her body will follow.
- The Third Stage: OMG you did it! You’re a mom! Now all we have to do is move the placenta into the birth canal. Not that hard, right? After your baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped and cut, the placenta is out. Delivering the placenta can take up to 60 minutes, so cherish your first moments with your cute newborn in the meantime. Through less painful contractions and gentle pushing, you will deliver the placenta and your uterus will contract to its normal size. You may repair any tears to your vaginal region or be stitched during this final stage.
Was your preparation and pain worth it? You bet! You welcomed the world with a new human and that’s nothing short of remarkable. Give yourself a pat on the back (oops, not yet…it still hurts).
Next time on The Cradle Boss Baby’s “Preparing for Pregnancy” Series, we will discuss all things postpartum and more. While you wait, check out our other blog articles to help you on your new mom journey!
