Jamie's Childbirth Tip Sheet

Otherwise known as Jamie's Unsolicited Advice to her Pregnant friends on Labor and Delivery

Take what you like and discard the rest.  I have gathered this information from my own experience and from reading about many women�s birth stories on the Internet in various newsgroups.  If you read something here that peaks your interest, research it and read up on it.  Above all, make an informed decision.  It�s your body, your labor, your delivery, and ultimately, your child.  I love you and am excited and thrilled for you, and hope that your labor and birth experience is everything that you hoped for.

Always Remember, Never Forget!
You are not sick and in need of medical treatment.  You are pregnant.  You will be birthing a baby.  Women have been having babies for a long, long time.

Your body is designed to give birth.  It is very, very rare for a woman�s pelvis to be too narrow to birth her child.  It has happened, but it is not common.

Doctors are not gods.  You should be able to have input into your medical care.

Your due date is an arbitrary date.  You can safely deliver anywhere from 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after, and not be technically considered OVERDUE.  Just because you�re due date has arrived, is not reason to be induced, or to panic.  Do not let your doctor induce you just because he is going out of town, or will be on call.  Your baby will come, eventually.  When it is ready.

Doulas, Professional Labor Assistants
Get a doula!  Your labor will probably take a few days, and you will see many labor nurses come and go on their shift.  I labored for about 24 hours.  I loved my first nurse (day shift); I was okay with my next nurse (p.m. shift); and I wasn�t happy with my night nurse at all.  Luckily the good nurse came back in the morning.  A doula will be with you the whole time, helping you to feel comfortable and relaxed, and thus helping your labor be less painful and progress more quickly.  A doula will come to your house when your labor begins and help you labor at home for a while, so that you don�t need to spend as much time in the hospital before birth.  Many women find that labor slows down once they get to the hospital, because it is less familiar and more stressful.  Anything that helps you feel more relaxed and comfortable is a good thing.  Also, a doula takes the pressure off your husband for being your sole coach, and allows him to relax and enjoy the event as well!

Drugs
If you chose to go without drugs, I double the recommendation for a doula.  A doula can help you stay strong when things get rough, and will help ensure that your wishes are carried out.  The percentages of C-sections and epidurals are greatly reduced when woman has a doula or midwife assisting her while in labor.  If you opt for drugs, read up on the various types, and make sure your wishes are known.  Realize that an epidural may slow down your labor.  Also, even if you are definitely going to opt for an epidural, learn and practice those breathing or relaxation techniques taught in your childbirth education classes, because labor can be unpredictable.  You never know how things are going to play out, so be prepared for any eventuality.  The anesthesiologist may be busy with another patient, and you may need to breathe through contractions until he�s available.

Make a Birth Plan
A birth plan may help you will feel more in control over what is happening.  This may change as events occur, but it�s a good idea to know how you�d like things to go.  For example, if want to breastfeed your baby, you can make it known in your birth plan that the hospital personnel should not give the baby a bottle of sugar water at any time.  If you do not specify this, they might, and the baby could develop some nipple confusion.  This can make latching on and breastfeeding difficult.  Also, a doula or other support person can make sure that your wishes are carried out, and leave you free to labor in peace.

Internal Exams
Internal or pelvic exams during the last month give you no real information about how soon the baby will come.  You can be 50% effaced and 3 centimeters dilated for 3 weeks.*  Or, you can go from 25% effaced and 1 centimeter dilated to giving birth the next day.  Hearing about how dilated and effaced you are may just make the last few weeks of your pregnancy seem even longer and more-edge-of-your-seat-stressful.  One woman I know was in that situation.  Three weeks before she delivered, her doctor told her she was 75% effaced and 3 centimeters dilated.  She spent every day for the next three weeks on pins and needles thinking it could happen AT ANY MINUTE.  If she hadn�t known, she could have relaxed more and enjoyed her last 3 weeks. 

Also, during an internal exam in late pregnancy, sometimes doctors will do something called �stripping your membrane� which is basically pulling the sac away from the cervix.  They may do this without telling you.  This can start labor.  Many women will tell stories of going for an exam (internal and uncomfortable) and going into labor the next day.  Be clear with your doctor about your wishes, and instruct them not to do anything without telling you.  If you chose this to get your labor started, fine, but if it is done without your permission you may feel betrayed, powerless and out of control.  (This is definitely my issue!)