One of the most exciting times during pregnancy is when the baby is about to come. Your heart is pounding, and your mind is racing. If it is your first child, you might not know what you are in for. If you went to Lamaze Class, you might have some insight into what is going on. Lamaze class does try to prepare you for what is about to happen.
In class, you will learn what to look for when you are trying to determine whether your wife or girlfriend is in labor. However, what if you didn’t go to Lamaze Class or you forgot what you learned? You might be thinking that you as the father don’t need to know the signs. After all who better to know that your wife or girlfriend? The truth is that whatever overwhelming emotions and excitement you are experiencing, she is probably experiencing them time three. It will be up to you to think clearly and logically.
Childbirth is always triggered off by hormonal fluctuations, apparently begun by the foetus. This is identified as ‘going into labor’ since childbirth is indeed a backbreaking labor, regularly accompanied by distress and some discomfort. When the expectant mum has been well equipped for the delivery, she will know what is occurring and can adopt the relaxation routines which she has always been adopted during pregnancy. This usually makes the birth more comfortable, as it is tension and fear that stiffen the muscles and generate more pain.
The foetus will be reclining in a (vertex presentation) head down position thus, ready for delivery.
At this stage, any abnormal presentation should be corrected; however, some babies do endure to get into these awkward presentations, for instance, transverse or breech presentations, and always a Caesarean section is always inevitable.
Signs that show that you are in labor
The start of labor is usually pretty slow and provides the expectant mum with a timeframe to start final arrangements and take herself to a hospital on time. Labour regularly begins in one of the following manners:
• The expectant mum will have a ‘show.’ This indicates that the plug of blood-stained mucus which always fills the cervix and passes through the birth canal.
• The ‘waters may break.’ The amniotic fluid in which the foetus is floating may tear as labor starts, and the pregnant lady will notice a rush of ‘water’ the amniotic fluid from the birth canal.
Note
One question that is asked is when she should go to the hospital. The answer to this question depends on what signs she is showing. If her water breaks, it is time to go. Otherwise, it is a matter of timing. You should time her contractions. Keep track of how long the contractions are, and the time in between them. Once the contractions last for 60 seconds are less than five minutes apart, and these averages go on for more than an hour. These are recommendations. However, if the doctor tells you otherwise or you feel something out of the ordinary you should consult and follow medical advice.
• The expectant mum will begin getting consistent contractions. They may seem mild at first, such as a little backache; however, these ‘distress’ will progress and become more consistent.
When any of these signs happen, the expectant mum should contact both her physician and the hospital, or the midwife when it is to be a home delivery. If the delivery is to be in a hospital, she will be received in preparation for the childbirth.
However, sometimes the expectant mum will discover she has had false labour contractions, and as a result, she will need to go back home. Throughout the pregnancy, the uterine muscles contract in preparation for labor. These false contractions are referred to as Braxton Hicks’ contractions and can sometimes be overlooked for the ideal contractions towards the end of the 40th week of pregnancy.
The key is to keep track of the contractions and time then you can write them down, use stopwatches, or even download a smartphone app that keeps track of contractions. You must determine whether the duration of the contractions is growing and whether the span between the contractions is shortening. This is a clue as to whether she is truly in labor. If the contractions are random and do not seem to be getting longer and the span between them is not shortening, she is probably not in labor.
When the pregnant woman who is having a hospital, delivery is admitted for the delivery she will:
• Report to the admission section whereby she will provide both her name and her hospital number. This helps in locating her pregnancy and a medical report.
• The expectant woman would then be driven to the obstetrics unit to be examined by the obstetrician. She will then change into a hospital gown; her blood pressure and temperature will be taken. Also, her abdomen examined, and also the foetal heartbeat would be listened to, and after that, she will possibly be provided a suppository to empty the bowels in preparation ready for the childbirth.
• Perhaps take a shower if the amniotic fluid is leaking.
• Have a birth canal examination to examine how advanced the delivery is, and then proceed to go to the initial stage labor unit.
For a home delivery, the attending practitioner will conduct these preparatory procedures in preparation for the initial stage of labor. Experts recommend that women stay at home during the labor process as long as possible. The laboring process can take up to 24 hours or more. Being at home and relaxing will help make the final delivery process more comfortable.
Until the contractions meet the critical point or her water breaks, it is good to try to stay home. It may be good for her to take a bath or to do things that will make her comfortable. Rub her back and do whatever you need to do to keep her relaxed. These things will do wonders when it comes time for delivery.
