HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

BEFORE YOU GIVE BIRTH

Chapter 3: Pain and Comfort UnderstandingPain.............................30 How Fear Increases Pain. . . . . . . . . . . . 30 How Your Body Processes Pain. . . . . . . . . 31 ComfortMeasures .............................. 32 20-MinuteRule.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Relaxation....................32 Breathing Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 CleansingBreath.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Focus and Distraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 ChangingPositions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Touch......................36 LightMassage................. 36 Pressure.................... 36 BackLabor................... 36 DoubleHipSqueeze. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 SensoryEnhancement.......................... 37 HeatandCold................. 37 Hydrotherapy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Aromatherapy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 MusicandLighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 UsefulItems.....................................38 BirthingBall...................38 PeanutBall................... 38 Rebozo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Chapter 4: Labor and Birth UnderstandingLabor............................40 Anatomy and Physiology . . . . . . . . . . . 40 LaborLanguage................................. 41 Amniotic Sac (Bag of Waters). . . . . . . . . . 41 MucusPlug...................41 Placenta.....................41 LaborHormones.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Lightening and Fundus. . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Effacement...................42 Dilation..................... 42 Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 TerminologyCheckup...........................44 Anatomy and Physiology Checkup.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Frequently Asked Questions aboutLaborandBirth...........................46 StagesofLabor..................................48 FirstStageofLabor..............................50 EarlyPhase................... 50 ActivePhase...................52 TransitionPhase.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 SecondStageofLabor..........................56 PushingPositions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 ThirdStageofLabor.............................60 BirthofthePlacenta.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 PlacentaOptions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 UmbilicalCord..................61 Delayed Cord Clamping . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 DURING CHILDBIRTH

Chapter 1: Preparing for Birth ChoosingaFacility................................ 8 Hospital or Birth Center?. . . . . . . . . . . . .8 TakingaTour...................9 YourBirthTeam.................................. 9 Midwife Categories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 YourLaborPartner.............................. 10 HealthyCommunication.........................11 ClassesandEducators............................11 PrenatalClasses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CreatingaBirthPlan............................ 12 Writing Your Birth Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 BirthPlan....................13 Making Informed Decisions: BRAIN. . . . . . . 15 Baby’sMedicalProvider......................... 16 Chapter 2: Having a Healthy Pregnancy StayingActive................................... 17 EasyExercises................................... 18 ThePelvicRock.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Squats..................... 20 KegelExercises.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 EatingHealthy................................... 21 Head-to-ToeHealth.............................. 22 CleanersandSprays.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 EmotionsandStress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Medications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 TeethandGums................ 22 Rest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Sex....................... 22 Travel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Working.....................22 Making Good Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 AchesandPains.................................24 Backache and Sciatica. . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Belly (Round Ligament) Pain. . . . . . . . . . 24 Braxton Hicks Contractions. . . . . . . . . . . 24 BreastChanges.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Congestion and Nosebleeds . . . . . . . . . . 25 Constipation and Bloating. . . . . . . . . . . 25 Fatigue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Feelings and Mood Swings. . . . . . . . . . . 25 Frequent Urination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Heartburn....................26 Hemorrhoids.................. 26 JointPain....................26 LegCramps...................26 NauseaandVomiting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Preeclampsia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 ShortnessofBreath.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 SkinChanges..................27 Swelling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 TrackingBaby’sMovement.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 PretermLabor...................................28 Warning Signs During Pregnancy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

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