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Expecting mothers of the world, Unite!
We heard your insecurities and doubts about pregnancy and giving birth, and we are here to tell you that no question is too silly or unwarranted. Doesn’t matter that women have been giving birth since the beginning of time and that there is a tonne of data out there regarding these subjects.
Childbirth prep teachers have to be asked questions covering an entire spectrum from pregnancy to birth.
Your questions are legit and valid!
For first-time mothers especially, in spite of Google and childbirth prep classes, nearing the end of the third trimester can be a worrisome time. Nearly every day feels like it could be THE DAY THAT YOU POP OUT A BABY. Every little twinge feels like you are in labour.
The most oft-asked questions about labour: When do you know it is real? When should you stop speed-dial your doctor and actually head to the hospital? Is this contraction just another false alarm?
So when am I actually in labour?
Early signs of labour usually start the night before you even have to go to the hospital. First-time mothers could experience early signs of labour for an entire day before the doctor, or the mid-wife would consider telling them that they are close to giving birth.
Stay in touch with your medical team from the first signs of labour so that they are able to advise you on when to come to the hospital. A general advisory is that when the contractions start coming about five minutes apart, you should go to the hospital. But given the convenience of medical facilities these days, and the inconvenience of traffic, many choose to be admitted much before the final stages of labour start. Also, it depends on the season – if you live in areas of heavy rain or extreme heat and are likely to give birth in the season then do try to get yourself admitted during the early stages itself.
Do call your doctor or rush to the hospital if:
- You feel your waters breaking
- Persistent pain or high temperatures for the mother
- Any show of blood
- You can’t feel your baby kicking or moving as it normally would
I’m in the hospital, and the baby is almost here, what do I expect now?
Pain is a given. In spite of all the rush of love and hormones that you read and hear about, the pain of labour is definitely not something to be glossed over. Ask your doctor about the position of the baby’s head as this will tell you to a large extent the amount of pain that you will experience during the final stages of labour.
You will certainly be exhausted, and perhaps be able to catch some sleep between contractions depending on how close you are to giving birth. Some women spend almost an entire day at the hospital before their vagina dilates enough to go into the delivery room. Remember Rachel Green’s frustrating time waiting to give birth on F.R.I.E.N.D.S?
You may also poop during the process of giving birth, but do not be embarrassed. It has happened often enough to be considered absolutely normal. If you are opting for or have to undergo a C-section, you may be advised to not eat during labour because of possible nausea after the anesthesia. So eating and drinking may be a no-go during labour, you are probably not going to be thinking of your favorite burger amidst the excitement anyway.
Every pregnancy is unique, so what may be a symptom for one woman may just be a false alarm for another. So, do not hesitate to ask your questions.
