Whether a pregnancy is planned or unexpected, preparation for birth brings about a variety of emotions ranging from anxiety to excitement.
You may feel a loss of control as your body changes, and you wonder how and when your baby will come; this is all completely normal.
One of the best ways to ease your fears about birth is to begin to educate yourself about the process.
What is labor?
Labor is a process that prepares your body for the baby to exit. Contractions of your uterine muscle cause your cervix to thin out and open gradually. The term for the thinning of the cervix is effacement, and the term for the opening of the cervix is dilation.
Once the cervix is 100% effaced and 10 centimeters dilated, your baby will enter the vaginal canal, and you can expect him or her to be born within several minutes to a few hours.
It may be helpful to think about labor in two parts: early labor and active labor.
Early labor, lasting hours to days, begins with regular contractions and ends at 5 cm of dilation and may be described by some women as less intense. When the cervix is 6 to 10 cm dilated, this is considered active labor. Active labor lasts 4 to 8 hours on average and is much more intense than early labor.
Vaginal Birth and Cesarean Section
Once a woman is 100% effaced and 10 cm dilated, she will enter the pushing stage. For some women, it may take minutes or just a few pushes for their baby to emerge through the vaginal canal, but for others, it can take a few hours. Often, first-time mothers may push longer.
Some women fear that they won’t know how to push, but for many women, it is instinctual. The doctors and nurses will be there to coach you and will likely ask you to bear down with the contractions.
Sometimes, if birth isn’t progressing or other complications arise, a C-section may be needed.
C-sections are very common, and while they are a surgical abdominal procedure, in most cases, you can remain awake if you would like so you can meet your baby as soon as he or she is born.
Birth and Pain
Labor pains are often described as period cramps that gradually gain intensity as you get closer to meeting your baby.
You may be offered a variety of pain medications like IV pain medicine, laughing gas, or an epidural. The most pain relief you will receive is by choosing an epidural.
If you have a C-section, you will be completely numb during the procedure. However, the recovery will take longer.
Preparation
Attending childbirth classes, building a trusting relationship with an OB/GYN, and selecting your labor support person early in pregnancy can help ease your anxieties as you approach your due date.
Childbirth classes are a great way to receive additional education about what to expect and meet other pregnant women who are experiencing the same fears and excitement.
Finding an OB/GYN that you trust and can see consistently throughout your pregnancy allows you to build a relationship leading up to delivery.
Having someone with you in the delivery room is vital, whether a partner, family member, or close friend. They cannot only help make you as comfortable as possible during labor and birth but also advocate for your wants and needs.
Find Support Today
Hope Place Monticello is here to support you as you navigate your pregnancy.
We provide free pregnancy services and can get you in contact with a trusted OB/GYN.
We offer free pregnancy counseling, material assistance, and childbirth and parenting classes.
Contact us today to make your confidential appointment and get the support you deserve.