Birth

 Introduction

The birth of a child is quite easily the most anticipated step for a woman during her nine months of pregnancy.  There is great excitement as the opportunity to see your little one is drawing near.  There is fear of the pain of childbirth or the uncertainty or how things will actually play out, there is also fear that something could go wrong or that the baby will be injured or unhealthy.  Many first time parents are uncertain about their ability to be good parents and to care for a totally dependant child.  And still for some the birth of a child is something that they have experienced before and there is little drama at all.  Whether you are a first time mother or an expert mother, it is helpful to be reminded of the processes that are involved when it comes time to give birth.  In the paragraphs that follow the basics of birth will be discussed.  Hopefully what you read here will ease your worries and make the prospect of giving birth at least a little less scary.

Labor and delivery

Some women spend a great deal of time and money preparing for the birth of their child and while it is encouraged to do whatever you think that you should to prepare yourself for the birth of your baby it may also be helpful to keep in mind that your body was built to carry, nourish, and safely deliver your baby.  In most cases your body will do what it was intended to do and you will just need to prepare yourself for the ride.  The birthing process will run its course, whatever that may be, your job is to be as prepared for it as possible.  Some of the factors that affect the course of labor that you may or may not have any control over include your health, nutrition, size and shape of your pelvis, size and presentation of the baby, your educational preparation for labor and birth, and the practice of exercises, relaxation and breathing techniques.

 For most first time moms it is the beginning of the labor process that holds the most mystery.  Ask any mom, you do not know what a contraction is going to feel like until it actually happens.  Some women experience Braxton Hicks contractions but even these fake-out contractions are hard to mistake for the real thing when the time comes.  Many first time mothers fear the inability to predict exactly what your individual labor will be like, or when it may begin.  So know that in the great majority of cases you will have at least some clear signs that labor is coming. 

The most common signs that labor may soon begin include the baby dropping into the pelvis thus making your abdomen usually appears lower and more protruding. You may experience a greater ease in breathing, relief from heartburn and an ability to eat larger portions due to this drop that has occurred and relieved some of the pressure from the higher area of the body.  But this lower position is not always a welcomed change as the position combined with the weight of a growing baby can lead to increased backache and sacroiliac discomfort, increased awkwardness in walking, increased frequency of urination, frequent bowel movements (these may be experienced within 48 hours of labor, cleansing the lower bowel in preparation for birth), and diarrhea or flu like symptoms without fever.  Other signs that the time to give birth is approaching include indigestion, nausea, or vomiting a day or so before labor begins as well as increased vaginal discharge, and an increase in Braxton-Hicks contractions.

Women who are anticipating the birth of their child may be worried by a few of the signs that labor is close.  Some signs that it is almost time to deliver include possible "bloody show" or the release of slightly brown, pink or blood-tinged mucus from effacement and dilation (the thinning and opening) of the cervix, causing the mucus plug to be released from the cervix.
It is also common to lose 1-3 pounds of fluid before labor begins as a result of hormonal shifts so do not be overly concerned that after 9 months of gaining weight you may be loosing it suddenly.  And then there is the concern of having your water break.  When a woman's water breaks, chances are that she will deliver within 24 hours and this is definitely a good time to get to the hospital.  Depending on the location of the break in the amniotic sac, the break can feel like a gush, or an uncontrolled trickle of fluid coming from the vagina.  While many women are nervous that they will be in a public or otherwise embarrassing situation when their water breaks, take comfort in knowing that the weight of the baby will cause gravity to form a natural plug for you and that those who may observe this incident will be able to see clearly that you are very pregnant and will be more likely to want to help you, not laugh at you.

Epidurals and other labor medications

Most mothers will tell you that giving birth hurts.  While there are those women out there who have an incredibly high tolerance to pain or a mastery of their body's, most of us are going to wish that labor and more specifically the pain of contractions are over before they even start.  Fortunately we live in a day and age where we do not have to find ways to endure the worst pains of child birth if we do not want to.  There are a wide range of labor medications that you can choose from.  Common types of labor medications include prescription and non-prescription strength pain relievers, regional anesthesia, local block, epidurals, cesarean section medications, labor augmentation/induction, and postpartum medications.  Medications are used for reasons other than to block out the pain.  Some women need pain medications to prevent an unsafe rise in blood pressure or to promote progression of delivery by allowing the mother to relax.  Women can become very tired, especially after many hours of labor and medication may be what they need to endure pain and build the energy that they need to get through the birth.  Each individual has their own beliefs and wishes regarding the use of medication and while it is the woman's right to make these personal medical decisions, it is in both the woman's and the baby's best interest to listen to the advise given to them by physicians and nurses and be open to suggestions of alternate pain relief measures if the need for them arose. 

 There are ways that you can minimize the need for medication.  First, you should be prepared for what you are going to face.  Giving birth is very hard, but it is also very rewarding.  Keep this in mind and try to just take each contraction one at a time.  Lean on your spouse or other support system for encouragement.  Be willing to listen to the suggestions that they are giving you.  Relax and even nap whenever the opportunity presents itself.  Conserve your energy for when you will need it most.  Be informed.  If the time comes to receive pain medication, ease your uncertainty or stress over the issue by finding out before hand what the purpose of common labor room drugs are, what the risks are, what the alternatives (if any) are, and what would happen if medication were delayed (i.e. how long would it take for the medication to start working once it is administered).

Cesarean birth (C-section)

Having a cesarean birth, means your baby is delivered through incisions in the abdominal wall and uterus instead of being delivered vaginally. Some cesarean births are planned while others are not.  Planned Cesarean births are known about ahead of time because for the safety of the mother and baby it has been determined that a vaginal delivery has too many risks.  A planned Cesarean birth is most frequently the result of a baby that is not in the proper position in the birth canal, if the baby's head cannot fit through the pelvis, if the umbilical cord is around the neck of the baby, or if the placenta is covering the cervix.  All of these, and other situations where a C-section is required, go by specific names that you would do well to at least be familiar with.  Cesarean births that are not planned and occur because of events in labor that indicate a vaginal delivery is not possible or that a vaginal delivery is in some way dangerous for the mother and/or baby.   Many Cesarean births are not planned, so it is important to go over the process that will take place in the even that you will need a Cesarean section before it happens.  It is also wise to educate yourself on the procedures of the hospital that you will be staying at when it comes to delivering by C-section.