11 minute read
Labor Secrets from a Maternity Nurse
BY RACHEL DA SILVA, RN, BSN, CLC
As your little one is about to make his or her grand entrance, there are a few signs that you should be aware of. Sometimes it can be hard to distinguish false labor (Braxton Hicks) from true labor. In this article, I will share my all of my labor secrets that I learned after years of hospital experience. We will talk about signs/ stages of labor and breathing techniques to help you progress as safely and quick as possible.
Mental Preparation
Before you have your baby, I cannot express enough the power of positive thinking! Here are a few labor secrets to help keep you positive as your prepare for the birth of your child: 1. Remember the power of your words –
Words have an amazing ability to affect how our body works. Stop with the negative talk and the negative emotions. Keep in mind that you might have to watch who you are hanging out with. The friends who speak negativity into your life are not who you need right now. You need a positive support system as your progress through your
pregnancy and labor. 2. Do not neglect what gives you joy – If you love music, listen to music! If you go to church, keep going to church! If you are a member of a book club, keep reading those books! Try to the best of your ability to continue doing the things that give you joy. 3. Keep your support system close – Try your best to keep your family and support team close to you. Be open with your wishes regarding your labor, delivery, and childcare.
Signs of Labor
I developed some signs that can help you figure out if this is true or false labor. If you are at risk for premature birth (vaginal bleeding, cerclage, multiples, previous premature delivery) please consult with your physician at the first sign of discomfort or labor. Here are some labor secrets that the baby might be coming soon: 1. Lightening: When the baby starts moving down you will feel intense pressure on your bladder. Although it does not necessarily mean your delivery will come right then and there, that does mean your labor is going in
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the right direction. 2. Bloody show: Could mean your delivery is soon coming. Usually you will see a “mucous plug” as well. No one said having a baby is glamorous. 3. Nesting instinct: Before your baby comes you just will not want to stop! You will be hopping all over the house getting ready. 4. Water breaking: Kind of obvious, but some people mistake urinating on themselves with their water breaking. Please make note if your amniotic fluid has a foul odor, or if it is not clear. Be sure to let your medical staff know because those could be signs of distress. 5. Regular and intense contractions: They are hard to breathe through, and you cannot talk through them.
Stages of Labor
I know that your labor will be a blur. But it is so important to understand the stages as they come to know what to expect. Stage 1 can last anywhere from a few hours to days. Keep in mind the inductions will take longer because we have to jump-start your contractions. Usually you will be admitted to the hospital when you are in active labor.
This is usually when you are above 4 cm dilation. This is also a good time to have an epidural if that is your decision. The Transition phase is usually when your contractions are the heaviest and it usually progressed very fast. You might find that you were stuck in the active phase for 12 hours, then you hit 7 and one hour later you are checked and you are ready to push.
Just stay in-tune with your body and stay calm. The best way to help your labor progress is by staying focused, breathing well, and remaining calm. There are stages as you progress through your labor!
1. Stage 1: Early labor to full dilation –
Divided into latent (0-3 cm), active (4-7 cm), and transition (8-10 cm) 2. Stage 2: Pushing – Although usually lasts about 30 minutes, sometimes it can last quite a bit longer. Mothers who are pushing their first baby usually will have a longer pushing phase than a woman who has given birth before. 3. Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta –
Keep in mind that the baby coming out is not the last part! The doctor will still be waiting on your placenta. When your placenta stays attached, it might have to be
“manually extracted” by the doctor to avoid hemorrhage. 4. Stage 4: The golden hour – This is the best time to breastfeed and do skin to skin! Try to start your first feeding in the first hour. Most babies are a lot more active at this stage.
After the hour is up, their energy reserves give out…and they “hibernate” for 12-24
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Labor Secrets to Progress Quicker
The delivery of your child can be so exciting for your family. However, there is a lot of suspense as you head into the unknown. Here are a few labor secrets to help you progress through your labor faster: 1. Keep calm – Stress will prolong your labor and prevent you from dilating effectively.
Your body needs to relax in order to progress. 2. Manage your breathing – Labor naturally will decrease the level of oxygen going to your baby. This is because each contractions constricts blood flow to the placenta, just for a moment. You want to have calm breathing to help your baby regain the lost oxygen.
3. Keep your bladder as empty as possible
– If you have an epidural you might have a catheter draining your urine 4. Manage your pain as needed – Make sure you discuss with your healthcare team your wishes regarding pain management during labor. If you are in too much pain it places a lot of stress on the body and will make it very difficult to breathe and progress through your labor.
Non-Pharmacological Labor Secrets
There are many ways to manage your pain, and it is important to discuss your wishes with your family and healthcare team. The pain management technique that you should always start with is breathing. You want to have a focus point, and control your breathing.
This will help calm you down, and will also help delivery oxygen to your baby. Labor naturally will decrease the level of oxygen going to
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your baby. This is because each contractions constricts blood flow to the placenta, just for a moment. You want to have calm breathing to help your baby regain the lost oxygen.
My breathing technique is very simple. First, start with “breathing awareness”. This is where you focus on your breath, and what affects it has on your body. Place your hand on your belly and notice your belly going in as you breathe in, and out as you breathe out. Then you focus on counting. You slowly breathe in for 4 seconds, and then softly breathe out for 4 seconds. It helps if you accompany your breaths with a soft sigh, “oohhh”, or “ahhh”.
Just make sure that it is a soft sigh, because screaming actually decreases blood flow to the placenta, and stresses you out and delays your labor. As you progress and you head to transitional labor or pushing, your might find yourself in a lot of pain. But make sure not to spend too much of your energy.
Congratulations on your new baby! It is such a blessing, and I am so happy that you are educating yourself on what to expect. Preparation brings a level of confidence that is
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Rachel Da Silva, RN, BSN, CLC is a mother of 2 and a Registered Nurse with over 9 years of experience in Maternity. She also is a International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant and has a Private Practice in Boynton Beach, FL. Understanding the immense value of prenatal and postpartum support,
Rachel offers both home and virtual consultations for new parents. Most packages are covered by insurance with no copay or out of pocket fees for up to 6 visits. Insurance accepted Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Florida Blue, and some others as well. You may call 954-471-6934 or check out mommydidyouknow.com for more information.
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