The Quick Guide to Giving Birth

It is always beneficial for any expectant parent to be well informed about the stages of birth, from contractions to the actual labour. There are many aspects of labour and birth that you can familiarise yourself with and this will help to make the overall birthing experience a more enjoyable one.

If you are unsure about the stages of birth and what you should be doing then this guide will help you to learn about an occasion that marks the end of pregnancy and the beginning of a new life.

Preparing for Labour and Birth

There are many things you can do to prepare yourself for labour and birth, such as packing a labour bag, attending antenatal classes and many more, as discussed below:

Packing a Labour Bag

The third trimester of pregnancy is often a hectic time as you try to get things in order for the baby’s looming arrival. Your baby could arrive at any time and it is therefore always best to pack a labour bag one month before your due date. This is to ensure you have everything you need when you go into labour. Your midwife may give you a list of recommended items that you should pack, or alternately you can make use of the following recommended list of items:

• Maternity Towels - You may need maternity towels for when your waters break and for the labour

• Nightdresses or T-shirts - You may not want to wear your best nightdress as you can expect it to get dirty during labour and will likely want to throw it away. It is best to take a few old night dresses or T-shirts. Loose clothing is often recommended for the birth

• Tens Pain Relief Machine - If you want to use this as part of your pain relief in the early stages of labour then you can keep it ready in your labour bag

• Slippers and Socks - Although you may feel hot during pregnancy your feet may feel cold. Cold feet is one nuisance you can do without during such a strenuous time

• Your birth plan - If you have devised a birth plan which contains information such as what pain relief you prefer then it is best to bring it with you

• Your medical records or pregnancy folder - You may have been given a record of your pregnancy from your midwife. It is important to bring this with you when going into labour

• Snacks and Drinks - You may want to pack a few light snacks and drinks for you and your partner

• Pillows - You may want to take extra pillows with you to be more comfortable

• Massage Oil - This may be used while in labour to ease tense muscles

• A Hair band - You may want to tie your hair back if you have longer hair. This can help cool you down

• Toiletries - You can pack a toothbrush, toothpaste and soap for after the birth. It is also useful to pack a fragrant shower gel to feel clean and refreshed after the birth

• Towels - You may want to pack a towel for the birth and one to be used after the birth

What can my Partner bring to the Birth?

Your partner can bring the following items, which can also be packed in your hospital bag:

• A camera - Memories of the special moment are a must and a picture is a great way to show others your new bundle of joy

• Phone numbers and addresses - You may need to ring family and friends to announce the good news

• Watch - You may want to bring a watch to time contractions and make a note of the baby’s time of birth

• Snacks - Your partner may want you to stay at her side during the birth. Think ahead and pre-pack any snacks you or your partner may want

What should I pack for the baby?

• Two or three sleep suits
• Newborn nappies
• Cotton wool
• Baby blanket
• Baby jacket or fleece suit
• One pair of socks
• Baby hat
• Muslin squares
• An outfit for the trip home

Antenatal Classes

Antenatal Classes provide practical information on pain relief methods, how to look after a newborn baby and the labour and birthing experience. Antenatal classes are normally run by a trained midwife, often a mother themselves, and they will be able to give you first-hand advice on becoming a parent. It can often be a daunting time for first-time couples, but antenatal classes can teach you the basics of looking after a baby such as how to change a nappy, how to give a baby a birth and how to prepare milk if you are not breastfeeding.

Many parents find antenatal classes an enjoyable experience as they get to attend the class with other expectant couples and it is often a good place to make friends and share experiences. You can bring anyone with you to the antenatal class, whether it be your best friend or a family member, to come along with you if you do not have a partner or they cannot attend.

You will be given plenty of advice about parenting from the expert midwife and they will be able to answer any questions you may have about labour and birth. Antenatal classes also provide you with relevant literature on pregnancy and birth for you to take home and some hospitals give you a tour of the labour facilities to show you where you will be having your baby.

Stages of Labour

Contractions

You may start to experience contractions at the onset of labour. You will feel sharp intense pain which subsides and comes back again at set periods of time. Once you start to feel contractions it is always best to time them to enable your midwife to more easily assess the progression of the labour. In the early stages of labour contractions are often 20 minutes apart and quite light.

Contractions increase in intensity and you may eventually have contractions which last 5 minutes or so. You can call up the hospital as soon as you feel you are having contractions and they will advise you whether to come in straight away or if it’s in the early stages. If they fell it is in the early stages then they may advise you to wait until the contractions are closer together.

If you think you are having contractions you can ask your partner to them. To do this the start time of the contraction needs to be noted and then its end when the contraction ends and subsides. The difference between the start and end time of the contractions is what a midwife will want to know when assessing how advanced the labour is.

It is best if you are in the early stages of labour to time the first few contractions to see how far apart they are. If you need further advice on timing contractions then you can ring your doctor or midwife who will be able to further advise you. If you experience contractions which are very close together then it may be time to go to the hospital and it should not be long before you get to see your baby.

Getting to the Hospital

Before you set off to the hospital with your partner you should make sure that you have your maternity notes or folder and your labour bag. You should then alert the hospital to let them know you are on the way. If you experience a gush of fluid it could mean that your waters have broken and you will need to go to the hospital immediately.

It is advised that you make sure there is enough petrol in the car and that you have all you need to make sure you are comfortable during labour. If you are in a high risk pregnancy or your labour has started unexpectedly you may be required to travel to the hospital by ambulance. This will depend on your individual circumstances at the time of labour.

Signs of Labour

If you experience any of the following symptoms then you may be about to go into labour:

• A ‘show’ - This is normally a blood mucous discharge which is pink or brown in colour. This may be a sign that labour is imminent and is your cervix dilating and thinning in preparation for the labour

• Mucous plug - This is when the cervix plug comes off and the mucous plug is released in preparation for birth. Once the plug has come off it could mean that labour is just around the corner

• Back ache - Many women experience lower back ache when labour is about to start. However, back ache is a common pregnancy problem due to the pressure of the weight of the baby

• Stools - You may be more susceptible to experiencing loose stools before labour

• Contractions - Contractions, as described previously in this section, are a sure sign of labour. However, there is the possibility of experiencing ‘Braxton hick’ false contractions

When Should I go to the hospital?

If you think you are in labour and are experiencing contractions or your waters have broken then you will need to go hospital immediately. Your midwife or doctor will be able to offer additional advice on when go to the hospital depending on your symptoms and level of contractions.

If you are not given a specific time to come to the hospital and your symptoms are becoming more prominent, you could go to the hospital but ring before making the trip. In some cases women are told to stay at home until the contractions come closer together as you are more likely to feel comfortable in a home environment.

In cases of high risk pregnancies women may be advised to come into the hospital at the onset of contractions or when you waters break.

What position should I be in during Labour?

It may benefit you to be mobile during labour by walking around while holding onto your partner. Some women find a pregnancy birthing ball beneficial in controlling the pain of contractions. Sitting on a birthing ball moving your hips can help you to push and control pain.

Some women, during the early stages of pregnancy, may find it helpful to be in a sitting position. You can either sit on the bed or on a chair in an upright position. You may also want to lay down with your legs held up and spread.

You can also choose to sit on a chair facing backwards, which can help you to rest your head on the chair while pushing. Some women prefer to be in a squatting position to manage their contractions and this can often be helpful in pushing the baby down.

Other positions include lying down on your side or going down on your hands and knees which enables you to look down and lay on the floor.

During the later stages of pregnancy you may start to become increasingly tired especially if you are using pain relief such as gas and air. Some pain relief methods such as gas and air can make you feel dizzy. In such circumstances it is best to be seated.