Congratulations! The long wait is almost over, and soon you\u2019ll be in labor. I\u2019ve given birth to 5 babies, including one by an emergency cesarean section. I\u2019ve also delivered thousands of babies as a nurse midwife at Kaiser Permanente. The bottom line is that each labor and birth are different.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a list of things to know about labor and delivery that may be helpful.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s common to go to the hospital thinking you\u2019re in labor and then go home. False contractions are called Braxton Hicks and can easily be confused for labor.<\/p>\n
Actual labor has the following characteristics:<\/p>\n
We call it a “bag” because it\u2019s not your entire wardrobe! What should you pack? Bring:<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll provide other items you need during your stay at the hospital<\/p>\n
We usually refer to Birth Plans as Birth Preferences. You can\u2019t plan exactly what will happen at your baby\u2019s birth, but you can think about your ideal experience. Research indicates that people have more positive labor experiences if they communicate their wishes in advance.<\/p>\n
Remember that you can’t plan for many things, such as the length of labor, any complications, and how your baby tolerates labor. Consider filling out a birth plan<\/a> and sharing it with your partner and care team.<\/p>\n Being in the water has a unique calming and pain-reducing effect. All Kaiser Permanente facilities have showers for you to use, and some even have tubs.<\/p>\n Being in the water has so many perks, including:<\/p>\n Like being in water, getting out of bed and moving around can help labor progress and give you a better sense of control.<\/p>\n Know that your body is in charge! There are so many sensations you\u2019lll experience in labor. Sometimes, these feelings can be new and feel overwhelming. You may even feel out of control.<\/p>\n My first baby came much faster than expected. I thought I was prepared, but I ended up screaming my baby into the world! It went so fast that I didn’t have time to even think about how to cope.<\/p>\n There is no way around it\u2014pushing is usually hard work! It\u2019s common to get to a point where you feel like you can\u2019t do it anymore, but you know what? You will!<\/p>\n Pushing is the home stretch to meeting your baby, but it can be long. Pushing for three or more hours can happen with a first baby, but second babies usually come much faster.<\/p>\n There are many positions for pushing and birthing. Talk with your doctor or midwife about trying different positions.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re upright, gravity can help bring your baby down. This position opens your pelvis. Squatting gives the bottom area of your pelvis about 20 percent more space!<\/p>\n Other positions to consider are hands and knees or lying on your side. Both positions can decrease tearing and open your pelvis.<\/p>\n One thing is certain: labor and birth are not as they appear on TV. It doesn\u2019t fit nicely into a 30-minute TV episode. Labor and birth are:<\/p>\n Birth isn’t over with holding your baby in your arms. You still have the placenta to deliver. It typically takes from a few minutes to an hour for the placenta to come after a vaginal delivery.<\/p>\n The placenta is soft, and you usually don\u2019t have to do anything for it to come out.<\/p>\n So now you’re done? Not so fast! Most vaginal deliveries end up with some tearing of your vagina or perineum to give baby room to be born. Those tears usually need to be sewn up. Repairs take a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the severity.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll make you as comfortable as possible during the repair, and you\u2019ll have your brand-new baby to distract you.<\/p>\n Ice packs to the area of your stitches are beneficial during the first 24 hours to reduce discomfort.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t get so excited! We call it massage, but unfortunately, it doesn\u2019t feel good. Your care team will check your uterus frequently after birth to make sure it’s firm and the bleeding is normal. We massage through your abdomen. Why did someone name it “massage”? Not cool.<\/p>\n Every labor and birth are different. I encourage you to be flexible and know that you\u2019re strong. With the support of your care team, you can handle whatever comes your way!<\/p>\n American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/strong><\/p>\n How to Tell When Labor Begins<\/a><\/p>\n American Academy of Pediatrics<\/strong><\/p>\n4. Comfort with water<\/h3>\n
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5. Sensations of labor<\/h3>\n
6. Push, push, push<\/h3>\n
7. Birthing positions<\/h3>\n
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8. Delivering the placenta<\/h3>\n
9. Stitches<\/h3>\n
10. \u201cMassage\u201d time<\/h3>\n
Resources for Parents<\/h3>\n