Another childbirth class post

[timorousbeastie]

I had my first class over the weekend, and simpsongal's post about her class last week inspired me to share a few of the things from my class that stood out to me. Hopefully it helps the rest of you, too!

First, it was stressed several times that the 3 most important things to pack in your hospital bag are music, massage lotion, and lip balm. For music, she said that whatever you typically listen to that you enjoy and calms you down does a great job of relaxing you during labor. Even if it's just ambient music in the background that you aren't actively focusing on, she said studies have shown that it causes stress hormones to go down and endorphins to be released during labor. The massage lotion is because having your partner massage you is also very helpful (if you are in the mood to be touched, not everyone is). If you don't want most of your body touched, then have your SO try your hands or feet. Also, she pointed out to make sure it's actually massage lotion, not regular hand lotion, so it doesn't get absorbed too quickly. The lip balm is highly recommended because hospitals tend to be dry, and all the breathing/panting can really dry out your lips.

Other things that were suggested to bring were something for each of the senses. Music for hearing, a visual focal point (a picture of somewhere relaxing, a favorite stuffed animal, etc.) to focus on while contracting, something that smells good to you (could be the massage lotion, a shirt that smells like your SO) but nothing that needs to be lit to smell (no candles or incense), something that feels good to touch (again, maybe a favorite stuffed animal, or a nice soft pillow). Taste is a little more limited since you might not be able to eat, but you could do flavored lip balm or a sucker you enjoy.

If you are hoping to go natural, when you check in at the hospital request a nurse who focuses on natural births. She said most hospitals will have at least 1 or 2 nurses on any given shift that are really good at encouraging you through a natural birth. Since, admittedly, a natural birth is somewhat more difficult for the nurse, so you want to try to make sure you get someone who enjoys helping a woman through that naturally. Of course, even a nurse who focuses on natural births should also be open to getting you pain meds if you change your mind at some point during delivery, so don't worry that you're locking yourself into natural only if you request a specific type of nurse.

Hydrotherapy can be very relaxing and help labor progress, so if you have the option of getting into a shower or bath, do it. She recommended bringing a bathing suit for your SO in case you want him in there with you.

Most doctors at my hospital don't allow food during labor at the hospital, but they encourage you to eat whatever you want while laboring at home (just nothing too heavy or spicy). The nurse recommended bringing lollypops or suckers to suck on while you're at the hospital, but NOT hard candy because it's too easy to choke on if you gasp in during a contraction. At least lollypops/suckers have a handle to make it easier to remove.

If you have back labor, stay vertical as much as possible (which is actually advisable for labor in general, but especially back labor). She said the #1 way of relieving the pain of back labor is to get on all fours and have your partner place his hands on your hips or butt and press inward as hard as possible. If your SO gets tired, trade off with the nurse to do this.

One thing that I had never heard was that, if you're going natural, pushing is actually less painful than labor, but if you have an epidural, it's more painful. That's because the contractions to get the baby to where it needs to be for pushing are the most intense part of the whole process. If you're going natural, that means you're used to the more intense pain by that point and it's actually a relief to push. However, if you have an epidural, the contractions were numbed so not as painful, but the epidural doesn't numb the vagina as well, so pushing is more painful than the numbed contractions were.

My hospital is very big on skin to skin - they try to push it for everyone after birth for at least 2 hours. They almost always can start skin to skin within an hour if you have a c-section. Even if you can't do it for whatever reason, they then want dad to do it instead. Then try to keep up the contact as much as you can for the next few months by either holding the baby or using a carrier/wrap when possible.

[simpsongal]

LOL - I was intimidated by the emphasis on music too. Like, what if no one else likes the music I want to hear? I guess I'll bring my ipod and docking station. There are a couple different options on there, so I could mix it up.

[timorousbeastie]

Dec 9, 2013 8:41:57 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

LOL - I was intimidated by the emphasis on music too. Like, what if no one else likes the music I want to hear? I guess I'll bring my ipod and docking station. There are a couple different options on there, so I could mix it up.

I'm already prepared to yell out "Don't judge me! If New Kids on the Block takes me to my happy place, then let me listen to them!"   

I do actually have less embarrassing songs on my playlist, but some of the songs... yeah. Whatever. If I'm going to likely poop on the table in front of these people, my music selection is the least of my worries of how I'm going to embarrass myself! 

[sookie]

Our hospital was very specific on not just saying "lip balm" but saying non-petroleum based like Burt's Bees. Chapstick can spark if they have to give you oxygen.

[amaristella]

I never listened to any music. It just didn't occur to me to turn it on. I did not want to be touched except for one spot. I liked when DH applied counter pressure to a certain spot in my lower back during contractions. (As recommended by Bradley method) I did find that pushing was less intense than the first part of labor. Maybe because you have an actual task at hand and somewhere to channel the contractions rather than just trying to visualize what your uterus/cervix are up to. I actually got bored with the pushing and hurried up at the end which is maybe why I tore. I started labor around midnight and ate normally throughout the day except for dinner I only wanted one piece of pizza rather than two and that was about 4-ish hours before baby was born.

[winemaker06]

Interesting about the music. At my childbirth class we did a couple of different experiments that really showed that some people prefer music while some do prefer it quiet. Everyone's different!

[simpsongal]

I think I would prefer reruns of the Simpsons and Frasier. I wonder if that's allowed? TV got me through some dark moments of morning sickness. Similar to labor, it seems the enemy was time and making it through to the next day.

[amaristella]

Dec 9, 2013 17:36:36 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I think I would prefer reruns of the Simpsons and Frasier. I wonder if that's allowed? TV got me through some dark moments of morning sickness. Similar to labor, it seems the enemy was time and making it through to the next day.

Never in my life was a Tom and Jerry cartoon more hilarious than while I was in labor. True story.

[osulori]

I didn't have music but having the tv on in the background did help. I was in that damn l&d room for a full 24+ hours, so we watched/listened to a lot of NCIS reruns and ESPN. I'm fairly certain AJ was born to the sweet sounds of SportsCenter

[simpsongal]

Dec 9, 2013 19:13:06 GMT -5 osulori said:

I didn't have music but having the tv on in the background did help. I was in that damn l&d room for a full 24+ hours, so we watched/listened to a lot of NCIS reruns and ESPN. I'm fairly certain AJ was born to the sweet sounds of SportsCenter

My dad always likes to say they were airing the MASH finale when my brother and I were born.  That may be th eonly thing he remembers about our birth.

[osulori]

Dec 9, 2013 19:26:15 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Dec 9, 2013 19:13:06 GMT -5 osulori said:

I didn't have music but having the tv on in the background did help. I was in that damn l&d room for a full 24+ hours, so we watched/listened to a lot of NCIS reruns and ESPN. I'm fairly certain AJ was born to the sweet sounds of SportsCenter

My dad always likes to say they were airing the MASH finale when my brother and I were born.  That may be th eonly thing he remembers about our birth.

Anyone that knows my H would  not be surprised in the least to hear our kid was born with SportsCenter on in the background...he's a ridiculous sports fan.  And so am I, I guess.  ESPN was on pretty much nonstop in my postpartum room because whether it was British Open/Open Championship or SportsCenter, it was something I could watch OR fall asleep to so it was a win win situation all around!

[sookie]

Dec 9, 2013 19:26:15 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Dec 9, 2013 19:13:06 GMT -5 osulori said:

I didn't have music but having the tv on in the background did help. I was in that damn l&d room for a full 24+ hours, so we watched/listened to a lot of NCIS reruns and ESPN. I'm fairly certain AJ was born to the sweet sounds of SportsCenter

My dad always likes to say they were airing the MASH finale when my brother and I were born.  That may be th eonly thing he remembers about our birth.

I don't remember us watching TV at all during labor but it was on in the background. In the picture of DH cutting the cord I remembered it was on, and apparently I gave birth during Law & Order: SVU since Olivia Benson is on the screen. DH laughed when he saw it because I'm a marathon watcher of the show anyhow, but during 1st tri when I was too exhausted to do anything on the weekend but move from our bed to the couch I rewatched the entire series starting from episode 1. Seemed appropriate it would be on as she came out, even if it wasn't intentional.

[Deleted]

My DS was a med free birth and I didn't need any of those things, lol. My best advice is stay home as long as possible! That is how I was able to labor med free. Once you get to the hospital, it sucks. Glad you are enjoying your class!