I reflect on my first birth from time to time. My first born is now a lively, sweet hearted 5 year old. My husband and I took Bradley Method childbirth classes during my pregnancy and we had planned on him being my labor coach. Here comes labor day and things started going off track the moment we went to the hospital. Here are 5 things I wish someone would have told me WHILE I WAS IN LABOR. I say during labor because I learned this stuff before labor, then when D-day came, all of that stuff escaped both of our brains.
#1 - Make Noises - I needed someone to tell me to moan, groan and sigh from the beginning. I was in triage for several hours and overheard another laboring woman making noises. I finally let down my guard and started moaning. Wow that helped. #2 - Get Up and Move - You don't HAVE to stay in bed and stay on monitors 24/7. I was told I needed to and so I did. #3 - Ask for More Options - When presented with an intervention that wasn't in my birth plan. I was given the option of going home and signing out AMA or having the intervention. Now I know there were more options. Had I had a doula with me, she could have prompted me to ask for additional options. #4 - Use the Toilet - Pretty self explanatory right? Well, our lovely nurse wanted me to pee in a bed pan laying on my back instead of on the toilet. Yeah. You can use the toilet as long as you have use of your legs (no epidural is placed). #5 - It's OK to say NO - That doesn't make you a bad patient or rude. It just means this is YOUR BIRTH! Share with your pregnant friends and encourage them to hire a doula. One who will surely help with all of the above and much more!
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