A birth plan is a written document that helps a woman expresses her desires for labor and delivery. It does not guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen, but creates a plan for all involved to make this the experience that the mother feels will be the best for herself and the baby. You will share what you write with the birth team that helps in labor and delivery. When you write your birth plan let it reflect some of your personality, what your hopes and plans are, how you feel about the birth. Your birth plan strategy is not just a laundry list of what you want but is a way for everyone to work together.
Before you start writing your birth plan you will have probably read a lot about childbirth and the experiences others have had in delivery. You should put the things that are most important to you about the birth at the top of the list, or underline them or use a highlighter. Once you have a satisfactory list, type it or write it neatly. An example of things to include would be a wish to avoid drugs, and an epistemology or you may say that you wish to be able to walk during labor. Sometimes we do not get all we want, but if, for example your number one priority is to not be separated from your baby after birth, and that happens, you have had a successful birth.
Whether you are a first time parent, or this is a second or third pregnancy, you probably have some idea about what you want from the delivery experience. The birth plan strategy is the place that you can write that you want a natural birth, with minimal or no drugs. You may also specify that you do want medication, and which ones are acceptable. When you make these decisions before labor begins, you do so with a clear mind. The written birth plan speaks for you when you are too busy to speak during contractions. Always be aware that a delivery can go in unexpected directions, and make it clear that you understand this. The birth team is not your opponent, you will want to be certain that they understand that you know that they will do their best for you, but sometimes things are different than what you planned.More on Birth Plan Ideas and Strategies
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Many people experience night sweats. This is a symptom associated with menopause, thyroid conditions, obesity and pregnancy. Genetics plays a role in the tendency to sweat at night. If you experienced night sweats prior to pregnancy, you may be more likely to have problems when you are pregnant. Make sure you consult with your health care professional.
How and when night sweats are experienced during pregnancy varies widely. Some women have an occasional episode and wake up soaked with sweat, but sleep uninterrupted most of the time. Others have problems frequently, particularly in the first and third trimesters when hormone fluctuations are most common. For some, the problem is resolved when the baby is born. For others, night sweats may continue in the weeks after the baby is born until the hormone levels gradually return to normal.
Causes of Night Sweats
Hormones are to blame for most of the discomforts and changes in pregnancy and sweating at night is no exception. Lower estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to function improperly. The hypothalamus is a section of the brain that is responsible for regulating the body’s temperature. Normally, it responds to changes in temperature and releases excess heat in the body through sweat on a hot day.
During pregnancy, changes in estrogen levels can mistakenly be read by the hypothalamus, causing more heat to be produced by the body. This results in sweating to release the heat. The physiological process is similar to what is experienced by women in peri-menopause and menopause.More on Night Sweats During Pregnancy
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by Christine Kenney
When expecting a new baby, one of the most discussed issues is whether to go with medication or to have a natural delivery. For years, the epidural gained popularity as births became a pleasant experience. Recently however, the trend has leaned more towards natural childbirth. Why is this happening, and what are the benefits to going natural?
Women who decide to attempt a natural childbirth experience have usually done some research. While medication can make it easier initially, here are a few reasons to think about going without.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Women who have not been administered medication are able to move from side to side, go the bathroom, and walk during labor. This can help relax the body. Studies have shown that women who get medication during delivery will often have a harder time changing positions after the baby has been delivered.
Mothers who go natural will also be able to assist more when it comes time to push. Your body will work better when the urge is felt. Mothers with an epidural often have longer pushing times, since your feeling is desensitized.
Most women who have a successful natural childbirth are able to walk around almost immediately. Recovery overall is quicker for natural deliveries.More on Natural Delivery and Childbirth
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Whether you are expecting your first baby or are an experienced mom, writing a birth plan helps you have the experience you want during delivery. Even though unexpected things may come up during labor, having a plan can help you feel in control when you walk through the hospital doors. Working together with your wishes, those of your partner and your doctor will help things go as desired.
What is a birth plan? It's simply a written plan that gives details on how you would like your labor to happen. It will include all the details, so that when you are in labor – and possibly not communicating so well, your nurses and doctor will have a clear outline of your expectations.
The first element of your birth plan will include what type of delivery you want to have. Some women want to schedule it in advance, know they want the epidural, and don't mind helping nature take its course. Other women want to go completely natural, with no pain medication. Others are willing to try natural with an epidural as an option. Reading up and talking with your provider and other moms on the risks and recovery will help you make the decision that is right for you.More on How to Create a Pregnancy Birth Plan
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When a woman becomes pregnant she can be both excited and a little frightened at the same time. There will be many changes happening over the next 9 months, and this is only the start of an amazing journey. Luckily we have the internet as a pregnancy resource in addition to our friends, family, books, and other helps! But the internet can be a little overwhelming too. If you Google “pregnancy”, you will find over 117,000,000 search results! So which websites will have the information you need? Here is a condensed list of what we believe are the top 25 pregnancy websites every woman should visit. They are jammed packed with information and resources. As we find or hear about more great ones we will add it to the list, so stop back. Now here is the list:Top Pregnancy Websites
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by Jennifer Shakeel
Congratulations, you have just given birth to a wonderful baby! However, as wonderful as giving birth is, the process puts tremendous stress and shock on your body. It is difficult to explain all of the complex and minute changes that your body has to go through to get your body back to pre-pregnancy status. In addition to recovering from being pregnant, the body also has to recover from the actual labor and birth of the baby, being up at all times of the night and day, severe sleep deprivation, and breastfeeding. Believe it or not your body goes through most of the changes in the first 30 days.
All of the "jobs" your body now has is often referred to the nutritional equivalent of running a half marathon… EVERY DAY. So it is important that new mothers understand that a lot of this work is done without them even realizing, so it is no wonder a mother's body and emotions are under such strain and generally leave us feeling fragile at this time. As such, emotional, physical and other issues can arise – which if not managed well can manifest into longer term problems. Studies have shown that a high percentage of new mothers in western cultures have health and sexual problems for several months to a year after delivery, and reported this as "normal".More on Pregnancy – The First 30 Days After Birth
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The anticipation of the arrival of baby is exciting and nerve wracking. You have packed the diaper bag, you have your hospital bag, you have the quickest route to the hospital planned out and you have the list of people to call on the way to the hospital. Did you stop and think about what type of pain management you were going to use during labor and delivery? Most women think they have but have you really?Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by
by Jennifer Shakeel
Congratulations! You made it through labor and delivery and you are the proud parent of one of the most beautiful babies in the world! That’s right, you can now take that big sigh of relief… you are no longer pregnant. As you lay in the hospital bed, you are overwhelmed by the desire to stand up and see your no longer pregnant body. You are almost jittery with excitement of putting on those pre-pregnancy clothes. Once the pain killers wear off you jump out of bed to stand in front of the mirror and marvel at your no longer pregnant body…
Marvel indeed! Chances are it is not what you were expecting. I can tell you that last month, as I gave birth to my third child, a scheduled C-section, I asked my doctor if while she had me open she would go ahead and do liposuction and take care of everything while she was there. She laughed and told me I really didn’t need it (music to a pregnant woman’s ears) that there was really very little fat there and she was impressed. Naturally then I was looking forward to being back to where I was before I was pregnant.
More on Adjusting To Your No Longer Pregnant Body
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by Patricia Hughes
The use of vacuum extraction or forceps occurs in about one in ten deliveries. These instruments are used in situations where the baby is not in the right position and the heart rate is showing signs of distress. It is also used at times when the mother is exhausted and unable to push the baby out. Of the two methods, vacuum extraction has grown to be far more common than forceps in most hospitals.
Several factors influence whether forceps or vacuum extraction will be used in any given situation. One factor is the skill and comfort level of the doctor. Some are just better at using one over the other. If everything else is equal, the doctor will use the method he is most comfortable with. Since the skill of the doctor is important in reducing the risk of injury, this is an important factor. More on Understanding the Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extraction
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by Jennifer Shakeel
You have turned the bend and heading for the home stretch. You have bought the adorable little onesies for the baby, maybe you have even purchased the car seat and the coming home outfit. Counting down the days until your blessed little one comes into the world. Have you taken the time though to come up your labor plan, I don’t mean what you are going to do during labor.
Relax, don’t stress… so you haven’t thought about it or don’t even know what a labor plan is. As I sit here going over my labor plan that I am hoping to kick into action any day now I am going to help you out. First things first, if you are married, does you husband work close to home or farther away? This is key. If you are at home and you go into labor, is there time for your husband to get home to take you or are you calling 911? More on Importance of Creating a Labor Plan
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by Patricia Hughes 
