Painful Labour or not? (Birthing plan)
A birth plan is a record of how you would like your labour room experience to be.
- Whether you want music and mobility
- Whether you want husband or your mom with you
- Whether you want birthing ball or doula
Around 36 weeks, the clock starts ticking
- You will be given a special form for your birth plan.
- Your doctor will discuss it with you so she knows what you want.
Signs of labour that can appear any time after 36 weeks:
- Leaking / water breaks
- Blood-stained discharge / show
- Rhythmic tightening of your tummy / contractions
Who should be your birthing partner?
Labour can be 8- 28 hours period so you can chit chat, watch TV and listen to music with your favourite person
Special facilities available
Birthing pool and special room called LDR room will be available for your labour experience.
Monitoring during labour (for mom and baby)
Every baby is monitored throughout labour to make sure that it is not in distress.
- Continuous monitoring
- Or intermittent monitoring every 15-30 minutes
Keeping active during labour
Keep active for as long as you feel comfortable. This helps in the progress of the birth. Keeping active means moving around normally.
Positions for labour and birth
Find the positions you prefer and which will make labour easier for you. Try out various positions at antenatal class to find out which are the most comfortable.
If you had pelvic girdle pain, lateral position is more comfortable.
Delayed cord clamping
Delayed cord clamping means that doctors don’t immediately clamp and cut the umbilical cord. Instead, they allow extra time for the blood in the cord and placenta to flow to the baby. It decreases the risk of anaemia in new born and boosts immunity.
Skin-to-skin contact with your baby
After the birth you can have your baby lifted straight onto your tummy before the cord is cut so that baby’s touch stimulates brain immediately for milk let down.
Painless labour
There are many different pain relief options.
- Entonox or laughing gas
- Water pool labour
- Epidural analgesia
- Episiotomy or tear: An episiotomy is a cut in the perineum (the area between the vagina and anus). This may be necessary if the perineum won’t stretch enough and may tear, or if the baby is short of oxygen and needs to be delivered quickly.
Breast feeding as per BFHI (Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative)
Breast milk is the best form of nutrition for babies and should be initiated within 30 minutes of birth.
Rooming in and kangaroo care for better bonding and milk production.
Savour this special time with your baby. Your preparation, pain and effort have paid off. Revel in the miracle of birth.