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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Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
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
Filed under Post Pregnancy, Pregnancy 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.
by Jennifer Shakeel
Most women have heard that once you give birth to your child, you may experience symptoms of depression, or what many refer to as the “baby blues”. Many believe this is caused by hormonal changes along with the adjustments of a newborn that needs care 24 hours a day seven days a week. Most women are sleep deprived and have little energy, which could contribute to symptoms of depression. It is important for women and their families to be aware of the signs and symptoms of a more serious condition, postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression, a depression diagnosed right after childbirth, is a serious illness that affects a woman’s ability to complete every day tasks and can cause them to become despondent. Not only does the inability to care for her own personal needs, she begins to become unable to care for her baby, and to meet other family members needs. During a woman’s pregnancy, the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are at increased levels. Within the first 24 hours after giving birth, these hormone levels rapidly return to normal. Many researchers believe that this huge decrease in hormone levels may be the leading cause of depression.
More on Postpartum Depression: Signs and Symptoms
Filed under Post Pregnancy, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
When you choose your obstetrician, you are also choosing the hospital at which you’ll give birth. Therefore, you have to start thinking about which hospital to deliver at before selecting your obstetrician, because your doctor will have admitting privileges at a certain hospital. You may have to switch doctors in order to deliver at the hospital you want.
You can start your research by asking your current gynecologist about good hospitals. A good hospital usually means one that is less than an hour away, and is easily accessible by car. It is especially beneficial if the hospital is easily accessible by the interstate system, since you will not want to experience traffic while you are in labor.
More on Choosing A Hospital To Give Birth
Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
Just as this is an exciting and nerve wracking time for you, it is equally so for dad. Unfortunately, we tend to overlook dad’s role and dad’s feelings. We just assume he will figure it out and do what is expected of him when the contractions start, the baby comes and things need to be taken care of. Then, let’s be honest, we are exasperated when dad doesn’t do what we expect him to do. Ladies, just as you need to be prepared for having a baby, so does dad. So let’s help him out.
The first thing that expectant fathers need to know is where the hospital is. Don’t laugh or overlook this key piece of info. You also don’t want to assume that he knows where it is and where he is suppose to go. Where we used to live a lady in labor goes to the ER and is then sent to labor and delivery. Where we live now, and the hospital we will be going to, they have a separate labor unit, which you go directly in to. So dad needs to know how to get there from work, and he needs to know where he needs to go.
More on Tips to Help Dad Perpare for Childbirth
Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
by Jennifer Shakeel
While I truly hate to burst the bubble that contractions only happen during labor, they can actually start weeks even months before you actually arrive to that magical day when you baby decides to enter the world. Depending on which pregnancy this is for you and how far along you are will depend on when you actually notice the contractions. One thing that you will notice for sure is the pain and discomfort that they cause the closer you get to special day.
For example, I have been having contractions for the last month. First they were just annoying more then anything, they had little to no consistency to them so they were nothing to be alarmed about. They would come and go and drinking a big glass of cold water helped to calm them down and stop them for awhile. Take note of this, if you want to stop the annoying contractions start hydrating yourself. Many times we don’t realize that we are dehydrated and that alone can cause contractions.
More on Contractions, Contractions!! Natural Pain Relief Options
Filed under Childbirth, Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
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
Filed under Childbirth by More4kids Inc.
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.
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
Filed under Labor, Pregnancy, Stages Of Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.
