Thursday, May 14, 2009

Labor and Delievery

I have about a dozen friends (seriously) about to have a baby in the next couple of months. I thought it would be great to give them some advice for the Labor and Delivery. I know I appreciated any help/advice I got and I'm sure they would too.

Labor and Delivery ADVICE?


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10 comments:

  1. The MonkeysMay 18, 2009 at 1:42 PM

    Labor and delivery is all about the nurse that you get and that is luck of the draw. So that wasn't much advice! Go to a hospital you like, they will generally have nurses you like. Expect to be there for a long time, then if you aren't, it will be a pleasant surprise. Don't go until you can't stand it any longer, otherwise you are guaranteed to be there much longer. The longer you can go without being hooked up to all that junk and having someone want to monitor you constantly, the better and the more comfortable!
    The only other advice I can give, since every birth is different- even each one of your children will be different- is take a shower while you are in labor if you can or do the whirlpool thing. It really eases the pain!

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  2. Brittany CraneMay 18, 2009 at 6:43 PM

    Walking around really helped me when the pain got unbearable.

    Also, sitting in a tub made things a little better.

    Get a doula or birth assistant. Someone who can stay with you during the labor and give you firm directions. Ben would try to tell me to do something and I would just yell at him. However, when my birth assistant would tell me the same thing I'd listen. Just one of those things I guess. Although, honestly I couldn't have done it without her! She knew so much and saved me. I will forever praise her name.

    Remember your body was made to have babies!

    If you want to go natural do it somewhere where an epidural is NOT even an option. Because if it is an option you WILL take it. :)

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  3. Amy NelsonMay 18, 2009 at 7:42 PM

    Be nice to the nurses, and they will be nice to you. They're not trying to torture you, they're doing things as fast as they can. Really.

    To the husbands who may be reading this, your jokes are not funny until after the drugs have taken effect. My husband tried, both times. (His favorite is asking the doctor if he gets a discount if he cuts the umbilical cord himself.)

    Even if you plan on getting drugs, prepare yourself for the possibility that you might need to tough it out a little longer than you'd originally planned. The anesthesiologist may not be available right away.

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  4. StaceyMay 18, 2009 at 9:30 PM

    I'm with The Monkey Bunch...my nurse made the experience super -- well, as wonderful as it could have been. Lately, I've been thinking I should have named my 3 year old after her!! Summer - I will NEVER, EVER forget her. I don't know if it's normal or not, but I don't think she ever left the room except to run after the doctor when I discovered what it felt like when I needed to push...maybe she was there the whole time because it all happened so fast...??? I don't know.

    Presently though, I have no labor and delivery advice. Mostly the things I'm remembering lately have something to do with laying in a hospital bed and screaming to myself (in my head)..."I change my mind!! I don't want to do this anymore!!!! I CHANGE MY MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

    ...yeah...it was obviously too late for that...

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  5. KateMay 19, 2009 at 8:25 PM

    Just let your body do its thing! I agree with Brittany, your body was made to have babies! It's kind of hard to stay calm during the whole process, but as much as possible, relax and trust that your body will do what needs to be done. It helped me to remember how billions of women had done it before me. Labor and delivery is an amazing experience, and as crazy as it is, enjoy it. Even if it doesn't go exactly the way you planned, love it, because there's nothing elso like it, and you'll be telling and retelling that story for the rest of your life!

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  6. Jill CollierMay 20, 2009 at 1:13 AM

    All I can say is epidural, hehe, but that is just me and I know a lot of women prefer natural birth, which is something to admire for sure. I felt STRONG contractions before both my epidurals and it was enough to make me want to die, but amazingly I was able to survive it. Your body just takes over and as soon as the baby is out you feel SO much relief! Listen to the nurses and doctors, they know what they are doing even though you might not like it. It has helped me to squeeze something too during the pain, which was usually my husband's hand, sorry Gavin!!! It helped to get my mind off of the pain also by watching TV or something. Bottom line, I did it and so ANY WOMAN can too because I am the biggest baby :)

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  7. BrittanyMay 26, 2009 at 12:30 PM

    I agree with Jill Collier, get an epidural! Well, if you're a wimp like me anyways :) I have no idea how so many women can go natural. I actually got to enjoy my labor and delivery, well once I got the epidural anyways. I did get to walk around before and then I got to relax in bed with some pain meds before I actually got the epidural. Once I finally received the epidural I was able to watch tv and fall asleep. I woke up to the feeling of having to go to the bathroom, yes that means the baby is coming! I had no idea why I was feeling like that, but now I know. During the actual pushing I was actually able to enjoy the company of my husband and my nurse by talking and joking around in between pushing, which was wonderful! Oh, and I let my epidural wear off just enough right before so I could feel myself pushing, that is one piece of advice I would give, let it wear off just enough to push. Oh, and enjoy your time there and appreciate your husband, he's scared to death and has no idea what to do. But, being a man, they always have to have a solution to every problem, even if it annoys you to to hear it from them, be nice :) haha.

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  8. mkchildsMay 28, 2009 at 12:00 PM

    Well i was one of those dozen friends i think this post was for and wish i could have read this before had him. he had to come early because i had high blood pressure. I had planned on going natural, and did so until they came in (over half way there) and told me they had to hook me up to Magnisium and therefore had to put a cathider in....all being tough went out the door, labor pains are one thing, but labor pains and a cathider being put in is in my book just asking a little too much. So i caved, and my sweet dr was so glad (he supported my decision to go natural, but told me he was glad i chose to get one in the end... it lowered my blood pressure getting the epideral which was a relif.) I also let it wear off in the end, and think that is the best way to go.
    I agree that the nurses make the difference. Just pray you get the good ones!!
    Labor was not as bad as i had condured it up to be, my advice is never watch the stupid birthing story tv show before having a baby....it freaks you out for no good reason!! :)
    Just enjoy it, and dont get irritated when your hubby wont leave your side to take care of himself, i got mad at my husband and he was just so sweet and still never left me...i am grateful now...just remember he has your best intrest in mind.

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  9. Dana ScarbroughJune 6, 2009 at 9:57 PM

    I'd have to say that NOT everyone's body is made for having babies! Why do some people have fertility issues? It doesn't always go perfect with a midwife or any other way of having a baby. Its a tough thing, so just give yourself a pat on the back no matter how it turns out! I AM IN CHARGE! Just tell yourself that over and over and over because you really have more power than you might initially think. There are plenty of crappy nurses out there- and you can "fire" them if its not working for you. Demand someone else if you need to. You don't have to go natural to be a "real" woman, but you don't HAVE to have an epidural either. You know how your body is feeling, and how much you're capable of doing right after having a baby- not the nurses. You have to do what's best for YOU. My labor and delivery experience was not at ALL what I had thought or planned out, with plenty of complications, but the thing I was most grateful for was that I had prepared my mind beforehand that things may be different than I had planned. They typically are with labor and delivery!!! Good luck- and your baby really is worth whatever you have to do to get them here!!!

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  10. Jen and FieldingSeptember 12, 2012 at 9:33 AM

    hmmm...most of these comments seem to be solely about post hospital labor. Hopefully, more info helps.

    1-Know what you want to do and recognize when you might be lying to yourself. Some decisions are the best decision, but may not be what you want.

    2-Eat/Drink before being admitted. You aren't allowed to eat while you're in the hospital during delivery.

    3-Shaking like a leaf in the wind is pretty normal.

    4-THIS is the most important lesson I learned. Epidurals are gravity based. That means that the meds are distributed to the side/area you're laying on. If your right side is numb, but your left isn't roll more to your left. If you're numb too far up towards your lungs, sit up more. Hopefully that makes sense.

    5-If you put off getting an epidural your body will naturally make you feel like you need to go to the bathroom...often. It's your body's way of preparing for birth. Evacuating the bowels.

    6-You have to have a certain amount of liquid in your body before you get an epidural so an IV can be placed to do your initial blood draw from and give fluids. This helps save time and makes getting the epidural when you're ready easier.

    7-You can ALWAYS ask for more food when you're post delivery. If you're hungry you can get food.

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