Pregg.net » Childbirth and Labor

What To Bring To The Hospital When Giving Birth

sparkposts — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:41:48 +0000

The last few months of pregnancy is more on getting prepared for that hospital date; delivery date. Expected delivery day is expected as per medical advice unless some unexpected circumstances occur like premature birth. Both the expectant parents do their share on the preparation stage. Here are some of the important things to bring on your journey to the hospital:

Baby’s blankets, clothes, diapers
Mommy’s extra loose clothes, panties (especially for caesarean births)
Feeding bottle (if and when food formula is a choice)
Sanitary towels (for after birth discharge)
Hot water bottle (if need arises)
Cotton balls and buds

Can You Prevent Childbirth Haemorrhoids?

PreggNet Team — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:18:10 +0000

Haemorrhoids are a type of veins that occur during the pregnancy of a woman. These occur naturally and during the pregnancy time. Though this is very common, it does not occur to all women. The reason why haemorrhoids occur is due to the great pressure that is applied on the veins present in the anus. The pressure is applied on the anus by the foetus that the women carry. Sometimes, too much of straining during the action of pregnancy can lead to collapse of blood vessels in the anus.

This results in haemorrhoids. It may also lead to constipation. Some of the symptoms of haemorrhoids are passing of stools accompanied by blood, itching and discomfort around the rectal region. But a haemorrhoid is generally temporary and disappears after the birth of the child.

However one must take care and treat the haemorrhoids in order to prevent them from reoccurring. The things that can be done to prevent haemorrhoids from occurring are eating a diet filled with fibre content, drinking lots of liquids and exercising regularly. The food filled with fibre will prevent constipation and the liquids can help the bowel movement. Thus haemorrhoids during pregnancy are a common sight and are nothing to be worried of.

Why You Should Concider Childbirth Meditation

PreggNet Team — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:16:30 +0000

Giving birth to a child is very difficult and painful to all the women in the world. It is one of those strenuous life processes that takes away all their strength and leaves them helpless. But all the pain and suffering that they go through doesn’t go in vain.

At the end of all the commotion they are blessed with a beautiful child. However, besides the pain while delivery, women are much tensed about the whole pregnancy issue. When they realize that they are pregnant, they are overwhelmed with joy and glory. This excess happiness can sometimes turn into panic.

The best way to keep someone relaxed during this stage of excitement is by meditating during the entire period. Meditation is a very powerful tool to keep one’s mind in a relaxed and calm state. This will help both the mother and the unborn child. By maintaining a calm and peaceful mind, the child is provided with a perfect environment to evolve.

It also helps the mother in keeping herself controlled without getting excited about the birth of her new child. Thus meditation is the key to have a controlled and relaxed mind for both the child and the mother.

7 Question You Need to Ask When Choosing a Hospital for Childbirth

PreggNet Team — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:05:48 +0000

A pregnant woman can choose a hospital for childbirth. You should choose a hospital with doctors and nurses equipped to handle your pregnancy. You need to search online for hospital and its policies and approach to birth to fit in your needs.

Few questions you can ask your doctor in advance before selecting the hospital for child birth.

In which room you will deliver?
How many women in the labor room?
How many support people are allowed in labor room?
Does hospital provide an anesthesiologist around the clock?
Can your partner stay in labor room?
Specification regarding visiting hours.
Can your new born stay in the same room rather staying in nursery?

Choosing a Hospital for High Risk Pregnancy Labor

Some women are diagnosed with high risk pregnancy because of age, past history of miscarriage or if they are carrying multiples and diabetes. After knowing about your pregnancy risks you need to choose a hospital that provided with best possible treatment.

A high risk pregnancy woman should select a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as the take care of early deliver and have good support system for premature babies.

Obviously the final decision is yours but choose to deliver in a hospital where your health and safety and your baby’s health are given top priority.

Hospital Bag Checklist – Did You Pack These?

PreggNet Team — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:00:43 +0000

If your pregnancy has crossed 36 weeks, then its time to pack the hospital bag with all the things you will need for labour and the birth. Whether you intended to have your delivery at home or hospital you need this check list, so that they can be found easily when the time arrives.

Insurance card – this very important as when you reach hospital you do not want to come back all the way to collect your insurance card.

Digital Camera – to take pictures of new born.

Phone book – As some hospitals do not allow usage of mobile phones.

Massage oil – hospitals provide this but it’s always better to carry your own massage oil to feel more comfortable.
Front open nightgowns – help you to breast feed your baby easily.

Baby’s cloth – one-two set of cloths for your new born, baby blanket and diapers. It’s advised to wash the cloths and blanket in baby detergent in advance.

Additional pair of socks and slippers. No need to elaborate…

Sanitary pads.

Music player or iPod – to keep you relax and make the birth of your baby easier.

Books and a magazine – if things take long time you can read books or magazines, so that you do not get bored.

Car seat.

Do not pack – jewelery and extra cash or credit cards.

You should probably go over The Ultimate Childbirth Checklist – Preparing Your Hospital Bag as well, to make sure labor and childbirth go as relaxed as possible.

The Ultimate Childbirth Checklist – Preparing Your Hospital Bag

PreggNet Team — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:53:32 +0000

The preparation of your hospital bag should begin before your delivery date. The preparation in advance makes you relax and hassle-free when your contractions start so that there will be enough time for you to rush to hospital.

Here is the list of essential items that you need to pack in your hospital bag.

Nightdress – you need to pack some two-three loose fitting with buttons to the front dresses. The loose fitting dresses will help you to breast feed your baby.

Wash bag – your wash bag should consist of body soap, shampoo, toothpaste, tooth brush, cleaning wipes, lip balm and conditioner.

Sanitary towels and underwear – remember to pack feeding bras which have soft and comfortable breast pads.

Extra pair of socks and slippers. No need to explain, right?

Phone book and loose change – some hospitals do not allow a mobile phone, in that case you need to write all the important phone number in your phone book and carry some loose change for pay phone.

Swimwear – if you are planning for water birth or want to relax in a pool before the birth; then remember to pack swimwear in your hospital bag.

Favorite Pillow – carry your favorite pillow as holding a familiar pillow is far more relaxing than a hospital pillow.

Camera – to take pictures of your new born.

All set? Great! lets go get that baby into the world, mama!

Childbirth: What to Expect

PreggNet Team — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 12:45:24 +0000

Giving birth to a new life is a unique experience. It might be your second delivery but the experience is always different. You might have thought that labor is just giving birth to your baby but in medical text, the labor is divided in three stages each having unique contribution to your childbirth.

The first stage of labor occurs during the last few weeks of pregnancy. In the last few weeks pregnant woman will experience that the cervix has been gradually ripening and softening, it’s a normal state. The cervix will fully open at ten centimeters in diameter. This opening helps you to deliver normally. This stage can further be divided into early labor and active labor.

In early labor contractions occur for 20-30 minutes. Keep yourself hydrated and drink plenty of water and fresh juice. Take a walk or sleep for a while to get relief from early labor contractions. In active labor, your contractions will gradually increase and will not stop with change of movement or position and they will become progressively stronger.

The second stage of labor is known as birth stage. Your body will experience the urge to push the baby out. When you push your baby, at first head will come out and you will be guided by medical attendants to push more to fully deliver the baby.

You will complete the third stage by delivering your baby. In the last stage you will experience mild contractions but they will fade when you see your baby.

Water Birth Advantages You Should Consider

PreggNet Team — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:45:19 +0000

Immersing in warm water during the birth of a baby can be advantageous to both the child and the mother. The whole process was developed to remove the pain felt by both the baby and the mother and provides the best environment for baby. The advantages of having a baby in this form of process are:
Child birth can be a very hard and strenuous task for a baby. Coming into the bright outside world after hibernating for long hours inside a dark and warm uterus can be very difficult and painful. To avoid this pain, the warm water eases the stress that the child faces by providing warm conditions which is similar to the intra uterine environment.
The mother feels a lot of pain during the labor and the delivery. But the warm water helps them in managing the pain that is caused during the whole process. The entire process is very helpful for mothers who have rheumatic conditions and severe back pain.
It is believed that water birth can help in the stretching of the perineum muscles and reduce the risk of skin tear. It also prevents the use of episiotomy which is a surgical process that can have a lot of complications

Water Birth Pros & Cons

PreggNet Team — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:41:11 +0000

Water birth is a method of giving birth to a baby by immersing in the warm water. This method of giving birth to a baby has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages that a baby and its mother face during the birth are:
Since the child is making its way into the outside world from the warm intra uterine environment, the conditions of warm water make it more comfortable and familiar.
For a mother, it reduces the pain during the labor and delivery.
The water birth helps in the stretching of the perineum muscles and decreases the risk of having skin tears.
Though water birth has its own advantages it can have ugly effects as well. Some of the disadvantages that a baby and his mother face during the birth are:
Since the child is born in the water, inhalation or aspiration of water can cause death.
Another problem is that, bacteria in the water tub or the tap can cause infections in a child.
The water birth is a very slow process and can take long hours for completion.
There is considerable amount of maternal blood loss in the case of water births.

Water birth dangers & risks

PreggNet Team — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:37:02 +0000

Pregnancy is the most delicate phase a woman faces in her life. The entire process of pregnancy is rife with various biological changes and carrying a new life inside is a memorable experience.
Due to the popularity of water birth, many women like to give birth in water. But with when giving birth in water (“water birth“), a lot of danger and risk is involved for you and your baby. Water birth is not a perfect delivery option for every pregnant woman. There is high amount of risk and complications attached to water birth. Ask your doctor about water birth delivery; whether it is perfect form of labour or not.
The disadvantage of water birth form of labour is that when a woman needs medical interventions, it does not sound beneficial. In some cases it may turn the delivery exhausting and painful. The water birth avoids the use of anaesthetics and surgical operations. Hence this might risk the delivery of a woman. Anaesthetics are given to a woman to reduce the pain and post-operational discomforts. In this form of labour, a mother takes lot of time to recover. In cases when a caesarean section is needed, water birth does not prove to be useful. There are chances of perineum tear also in this type of delivery.