Laboring women need support, not horror stories.
Before becoming a midwife, I was a labor and delivery nurse for almost nine years. As a nurse, I spent a great deal of time at the bedside, talking with my patients, and getting to know them and their families. So, believe me when I tell you that I have had some fantastic conversations with women and families in the labor room. I always encourage families to support the labor process by being present and talking through the scary, painful, crazy moments in the labor space.
But nothing makes me more upset than hearing the delivery tales of terror from…
Pregnancy
And why your healthcare provider doesn’t care if you shave.
Most of the time spent at an obstetric visit with your healthcare provider is used for education, counseling, reviewing normals/abnormals, and answering any questions you may have. So rest assured that all of your questions have probably been asked before…many times. There have only been a few questions that made me lose my neutral provider face (I won’t shame anyone here), but those are too few and far between. So I have compiled a list of the most common questions women or their partners have been scared to ask but honestly want to know the answer to.
What if I poop during delivery?
The number one…
…but it can make you sick.
Motherhood is not for the weak at heart. And anyone who tells you differently is either lying or delusional. Every stage of motherhood will come with a variety of ailments, concerns, and risks. This is part and parcel of becoming a parent.
Your obstetric and pediatric providers have seen it all and will be your biggest champions in educating you on the normal changes in your body. But there are some physical and mental changes that need more than a little extra TLC from your healthcare provider. Below are a few examples of how motherhood can make you sick.
Mood…
Alternative body positions to promote labor progress
“How can I speed up my labor?” Obstetric providers get this question every day. Unfortunately, we can’t answer this question until women are in active labor, and we can evaluate how labor is progressing.
One proven way to promote labor progress is to change positions frequently, as in every 20–30 minutes. Frequent position changes and movement during labor can help decrease pain perception, facilitate fetal descent into the pelvis, enhance the birth experience, and promote labor progress.
With all of these advantages, why are so many women laboring in one position for hours at a time? In a word, convenience.
…
Midwife Jen
Certified Nurse-Midwife, Wife, and Mother. Writing about Women’s Health, Parenting, and Pregnancy-Related Conditions. Midwife at Macarthur Medical Center.
