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3rd Trimester
jos1999
member
what to REALLY expect during labor?
jos1999
member
I'm a first timer and the weeks are flyin by! I'm getting kinda anxious about L&D now. In my mind im going to start contracting in the middle of the night and have to wait it out till they are 5mins apart before heading to the hospital. Once I get to the hospital I plan on getting an epi asap and resting/ reading baby mags till its time to push. I'm hoping when its time to push i'll be focused and collected and just pop him out in 45mins... thats the dream @ least. What should I really expect, any rookie mistakes to avoid? pushing tips?
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Re: what to REALLY expect during labor?
Um, this. And also realize that EVERY labor and delivery is different.
My contractions started out 2-4 minutes apart from the beginning. I ended up getting to 7 cm before I finally got some Nubain in my IV because I was throwing up, and at that point was shaking from the pain of back labor all day. Seriously, it wasn't as bad as I thought though. I pushed for 1 hour.. just push like you're trying to poop. I was in labor for 20 hours total.
As far as "rookie mistakes" I can't really think of anything. Since you're planning on an epi this suggestion wouldn't work for you, but I know the bath tub was really awesome for me.
exactly!
I sure hope you don't have your mind set on your "dream" scenario because there's a big chance it won't fly by so easily for you.
I decided to scrap my birthplan and fly by the seat of my pants. Whatever happens happens and as long as they get him out safely then my work is done.
That way I prevent myself from being disappointed with any outcomes......except for the fact I wish to do it naturally. If that doesn't happen then darn it, oh well.
This. And maybe ask on other boards. Not everyone on the Trimester Boards are second time+ mothers. Or go over to the Birth Stories board.
Reading others' stories to psyche yourself out may help you with the 'educated' part. (This is not meant to be snarky, but everyone's different, so lurking may help a bit here.)
Bring smut magazines, not baby ones. You'll have so much time to read about babies/kids...read about Snookie or some real housewives.
Seriously, keep an open mind and go with the flow. Just don't get the epi too early or too late. Both those scenerios can backfire on you. Do a little research so you know what I mean.
You know, like OP's say, what ever you expect to expect will most likely not be the way it all goes down.
Yep, every labor is different. But, I'll tell you mine; NOW I remember it as a crazy adventure 36 hours worth of labor 8 hours of hard labor, and I remember it as bitter sweet becuase they had to take DS away and off to the NICU; we have good memories of the NICU, and it's a part of DS's story, so I can't be too upset about it, but I remember thinking at the time that I would NEVER do it again because pushing was the most work I'd done in my life, and the pain was unmanagable (even with every drug available.) It's funny how memories fade.
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The biggest rookie mistakes I made were:
1) letting my doctor induce me, even though things were fine,
2) relying on the epi and not doing any preparation for pain management, and
3) thinking that the "normal" hospital birth would work out just fine for me.
My epi didn't work, and that, combined with the excruciating pain of my cranked-out Pitocin contractions, made me an absolute terror-stricken basket case when I was in labor. I ended up having a c-section under general anesthesia for failure to progress. If I have any advice at all for first time moms, it's to have a back-up plan in case your epi doesn't work. They aren't foolproof, that's for sure.
good idea! and thanks ladies. looks like i've got a bit of homework to do.
ahhh nubain ...i heart nubain... oh and your baby girl looks JUST like you.
thats funny I was about to tell her the opposite. I learned not to eat after labor started with DD....I HATE puking...and eating is most likely going to cause that...
Case in point OP....everyone is different. Good Luck though. Just dont get too wrapped up in what you HOPE will happen or you will likely be let down.
Expect to be prepared for anything. Of course we would all like things to go smoothly. I plan on having an epi, but I also have in the back of my head that it could be not the nirvana that some people say it is...it could not work, could work on half of my body, give me the shakes, headache. I'm just listening in class...getting the tools I need to focus on my mental well being...staying calm, relaxed (as much as I can in pain)
I consider it the "sprint at the end of the marathon"...it's the most intense, but the finish line in near!
Wow, this sounds like my experience almost exactly, except it took just a little over an hour to push him out
.
But seriously, I know it's likely not to happen like that again. Just be prepared for anything to happen. And a good pushing tip...try not to exhale or talk while you are pushing. You kind of lose the force behind the push when you do that. Just hold your breath and keep pushing! You'll do great!
I say educate yourself the best you can about what happens to your body in labor.
Learn about your hospital's policies and procedures as well.
This is not a time where ignorance is bliss.
Serious??
If so... I'll limit my response to one part of your post - but don't expect the epi to definitely work - and to work absolutely.
I've heard so many stories - the epi not working at all, the epi working only half the body, the epi causing labour to slow down so much that people have had to wait for the epi to wear off before continuing, etc. DONT really solely on the epi to get you through it. Be ready with techniques to deal with the pain.
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1. your contractions will feel like the worst diarhea cramp combined with the worst menstrual cramp EVER
2. remember to breathe and stretch during your pain. holding breath = puking and stress
3. dont expect anything. just go to the hospital. once they admit you, ask about what drugs you can have and when. if you have good drugs, you won't be able to read any magazines, you will be too wrapped up in the moment (or taking mini naps) to worry about it.
Good luck.
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