How bad will the pain be? How will I get through it?
Because everyone perceives pain differently, it's hard to say exactly. But plan
on it being pretty intense, says Sharon Phelan, M.D., a professor in the
department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of New Mexico in
Albuquerque. Fortunately, medications and pain-relief strategies can help.
Regional nerve blocks (such as an epidural and/or spinal) and analgesics
(administered by IV or injection) are two common forms of medication that may be
options for you. Breathing exercises, meditation, massage, acupuncture, and
hypnosis are other techniques that women use to manage labor pain. Talk to your
practitioner to learn about the various alternatives.
Under what circumstances might I need to undergo a C-section?
A Caesarean delivery is often scheduled before labor begins when the baby is in a
breech position, says Joanne Pohl, M.D., an obstetrician in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. Women who have had prior C-sections, are diagnosed with placenta
previa (a condition in which the placenta blocks the opening of the cervix), or
have maternal diabetes or an active herpes infection are also candidates for
planned Caesareans. More likely, however, you won't know whether you need a
C-section until you're in labor, Pohl adds. A Caesarean might be necessary if
your labor isn't progressing, the fetus is in distress, or there is any other
unexpected development threatening you or your baby.
What typically happens immediately after the baby is delivered?
After a vaginal delivery, once the baby is out and the umbilical cord has been
cut, you will enter the third stage of childbirth, also known as the afterbirth.
Your uterus will again contract in order to separate the placenta (the organ that
has been providing nutrients to the fetus and removing waste) from your uterine
wall. Once the placenta is loose, you may be asked to give another gentle push to
deliver it. Then, your body should release the hormone oxytocin to get your
uterus to clamp down and stop the bleeding. Nursing your newborn can help elicit
the release of the hormone, or Pitocin, its synthetic form, may be administered
through an IV.
Following a Caesarean delivery, your care provider should remove the placenta,
check your reproductive organs, and stitch up any incisions. You may be given
Pitocin to help control the bleeding and antibiotics to reduce the risk of
infection.
Stacy Whitman is a freelance health and fitness writer based in Hailey, Idaho.
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