What are some of the early signs of labor? Are you ready? After 9 months it all comes down to this. Most women are both excited and a little nervious at the same time. During pregnancy, the greatest fear of a woman who has never conceived a child before is labor pain. Many pregnant women are afraid that they will miss the signs of labor, making them unprepared for their child’s delivery. The amazing thing about pregnancy and the female body is that no pregnant woman can miss the early signs of labor because her body will provide her with clues to tell her that the start of labor is approaching.
For some women, labor only lasts a few hours, while others experience more than a day of labor. Although this part of pregnancy is the most dreaded time, many women say that it is as rewarding as it is a scary experience.
Majority of women experience the early signs of labor weeks before the actual delivery. These signs will help the mother to prepare her body for the approaching delivery. If this is your first pregnancy, expect the early signs of labor to occur weeks before the estimated schedule of your delivery. Otherwise, you can expect these signs to be present a few hours before delivery. More on Pregnancy: Early Signs Of Labor
![[Post to Twitter]](http://pregnancy.more4kids.info/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter-big2.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to Yahoo Buzz]](http://pregnancy.more4kids.info/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-buzz-big2.png){kind=icon}
![[Post to StumbleUpon]](http://pregnancy.more4kids.info/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-su-big2.png){kind=icon}
Filed under Labor, Pregnancy, Stages Of Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
Ready, set, go!! Just the thougt of pregnancy and labor can be hard work, and a little bit scary if this is your first time! If we were contractors we’d raise our rates because labor required in pregnancy is so intensive! Some women avoid the whole process by going the route of the Caesarean, more commonly known as the C-section. C-sections have their own set of complications to consider that might be comparable to or even worse than pregnancy and labor.
Preparing for pregnancy labor is possible and although you can’t avoid it completely, some success in dealing with it is possible.
More on From Pregnancy To Labor - An Amazing Journey
Filed under Childbirth, Labor, Pregnancy by Julie
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
Filed under Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
by Patricia Hughes
The final stage of pregnancy can cause anxiety for many women. 
Fear of labor is real. A study done in Sweden in 2001 showed that fear resulted in more medication used in labor. The study was done on first time mothers and showed that more drugs were needed for women who exhibited fear before and during labor. Fear can take many forms, such as the fear of the unknown, pain or fear that results from hearing horror stories from friends or family about difficult labors.
Fear of labor has gained attention in recent years. In the year 2000, an article in the British Journal of Psychiatry addressed this fear. It is known as tokophobia, or the fear of childbirth. This fear is now classified as a psychiatric disorder. The study discussed in the article showed that fears resulted in an increase in night mares and panic attacks.
More on Childbirth - How to Calm Fear of Labor
Filed under Childbirth, Labor, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
by Patricia Hughes
Aromatherapy offers numerous benefits both during pregnancy and during labor. In pregnancy, aromatherapy is effective for reducing some of the common discomforts of pregnancy. When you are in labor, using essential oils can be helpful for relaxation and pain relief. Aromatherapy helps create a comfortable environment for labor.
Essential oils that are beneficial during pregnancy include lavender, chamomile, rose, ylang ylang and jasmine. Some essential oils are beneficial for morning sickness. Our sense of smell will be more acute during pregnancy. Sometimes cooking odors or other household odors can trigger nausea. Aromatherapy can help reverse this effect. Citrus oils such as orange, lemon and grapefruit are safe and effective for nausea.
More on Aromatherapy during Pregnancy and Labor
by Patricia Hughes
More on Tips For A Labor Coach
Filed under Childbirth, Labor, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
by Patricia Hughes
The first stage of labor breaks down into three parts, early, active and transition phases. In early labor, you may not be sure if you are actually in labor. Contractions may be irregular in the beginning, with more than ten minutes between contractions. The pain isn’t too intense and you may not be sure if these are real contractions. Gradually, the pains get longer and stronger, indicating real labor.
Filed under Childbirth, Labor by More4kids Inc.
by Patricia Hughes
More on Pain Relief Options for Labor
Filed under Childbirth by More4kids Inc.
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?More on Pain Management during Labor and Delivery
Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
Acupressure is a form of Chinese medicine which uses pressure at certain points in the body to relieve pain. These pressure points are also known as meridians. There are 14 meridians located throughout the body. Acupressure is a method of pain relief has been used successfully by thousands of women for natural pain relief.More on Acupressure for Relieving Pregnancy and Labor Discomforts
If you are planning a natural birth for your baby, you will want to spend some time learning natural methods for coping with contractions. In classes intended for natural birth, you will learn a variety of techniques for coping with pain in labor. These techniques should be practiced throughout pregnancy to relieve anxiety and prepare for the birth of your baby, and even if you are not planning a completely natural childbirth, they will help you relax and reduce anxiety and stress that comes with pregnancy. Breathing Exercises
More on Relaxation Exercises for Pregnancy and Labor
