HealthPartners - Preparing for childbirth

BEFORE YOU GIVE BIRTH

Chapter 3: Pain and Comfort Understanding Pain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 How Fear Increases Pain. . . . . . . . . . . . 30 How Your Body Processes Pain. . . . . . . . . 31 ComfortMeasures .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 20-MinuteRule.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Relaxation...................32 Breathing Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Cleansing Breath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 Focus and Distraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 ChangingPositions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Touch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 LightMassage.................36 Pressure....................36 BackLabor...................36 DoubleHipSqueeze.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Sensory Enhancement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 HeatandCold.................37 Hydrotherapy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Aromatherapy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 MusicandLighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 UsefulItems...................38 BirthingBall..................38 PeanutBall...................38 Rebozo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Chapter 4: Labor and Birth Understanding Labor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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 Terminology Checkup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Anatomy and Physiology Checkup. . . . . . . . 45 Frequently Asked Questions aboutLaborandBirth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 StagesofLabor..................48 FirstStageofLabor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 EarlyPhase...................50 ActivePhase..................52 TransitionPhase.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 SecondStageofLabor.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Pushing Positions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .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 MidwifeCategories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 YourLaborPartner.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Healthy Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Classes and Educators. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 PrenatalClasses.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CreatingaBirthPlan.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Writing Your Birth Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 BirthPlan....................13 Making Informed Decisions: BRAIN. . . . . . . 15 Baby’s Medical Provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 MakingGoodChoices. . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 Tracking Baby’s Movement. . . . . . . . . . . . 28 PretermLabor..................28 Warning Signs During Pregnancy. . . . . . . . . 29

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