Childbirth

Questions Concerning Childbirth

Now that you are pregnant and are being to get closer to the day that your newborn will be born, you may begin to have some questions concerning childbirth. All mothers-to-be have the same questions and no question is silly. Some of the most common questions are:

What are the signs of labor?

Practically every woman has false labor pains and if this is your first baby, you may not be able to tell the difference. True labor as they call it is when your contractions are regular, become shorter in time, and become stronger in intensity. The contractions could start at 20 minutes apart and then shorten to 10 minutes and so on with stronger intensity as the time shortens.

Lower back pain that does not go away is another sign of true labor. This pain is usually below your kidney area and can be closer to your hips. Some women complain of feeling like they are having cramps or the felling similar to cramps prior to their period.

If your water breaks, it is another sure sign. This can be just a small amount of water trickling down your leg or a very large rush of water and you will be having contractions.

If you notice a bloody mucous discharge this is the mucous plug that blocks the cervix. Once you notice this, it means that labor is on its way. It could start immediately or even a few days away.

You will not notice this last sign, however your doctor will. Your cervix will begin to dilate or open so that the baby can be born.

What are my birthing options?

You can choose to have your baby at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital. The difference between these birthing options is

At a birthing center, you will have at your disposal intravenous fluid, oxygen, pain medication and they will be able to repair episiotomies and have basic equipment needed to aid in delivery.

In a hospital, you will have advanced equipment in case of any problems during childbirth for mother or baby such as the need for a cesarean section.

At home, you will only have a mid-wife and what equipment you may have.

How can I manage the pain?

Every woman is different and so is the pain they experience during childbirth. When it comes to pain remedies or your options you will be able to choose from local analgesic, intravenous analgesic, an epidural, spinal anesthesia, or a pudenal block. You should talk with your physician before making a decision regarding which pain management is best for you.