What REALLY Happens in the Delivery Room
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Can’t We Hurry This Along?
“Both mothers and fathers are surprised about how long delivery takes,” says Jane Hanrahan, ICCE-CD, president of the International Childbirth Education Association. “On TV shows like Maternity Ward, four or five babies are born in a half hour.” And the biggest challenge of a long delivery—which can last many, many hours, especially for first births—is exhaustion. “One thing I hear time and time again is, ‘I wasn’t prepared for how tired I’d be,’” says Hanrahan. When you’re tired, adds Moray, you can’t handle pain as well. Starting labor well rested is the best preparation you can get.
Incredible Shrinking Baby?
An increase in older mothers, as well as the prevalence of technology, means that many women get multiple ultrasounds during their pregnancies. The measurements taken during these scans often leave the parents expecting the baby to be a certain size. “One couple I worked with recently was sure the baby would be nine pounds,” says doula Brenda J. Lane, ICCE, CD (DONA), of Annapolis, Maryland. “It turned out to be six pounds.” Be aware that while ultrasounds are reliable when it comes to knowing the gender, the margin of error in terms of the baby’s size means that you should be ready for anything from a petite gymnast to a beefy linebacker.
When You’ve Gotta Go…
A young girl typically learns to be modest about her body and its functions, but after nine months of spreading her legs for medical professionals, a pregnant woman generally loses her inhibitions—except one. “For many women,” says Pearson, “one of the most shocking surprises is that, in front of your husband and various dignitaries, you sometimes have to have a large bowel movement.” It only hinders the delivery process if you try to stop it from happening, so he tells his patients, “Just relax and let go—nature is nature, after all.”
He Can’t Stop Crying
The typical father, say the experts, is simply not prepared for how much he’s going to love his baby. “They know intellectually that a baby’s coming,” says Hanrahan. “But because they haven’t been carrying it for nine months, it’s just not real to them. Mornay agrees: “We see a lot of dads who are pretty cavalier about the whole thing beforehand—and then they just sob when the baby is born.”
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Comment by Melissa on Jun 02 2009 09:40:34:
Well. I had the perfect pregnancy, the PERFECT LABOR-(i was induced)- My Madison latched right on to breastfeed when they handed her to me… But…….
She wouldn’t latch on after that (even the lactose nurse gave up)- She screamed starting the night we brought her home- She would start crying at 5:30 and wouldn’t stop until 11:45 (colic)- after switching the formulas she was perfect….and then she caught every cold on earth…even rosella, and had croup twice (my dr said its just bad luck) LOL b/c she was healthy as a horse…
But she is great now….
So see – my PREGNANCY was a BLAST- My kid came out trouble…:)
I know with my next one I will have total opposite pregnancy, and probably a HORRIBLE painful labor…But an angel that sleeps through the night the day we bring her home….
LOLOLOL Yeah right huh?
Comment by Sara on Jan 28 2011 03:16:21:
I had the perfect 1st pregnancy,a long but great labor and delivery, and a great baby that was even a great toddler, and beyond..(she is almost 11 now)My 2nd was a different story.My kidneys wanted to shut down,i had premature labor, screamed during labor… why???the 1st time was quiet and easy!…along with a constant screaming baby with a list of medical problems.(She was born early as my placenta died prematurely…My 3rd pregnancy relatively well except the surprise of toxemia(usually low blood pressure for this gal but not with this baby! After that smooth ride.4th baby…. medical problems for both mom and baby but made it through ok:) They are all so different.Thinking we were absolutely done I went to have a hysterectomy due to uterine issues and even with large clots and a huge hemorrhage there was surprisingly life there…. we did lose that baby, and before my hysterectomy we are now due this spring with our 5th and final baby.I am prepared for whatever comes our way…..I have ridden on the adventure boat:)
Comment by Jerika on Mar 26 2011 10:17:49:
I had a wonderful Pregnancy and labor and deliver i didnt feel a thing…lol not to many people are as lucky as i was
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