According to the book, Birthing From Within, the following are the top 11 concerns of labor and delivery for pregnant woman.

1) Not being able to stand the pain

2) Not being able to relax

3) Feeling rushed, or fear of taking too long

4) My pelvis is not big enough

5) My cervix won’t open

6) Lack of privacy

7) Being judged for making noise

8) Being separated from the baby

9) Having to fight for my wishes to be respected

10) Having intervention and not knowing if it is necessary or what else to do

11) Pooping during labor

As you can see, it is apparently natural for women to worry about all sorts of things prior to giving birth. Most of this worry and concern comes from a sense of not knowing what to expect, and of course the worries that everything will work out as planned. We are conditioned to feel like we are in control of our lives, and the unknown (as well as the high stakes of labor and delivery) tamper with our sense of control.

The good news is that a little bit of worry and apprehension is okay. Your concern for what might happen stems from the love you feel for your baby. But rather than let your worries get the best of you, try these simple tips for regaining your sense of control.

First, make sure that you have a birthing plan that you go over with your family members and your doctors. Most birthing centers will have you fill one out when you visit the hospital. This gives you time to make clear decisions about your wishes during labor and delivery, and enables you to have some records on file so that doctors and nurses can make sure your wishes are followed. Plus, making a birthing plan ahead of time ensures that you won’t have to make snap decisions in the delivery room when your thinking wont be as clear.

Talk to other pregnant moms and family members and friends. You are not alone in giving birth. Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, and while many people will fill you with horror stories – others will reassure you that all will be well.

Another good piece of advice is to trust your body. Thoughts like “What if I can’t give birth,” or “What if my cervix won’t dilate,” are normal concerns. But trust in your body. Your body knows what it is doing, and as long as you listen to what it is telling you, you will fine. Plus, medical intervention has come so far today that there are very little things that could happen that a doctor won’t be able to help you with.

Remind yourself that your labor and delivery is a personal part of your life. YOUR LIFE. Who cares what others think? Who cares if you poop, or make noise, or if you cry? This is about YOU and YOUR family. The people who are there with you love you and if they respect you, then you should have no worries about being embarrassed or ashamed of ANYTHING that happens during labor and delivery.

Recognize that worrying about pain is normal. It does not mean you are selfish. And just because people tell you that you won’t remember the pain afterwards doesn’t mean that you can easily dismiss a fear of pain. Doctors today can make labor and delivery as comfortable as possible, and YOU ARE TOUGHER THAN YOU THINK!

When the worries get the best of you, just sit back and relax and breathe. Think about your future with your baby. Think positive thoughts and try to keep yourself busy. Find people to talk to about your feelings, and don’t hold anything in. Remember, YOU GOT THIS!

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Mom-Spirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

As a birth partner you will witness the raw, intense and astounding miracle of birth. You will see one of the extremes of what the human body is capable.  You will see the look on the mother’s face as she holds her baby for the first time. Perhaps you are about to become a daddy, or maybe you are the best friend or close relative of the mum-to-be. Whatever your reason for being assigned this role, you are no doubt wondering how to be a good birth partner.

Here are ten easy ways to be the perfect birth partner:

Know what she wants – during labour, the mum-to-be will be pretty focussed on getting the baby out. She may not be in the best frame of mind for processing medical information, or asking for further information from the healthcare provider. You need to do that for her. Find out in advance what her ideal birth is, and how far she would be willing to deviate from it. Obviously in a life or death situation, there may be little room for maneuver, but it’s best to be prepared going in. Make sure you voice her concerns during labour, because she may not be able to.

Back to school – attend the antenatal classes. These classes will usually offer a session, often facilitated by a healthcare professional, to explain the intricacies of childbirth. This will not only help you to mentally prepare for the labour room, but it will also give you ideas of how to help on the day.

Bag it up – it’s not just the mum who needs a hospital bag. From week 37, make sure you have a hospital bag packed and with you at all times. Keep it in the boot of your car for easy access. Your bag should include hygiene items, a change of clothes, a camera, and anything else you think you might need. Make sure you have coins in the bag to pay for parking at the hospital. You should also pack some items for the mother, for example massage balls or snacks.

Be accessible – if the mum-to-be is a week overdue, don’t switch your phone off and head into a three hour client meeting. Make sure she can reach you at all times.

Massage – massage is a great way to relieve aches and pains during labour. Massage also helps to keep the mum-to-be relaxed. There are plenty of massage techniques detailed online that may be useful during labour. Try them out in advance, and when you find one you both like, print off the details and pack them in your hospital bag.

Stay calm – they say dogs can smell fear, well so can labouring women. One look at your pale, tearful face will tell her all she needs to know. Stay calm, positive and supportive throughout the delivery. If you run into unforeseen problems, stay focussed on supporting the mum-to-be, and do not allow yourself to become panicked.

In it for the long haul – labour isn’t usually a quick process. First labours typically last between eight and 12 hours. While mum-to-be will be focussed on birth during this time, you may find yourself struggling to stay awake. Drink energy drinks, go for a quick walk around the hospital, do whatever you think will help you to stay awake and helpful during labour. Definitely don’t moan about how bored you are, or ask how long it will take!

Put up with it – if your usually sweet, kind wife has just told you where to shove it, ignore it. Don’t worry, she doesn’t really mean it. Some women find themselves angry during labour, and often this anger is directed towards the dad-to-be.

Pile on the praise – tell her how amazing she’s doing, how great her breathing is and how proud you are of her. Be affectionate and supportive, and respond to her cues.

Go with the flow – if she said absolutely definitely no way did she want an epidural, but is now begging for one, it could be because the pain is worse than she expected. Ask her a few times to be sure she really wants to change her plan, and then support her new decision.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

As you near the finale of the nine-month-long trek you’ve been waiting for, you may feel like going off grid altogether. The endless texts asking “Any news?”, combined with the Facebook updates telling you yet another prenatal class buddy has welcomed their little bundle of joy, are enough to convince you to throw your smart phone out of the nearest window. Add to this the abundance of phone calls from over excited soon-to-be-grandparents desperate to know when it all kicks off, and you’ll soon be reaching for the scissors to put your landline out of action too.

The only exception to this please-leave-me-alone-and-stop-contacting-me-to-ask-if-I’m-in-labour-yet rule, is your birth partner. You will want your birthing partner in front of their emails, next to the office phone, with their mobile waiting and ready in their hand, just in case it’s almost time. If your partner has a hectic work schedule, or can often be out of contact for hours at a time, what can you do to ensure you reach them when the big day comes?

1. Keep it mobile – while your grandma may remember the days of labouring women awaiting neighbours running across town to inform soon-to-be-fathers that labour had started, that’s not quite how it works today. In fact, your partner probably has a mobile phone that is taken with them everywhere, and this makes things much easier. Make sure your partner keeps their phone fully charged, and carries a phone charger at all times, just in case. Ask your birth partner to turn the volume up and keep the phone with them at all times. If your birth goes places without signal, he or she should try to call every few hours to make sure they haven’t missed any calls from you.

2. Call the office – make sure you have the office number, and that the receptionist knows you are due to have a baby so any calls from you will be considered urgent. Work lines can be busy, so it may take a while to get through. If you’re not having any luck on their mobile, try calling the office. Even if he or she is not there, the receptionist is likely to offer to take over ringing their mobile number so that you can concentrate on labour.

3. Get the digits – you have the mobile number and office number, but where else might they be when the first contraction hits? If your birth partner spends a lot of time at the gym, make sure you have the number for the reception in case they are working out when it starts. You don’t want to be googling sports venues during your early contractions. If they are going round to a friend’s house, ask them for the landline number in case you need to get in touch. This is going to be one the greatest events of their life, so you’ll want to make sure they doesn’t miss it.

4. Have a back up – not a back up birth partner, although that is always a good idea to have one in mind, just in case. Have a back up phone operator in case you struggle to get hold of your partner. You really don’t want to be breathing through contractions while listening to the electronic voice mail message for the millionth time. If you can’t get in touch with your partner, ask a friend to take over calling them while you focus on labour.

5. Send for your birth partner – if you know where they are but can’t get through because of bad signal, a dead battery or a power cut – send someone else to look for them. Ask a close friend or family member to go and find your birth partner and get them for you. It’s unlikely you’ll ever need to do this, chances are the phone will be picked up as soon as you ring the mobile, but it’s worth being prepared.

How is your partner staying accessible as your due date approaches?

Have you enjoyed this article? You can find plenty more useful articles and great tools in our new Baby App for iPhone / iPad or Android. Click Baby+ iOS or Baby+ Android to install the App, and prepare for the arrival of your little one(s).

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Once labor and delivery has occurred, you will hear your doctors and attending pediatricians talking about the APGAR score. The APGAR test – which stands for A: Appearance (Skin color) * P: Pulse (Heart rate) * G: Grimace (Reflex irritability) * A: Activity (Muscle tone) * R: Respiration (Breathing) – will take place at 1 minute, 5 minutes and 10 minutes after delivery. Chances are while your baby is being assessed you will still be delivering the placenta and afterbirth.

During the APGAR test, your baby will be given a score of 0, 1 or 2 in each of the five categories. For instance if their skin is pink all over, they will receive 2 points. If their skin is pale or blue – they will be given 0 points. Once all the points in each of the categories is added up, a final tally is made.  A score of 7 points or more at the 1 minute mark is considered normal and means that your baby does not need any immediate medical attention.  Scores of lower than 7, normally mean that a NICU nurse or pediatrician will be called in to help.

Oftentimes, a baby’s APGAR score will improve greatly between the 1 minute and 10 minute mark. In fact, your baby may have a low or risky score at the 1 minute mark and a completely normal (or even perfect) score at the 10 minute mark. Much of this depends on the type of delivery and any problems or complications that may have occurred during childbirth.

The APGAR test, while not diagnostic, was invented in the early 1950’s as an easy way for physicians to quickly assess the needs of newborns. The good news is that a low APGAR score at any of the timed intervals does not mean that your baby will have any long term health problems. Most of these problems can be resolved in a matter of minutes, hours or days. The test is a preliminary screening, and is essentially used to decide whether your baby needs further medical intervention.

The APGAR test is the first in a long line of tests that your baby will receive once delivered. As part of your birthing plan, you may want to designate a family member, spouse, loved one or friend to stand by with your baby when these tests are performed since you will likely be recovering. Hearing your baby’s APGAR scores are normal will help you relax and recover from the birth.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Momspirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

What does it mean if my baby is breech?

If your baby is breech, it means he is lying in a bottom down position. Up to four percent of babies are thought to be breech at the end of the pregnancy. By the end of most pregnancies, the baby is in a head down position, this means the largest part of the baby (the head) is born first. A breech birth is more complicated.

Turning the baby

If your baby is breech at 32 weeks, there is a good chance he will move himself into a head down position before the birth. By week 36, however, your baby will have less room to move around, and your healthcare provider may want to intervene.

An obstetrician may try to turn your baby using a technique called external cephalic version (ECV). This involves manually applying pressure to your bump in an attempt to turn the baby. ECV will take place in hospital, and your baby will be monitored throughout. Your doctor’s movements will be guided with the help of ultrasound. You may be offered drugs to relax your uterus during the procedure. ECV shouldn’t hurt but may be uncomfortable as pressure is applied. This technique is successful in around half of all cases, and this is partly down to the skill of the obstetrician performing the procedure.

Breech birth

If your baby doesn’t turn during ECV, your healthcare provider will want to discuss birth options with you. In the US, 85 percent of breech babies are delivered by cesarean. Cesarean birth is considered the safest way to deliver a breech baby, although some are still born by vaginal delivery. If you go into labour before your scheduled cesarean surgery, your healthcare provider will assess whether you should try for a vaginal birth instead.

You will be advised against a vaginal birth if:

• your baby’s foot is below his bottom
• your baby is in a kneeling down position
• your baby has his head tilted back
• you have pre-eclampsia
• your baby is expected to weigh less than 2kg
• your baby is expected to weigh more than 3.8kg
• you have a narrow pelvis
• you have had a previous cesarean
• you have a low-lying placenta

If you are expecting twins, and the first twin is breech you will also be advised to avoid a vaginal birth. If none of the above apply to you, and you would like to pursue a vaginal breech delivery, you should speak to your healthcare provider.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Before the birth of your child, it’s important to sit down and think about the type of birth you would like. Would you like to have your baby in hospital or at home? Do you want to use a birthing pool? What type of pain relief would you like to have available? You will need to consider all of these things when you write your birthing plan.

You should discuss your birthing plan with your healthcare provider and birth partner, so that they know how to best support you on the day. Of course, it is not a definitive plan, and you should be open to change on the day. While you may love the idea of a natural birth, on the day you may find yourself asking for drugs. Alternatively, if you plan to have an epidural immediately after the first contraction, you may surprise yourself by coping fine without.

Since you can’t predict in advance how you will feel during labour (even if you have given birth before, remember, all births are different), it makes sense to be read up on all the pain relief options available to you. That way you can make an informed decision on the day, even if labour isn’t quite what you were expecting.

Epidural

This is the most commonly used form of pain relief used during childbirth in the US, as many as 66 percent of women opt for an epidural. An epidural provides continuous pain relief during labour. A thin hollow tube is inserted into the epidural space near the base of your spine. Once in place, a combination of narcotics and a local anaesthetic will be administered. An epidural should provide good pain relief, but may restrict your movements during labour.

Systemic medications

Systematic painkillers are used to dull pain, but will not eliminate it. Systemic drugs are delivered by IV or injected into muscle, and will affect your entire body. You will remain conscious while on systemic medications, but may feel sleepy. This form of pain relief is often described as ‘taking the edge off’, and may help you relax during labour. Systemic medications cross the placenta and may affect your baby, because of this, the amount you can take is limited.

Spinal block

A spinal block is a one-off injection into the spinal fluid. This provides fast pain relief that lasts just a few hours. Spinal blocks are often used for women who decide they want an epidural too late, or for when labour is progressing at speed. The major disadvantage to a spinal block is that it can inhibit the pushing stage and lead to a longer labour.

Combined spinal/epidural

This new technique offers fast and continuous relief. For the first hour or two, you may still be able to move around during labour, so this is a good option if you are hoping to stay mobile to help your labour progress. A combined spinal/epidural will reduce sensation which could cause problems during the pushing stage and lead to a longer labour.

Water birth

As well as helping you to stay mobile and upright during labour, birthing pools are said to provide pain relief. The warmth of the water can help to ease discomfort, and the support from the water may help you to move position easily during labour. Your healthcare provider will need to assess whether you are a suitable candidate for a water birth, and then you will need to choose a birthing centre that has pools available.

Natural birth

If you’re hoping to give birth without drugs, you may find relaxation techniques useful. Breathing exercises, meditation and hypnobirthing are all great tools to help you keep calm and focused through contractions.

What pain medication are you planning to use during childbirth?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

It’s the middle of the night, you’re in your 39th week and all of a sudden you feel a strong tightening in your abdomen. The first thing you think is, Am I having contractions? Is this labor? For first time parents, one of the most crucial parts of pregnancy is to know when you’re actually having contractions, and when it’s time to pack up and head on over to the hospital. Not to worry, though, false contractions are very normal. If you end up making a few trips to the hospital and they tell you you’re not ready, you don’t need to worry. Many women have been through false alarms during pregnancy.

How To Know It’s Not Time Yet

Contrary to what we may watch on television shows or in movies, actual labor does not start suddenly; there is a general progression of events that happen prior to that. When you go into labor, your body has been preparing itself for weeks before it’s time for the baby to arrive. More often than not, first time mothers in their third trimester can trigger false contractions due to stress or hormonal changes, even dehydration. Even when you go into labor, it can be hours before you have your baby.

Signs of Labor or False Alarm?

There are several events that happen which are associated with labor. When these start happening to a woman, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to grab your overnight bag and jet to the hospital. It may be a false alarm, or it may be very early labor. These signs include:

• Lightening

Lightening is when your baby settles down lower into your pelvis, getting ready to make his or her arrival. When the baby moves further down, it helps you breathe easier, and an added bonus is if you suffered from heartburn throughout your pregnancy, this may be a temporary relief. However, the increased pressure on the uterus will mean more frequent trips to the bathroom. Lightening might happen right before labor or weeks before; there is no exact time.

• Passing of the Mucus Plug

The mucus plug is a seal that shuts off the cervix during pregnancy. When the cervix starts widening during the end of the third trimester, the mucus plug may be dislodged. This discharge might be clear or slightly bloody. In many cases, discharge can occur even a week or two before you go into labor.

• Contractions

Contractions are one of the most common false alarms that women experience when in the later stages of pregnancy. False contractions are usually known as Braxton Hicks. They tend to cause the abdomen to tighten up and relax but don’t continue on at regular intervals. These contractions are quite different from actual labor contractions, which come in more regular intervals.

Signs of Actual Labor

The best way to tell whether you are in actual labor is to time your contractions. Keep in mind they usually start slowly and build over time. Time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next – this is how often they are happening (frequency). The length from the beginning to the end of a single contraction (duration) is important, too. If you call your healthcare provider, he or she will want to know both the duration and the frequency of the contractions, as well as how intense they feel to you. Once your contractions are coming every 4-5 minutes and they have been that way for about an hour, it may be go-time.

The other sign that labor has started is the rupture of your membranes, sometimes referred to as your bag of waters breaking. If you think your waters have broken, note the time, amount, color and odor (remember the word TACO), and notify your healthcare provider. Most of the time, contractions start soon after your water breaks; but, for some women, it could take as much as 12-24 hours.

In the end, those few extra trips to the hospital won’t hurt. When it’s time for labor and you see your precious baby, everything will be worth it.

If you have any fun labor stories to share, or can share some tricks to know what is a false alarm, let us know!

Written by Manal, first time mom and writer

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Babywearing is nothing new, women have been wearing their babies for generations the world over. Long before prams were invented, women were carrying their babies using lengths of fabric as makeshift carriers. Far from being the new craze the media would have you believe, babywearing is a tried and tested  parenting method to make life a little bit easier once the baby arrives. There are plenty of reasons to try babywearing, here are just five of them:

1. You won’t have to leave your baby crying – listening to your newborn baby scream because he needs you is awful. If you have a clingy baby (they all are, at times) and you need a bathroom, you have two choices. You can either leave your baby to cry while you feel guilty on the toilet, or you can cross your legs tightly until your partner gets home to help out. Or, secret option number three, you can stick your baby in the carrier, and go about your daily business as usual.

2. You’ll be hands free – babies just love being carried, and cuddled and played with. Your baby may not be overly keen on being put down, so you’ll probably find yourself carrying him around the house with you anyway. You will learn to do pretty much everything with just one hand, for example, make cups of tea, open jars and pack the nappy bag. Or, you could stick your baby in the carrier, and have the luxury of two hands.

3. Your baby is nearer to the action – babies in prams and pushchairs are a little out of the way. If he is parent-facing, he will enjoy listening to you, but probably won’t be able to see much of what you see. If he is forward-facing, he will miss out on the conversation (and opportunities for language skills development) and will see a knee-height view of the world. In a sling, he would be able to hear what you’re saying, engage with the same people as you, and be able to see the same things.

4. Your baby will have his creature comforts to hand – after nine long months in the womb, your baby likes the sound of your heartbeat, the rhythm of your voice, the smell of your skin, and the warmth of your body. Your baby wants to be with you as much as possible to help him feel safe and confident in new environments. If you’re breastfeeding, you may find you can breastfeed him in the carrier, meaning he’s exactly where he needs to be.

5. Why not? – if you’re not sure babywearing is for you, give it a go before discounting it as an option. There are lots of different types of carriers available, so you should be able to find one you feel comfortable using. Get in touch with your local sling library to book a consultation, an advisor will be able to help you try on different slings, and recommend which will be best for you and your baby.

Will you be giving babywearing a try?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

The nesting instinct is experienced by mammals and birds alike. Cats select a private place to give birth, and spend some time collecting rags and other materials to create a soft bed. While you may not be building a pile of old towels in the cupboard under the stairs, you may also be nesting. In humans, the nesting instinct is described as an urge to get things ready for the baby. This could feel like an uncontrollable urge to sort things out. From cleaning behind the bookcase, to de-cluttering the loft, the nesting instinct can take many forms.

It can start as early as the second trimester, although most women will experience it only a matter of weeks before the birth. You may also find that the nesting instinct leaves you feeling a desire to stay close to home.

Does it mean I’m about to go into labour?

During those last few weeks of pregnancy, you may find yourself on your hands and knees scrubbing the utility room floor, or alphabetising all the books in the nursery. However, this doesn’t mean labour is imminent. Some people believe that nesting during the last few weeks is a sign labour is near. Some women do report experiencing the nesting instinct in the last few days of pregnancy.

Follow your instincts, and get all the last minute jobs out of the way. Once it’s all finished, you’ll be able to feel calm and relaxed while you wait for the baby.

It’s also worth bearing in mind, once the baby arrives you may struggle to find the time to order all your photographs by year. Make the most of the time and energy you have during nesting, and get things ready for when baby arrives.

Be sensible

You may be feeling an uncontrollable urge to dust the top of the bookcase, but if it means balancing on top of a wheeled chair, it’s probably best not to. Ask your partner, or friends and family, to help with any jobs that are unsuitable for pregnant women. Climbing, balancing and lugging around heavy objects are all jobs you should avoid.

You should also be careful to avoid strong chemical smells such as oven cleaner or oil based paints. Be sure to take precautions when using cleaning fluids, and leave windows open to allow air to circulate.

If you haven’t felt any urges to clean your house, don’t worry. Not all women experience the nesting instinct.

Do you enjoy this App? Want to prepare for your baby’s arrival? You can now also download our new Baby App for iPhone / iPad or Android. Click Baby+ iOS or Baby+ Android to install the App.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.