How to Prepare For a Vaginal Delivery

 

One of the biggest things pregnant women worry about as they get closer to their due date is labor and delivery. Every delivery is as unique and individual as each mother and infant. In addition, women may have completely different experiences with each new labor and delivery. Giving birth is a life-changing event that will leave an impression on you for the rest of your life.

 

Labor and delivery

Eventually, the cervical canal must open until the cervical opening itself has reached 10 centimeters in diameter and the baby is able to pass into the birth canal.

As the baby enters the vagina, your skin and muscles stretch. The labia and perineum (the area between the vagina and the rectum) eventually reach a point of maximum stretching. At this point, the skin may feel like it’s burning.

The process of labor and birth is divided into three stages: The first stage begins when you start having contractions that cause progressive changes in your cervix and ends when your cervix is fully dilated.Early labor: Your cervix gradually effaces (thins out) and dilates (opens).

 

Ways to Stay Calm and Prepare for Labor & Delivery

 

 

  • Choosing the right doctor: Of course, your doctor matters. But depending on your OB and her on-call schedule, she may not even be the one to deliver your baby. It could be another doctor from the practice or it could even be an ob-gyn who happens to be working at the hospital the night you go into labor——someone you’ve never met before.
  • Where to give birth: Not all doctors have the right to practice in every hospital. Just because the perfect doctor is only 30 minutes away does not mean he or she will be able to attend the birth at the local hospital in case of emergency delivery. The doctor will be able to offer a list of hospitals where he or she has practicing rights.
  • Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have: This is a great, easy way to help you stay calm and prepare for labor and delivery. Your doctor will have solutions to probably any fear you have about childbirth. And you’re presumably going to have them there during delivery, so communicating and being on the same page is very important. 
  • Practice breathing and meditation: Breathing properly helps to relieve pain during labor as well as increases the amount of oxygen for both mom and baby. When being stressed or panic, the breath becomes fast and shallow, which can make you lose control and soon exhausted. So, learning the proper breathing technique will help pregnant women during labor.  Read more https://sonoline.ca/proper-breathing-during-labor-and-delivery/
  • Write the birth plan: Beyond the must-haves, think about how you envision your birthing experience. Some hospitals are more supportive of natural childbirth than others. A birthing plan is not for everybody. A birth plan is a way for you to communicate your wishes to the midwives and doctors who care for you in labor. It tells them about the type of labor and birth you’d like to have, what you want to happen, and what you want to avoid.
  • Pack the hospital bag: The hospital bag is one of the highlights of waiting for baby. When packing the hospital bag, mom needs to remember the baby’s first outfit, diapers, wipes and any supplies needed to feed baby either by breast or bottle.
  • Preparing the body: Vaginal delivery is hard; there is no other way to put it. Mom needs to keep her body in top shape to keep up with the stresses and pains of delivery. This includes eating right and getting enough sleep every night.
  • Preparing the vagina: The vagina also needs to undergo some preparation. Mom can use Kegel exercises to prepare the vagina for the birth. The term “stretchy vagina” might not exactly sound like a good thing, but when you’ve got a small human inside your body needing to get out, and it can save a whole lot of pain and – hold your breath – tearing.When urinating, mom can practice stopping the stream several times during the urine flow. The muscles used to stop the urine stream are the same ones that need to be strong during a vaginal birth. Once mom feels the muscles, she will be able to do the exercises whenever she wants.
  • To breastfeed or bottle feed: Before going into labor, mom needs to decide whether she will be breastfeeding or bottle feeding. If breastfeeding is the choice, the first feeding can occur only moments after birth in some cases.Beyond that, breastfeeding is encouraged until at least 12 months, and longer if both the mother and baby are willing. Although experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women.The decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal one.
  • Accept that you can’t control everything: Childbirth isn’t something you can guarantee is going to go perfectly. It’s okay if you can’t stick to everything on your birth plan, and it’s okay if you have to have a C-section instead of a vaginal delivery. The most important thing is your health and the health of the baby, and you have to accept that there are things that are out of your hands that you can’t control. Just let go a little bit and put your trust in the doctors and nurses taking care of you.

 

Childbirth is crazy and weird, but it’s also an amazing miracle. Pain during labor is caused by contractions of the muscles of the uterus and by pressure on the cervix. This pain can be felt as strong cramping in the abdomen, groin, and back, as well as an achy feeling.You shouldn’t be scared and you shouldn’t worry about the what if’s. You should be excited and feel confident in your ability to push that baby out! When the time comes, you’ll have a team of people you can trust on your side, and you’ll be ready to go. Good luck!

 

 

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this website is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

 

Resources:

https://www.babymed.com/12-steps/how-prepare-vaginal-delivery-during-pregnancy-12-steps

https://www.lifewithmylittles.com/ways-to-stay-calm-and-prepare-for-labor-and-delivery/

 

 

 

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