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As soon as you find out you are pregnant one of the things you begin to think about (a lot) is your labor and delivery. There are many things to consider such will you require a schedule c-section, do you want to have pain medication or an epidural during your labor, or do you want to try going natural.
So, what if you are planning on going natural, what questions should you ask your doctor to help ensure you are in the right hands for the choice you are making? Not every doctor is going to be the best one to support you in this decision. By asking a few important questions early on you can determine if you are in the right hands or need to seek out a new, more compatible doctor.
- What percentage of the births you attend are cesarean deliveries?
- What percentage of the births you attend require delivery assistance such as forceps or vacuum extraction?
- How often do you attend vaginal births after cesareans (VBAC) and what is your stance on VBACs?
- What do you consider to be reasons to require or recommend a c-section?
- What is the hospital’s rate of cesarean deliveries?
- Does the hospital allow VBACs?
- What percentage of the births you attend are induced and under what circumstances do you recommend induction?
By asking a few questions and doing your research you will be more likely to get that natural childbirth you are looking for. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor these questions.
No matter what decision you ultimately make be sure it is the right one for you. Educate yourself about your options, talk at length with your doctor or midwife about what to expect, and remember that when it comes down to it everything might end up going a very different way. Keeping an open and flexible mind will help prevent you from being disappointed with how your labor and delivery ultimately play out.
Here are some great online resources for information on childbirth that can help you as you research your options.
There is nothing worse than being pregnant and sick all at the same time. Not only do you have to deal with the normal aches and pains (and exhaustion) that come with pregnancy but you get the added pleasure of also dealing with the annoying symptoms of the flu. When you come down with a virus during your pregnancy you are rather limited on what you can take. Those over the counter medications that you relied on in your pre-pregnancy days are of limits. You are probably stuck fighting the flu the old fashioned way.
So, since over the counter medications are off limits what can you do to make yourself feel better? Here are a few tips to help ease the discomfort of the nasty flu.
- Listen to your body when it comes to eating. If you are hungry and can keep food down than eat. If you can’t stomach anything than don’t worry too much about it.
- Get plenty of fluids. Drink as much water as you can. Being hydrated will help your body fight the virus and if you are throwing up or have diarrhea the water will help keep you from getting dehydrated.
- Get plenty of rest. Enjoy the comfort of staying in bed. Take a sick day from work and life when needed. Rest will help you get over the flu a little faster.
- If the symptoms are really bothering you talk to your doctor to find out if there is anything safe for you to take during pregnancy.
The best tip, of course, is to avoid the flu if you can. However, we all know that can be impossible. If you start getting extra rest and drinking plenty of fluids at the first sign of flu symptoms you may be able to keep your bout with the flu a short one. No one likes to be sick, especially a pregnant woman. Remember to talk to your doctor if you are concerned at all about your symptoms.
When you are pregnant with multiples your prenatal care will differ from that of a woman carrying only one child. A pregnancy of multiples is considered high risk, regardless of your age and current health condition. Your caregiver will need to monitor your pregnancy more closely to ensure that it progresses normally and to identify any potential problems early.
If you are pregnant with multiples you will see your caregiver more frequently than a woman carrying a single child will. On average you can expect to have prenatal appointments once a month through your 24th week of pregnancy, every other week from week 24 through week 32, and then every week there after until delivery. You may need to see your doctor more frequently if you are carrying a high number of multiples or if you suffer from any complications like gestational diabetes or high blood pressure.
A woman carrying multiples will have more ultrasounds than a woman carrying a single child. The rate at which each of the fetuses is growing, the level of fluids, and the condition of your uterus will need to be checked on a fairly regular basis to ensure there aren’t any potential problems. Just think how much fun it will be to see your little babies on that ultrasound screen so frequently!
If you are carrying multiples talk to your doctor about what you can expect throughout your pregnancy. Your caregiver will advise you on what tests and screenings you will need to have, how often you will need to be seen at the office, and any special things you can expect based on your specific circumstances. Remember, each pregnancy is different no matter how many babies you are carrying and your prenatal care will differ as well.
A massage can be relaxing anytime, but imagine how wonderful it would feel for the aches and pains of pregnancy. As many women take a more integrative approach to their pregnancies, mixing regular medical care with alternative care, prenatal massage has become more common. Pregnancy is hard on our bodies causing aches and pains all over. Prenatal massage is designed to target those areas where pregnancy has the most impact on our bodies.
If you are interested in prenatal massage be sure to look for a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage as it requires special techniques that some massage therapists may not know about. You can’t of course lay on your stomach as you normally would for a massage. With prenatal massage you will either lay on a special table with the belly cut out or on your side. There are times in your pregnancy when massage should be avoided, including during your first trimester or if your pregnancy is high risk and your doctor advises against it.
Massage has also become more common in the labor room as well. For those women attempting to have a natural childbirth massage can be a great pain management technique. Some doulas are trained in massage, while other women will hire an actual massage therapist to come in during their labor. You can also have your spouse learn some special massage techniques to utilize during labor.
Massage can be a great tool during your pregnancy to help manage the stress of pregnancy as well as the aches and pains. Be sure to talk to your doctor before getting a prenatal massage to make sure it is OK for you during your pregnancy.
My husband and I attended a breastfeeding class last night at the hospital we will be delivering at. The class was lead by a nurse/lactation consultant. It was really a fantastic class and I would highly recommend you plan on attending a similar type class if you are planning on breastfeeding, or even if you are just interested in getting more information so you can make an informed decision.
The class, as I mentioned, was lead by a lactation consultant. She has spent most of her career in the lactation field and is very passionate about breastfeeding. She had a lot of knowledge and information to share with us, complete with stories about actual patients she helped. Her knowledge on the subject and her obvious wealth of experience really made me feel comfortable.
The attendees were mostly first time parents, however, there was one second time mom. The class really is beneificial no matter how many children you have. Things in the world of babies, pregnancy, parenting, etc are always changing so these classes can serve as great refreshers even if you have done it before. Most of the women in the class had already made the choice to breastfeed and were there to learn more about the techniques, the common problems and their solutions, where to go for help and what to expect. One of the moms had not yet decided, she was attending the class to get more information on breastfeeding so she could make an informed decision about what feeding method was best for her (I’m not sure what she decided to do but like the rest of us, I’m sure she got a lot out of the class).
I had heard that sometimes these classes can make a mom feel bad if she decides to opt for a feeding method other than breastfeeding. Our instructor definitely drove the point home that breast milk is best but she made sure to acknowledge that it is not always the right choice for every mother. She took the time to tell the undecided mom in our class that no matter what she decided to do she would be making the right decision. I think this is a very important message to get across. It is important that moms not feel guilty if they cannot or choose not to breastfeed.
A few of the really helpful things we addressed in class were:
- What services the hospital provides after labor and how to get the assistance of a lactation consultant once you get home.
- Recommendations for breast pumps, an especially important purchase for working moms.
- Information about the various holding techniques and which ones seem to work best for most moms.
- How to get your baby latched on correctly and what to look for so you know you have done it right.
- Common problems moms run into and how to correct them.
- The physiology of lactation.
If you haven’t signed up yet for a breastfeeding class I would highly recommend it (encourage your husband to go with you cause he’ll learn a thing or two as well). You can learn a lot by reading the many books out there and doing research on the internet, but there is something to be said for learning from a true expert and from the other moms in the class. No matter how much reading and research we do we always have questions and the class setting is a great way to get answers. Plus, other moms in the class may think of things to ask about that you hadn’t thought of.
Ask you doctor or midwife for recommendations on breastfeeding classes available in your area. Most hospitals seem to offer some kind of breastfeeding class, usually lead by their nurses or staff lactation consultants. You can also ask other moms for recommendations.