Search Results for: blog choosing a labor support person

Finding Support During Pregnancy

Pregnancy has the potential to be a very emotional and stressful time. There are so many things to learn, to prepare, to accomplish and to arrange. You must deal with your changing body, your changing wardrobe, your changing job situation and your changing family. Your stomach is growing, your appetite is growing, your wash load is growing and your wallet is shrinking. There has never been a more important time to surround yourself with positive support. Where I found support when I was pregnant: My mom(s): My mom and my mother-in-law were both so supportive during my pregnancy. They took … Continue reading →

Choosing a Labor Support Person

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No one should ever have to give birth alone. Whether it is a husband, a mother, a sister, a doula or a friend present – the importance of a personal labor support person is paramount. Labor is scary at times and the pain can make it difficult to speak or think clearly. The new mother needs someone to voice her concerns when she cannot and comfort her when she is feeling distressed, tired or scared. When you are choosing someone to go into the delivery process with you, think about the way you think they’ll respond under pressure. Will they … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Review Feb 10 – 23

A wide range of topics related to infertility, pregnancy and birth have been covered recently in the pregnancy blog. Wherever you are on the road to parenthood, you will find something relevant in this review and the pregnancy blog archives. A big hurdle for many couples is the cost of the medications used with infertility treatments. Insurance often does not cover the cost, which can be as high as over $2000 for one cycle. Read more in Affording Fertility Medications. A relatively rare, but sometimes serious, complication of injectable fertility medications is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. These medications work by stimulating … Continue reading →

Photos in the Delivery Room

I got a few pictures in the delivery room when my son was born, but most of them were from when we were waiting and then there were several afterward. I wish I had some more pictures of the actual delivery. I don’t necessarily want pictures of the birth itself, front and center, but I would have liked to capture the look on my husband’s face when my son first emerged, or my son’s first moments on my tummy. In the weeks following my son’s birth, I would often repeated ask my husband to describe the scene for me. I … Continue reading →

Why the High Maternal Mortality Rate in America?

Women in America more likely to die during childbirth than they are in most other developed nations. Despite our advanced health care and all the money spent on health care in America, why are so many women still dying as a result of childbirth related complications? There are many theories out there, and many point to the obesity epidemic in the US. Obesity significantly increases the risks of childbirth complications. Over a third of Americans over the age of 20 are obese. Obesity is defined by having a BMI of 30 or more. For a person that is 5′ 9″, … Continue reading →

More Bad News About Elective C Sections

In the US, women often choose c sections even when there is no medical indication for the procedure. Often this is done after a previous c section for convenience, personal preference or pressure from a doctor who is opposed to vaginal birth after cesarean or VBAC. Organizations such as the World Health Organization have expressed concern about the high c section rate and set goals for lowering this rate. This is due to the increased risk of surgery for both the mother and the baby. Figures from WHO show that worldwide, about 18 percent of all c sections are done … Continue reading →

Unassisted Childbirth

Unassisted childbirth, also called freebirth, is when a woman gives birth at home with no midwife present. Often the woman’s partner or another family member is present, but no medical personnel. The stories of unassisted birth are not the scenario we typically envision where the birth takes place in the car on the way to the hospital or after a very short labor at home. These women are giving birth at home, without any medical assistance on purpose. This movement is growing in the United States. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 7,000 babies were born unassisted in … Continue reading →

When Your Partner Doesn’t Want to Attend the Birth

For the vast majority of couples, the husband’s presence in the delivery room is taken for granted. Gone are the days when the father to be would sit in the waiting room, smoking cigars and waiting for news about the baby. For the past few generations, fathers have been welcomed into the delivery room and have taken an active role in helping their wives cope during labor. There are still some men out there who would love to go back to those days. For a variety of reasons, these men have no desire to witness the birth of their children. … Continue reading →

The Benefits of Family in the Delivery Room

At some point in your pregnancy, you will need to decide who will be joining you in the delivery room. Some women like a lot of support and believe birth is a family event that should be shared. Women with this belief like more than just their partners in the room. There are some benefits to having family present in the delivery room. If you are the kind of person who draws support from family and close friends, you may like company during labor. Giving birth surrounded by love and support can be a beautiful way to welcome a baby … Continue reading →

Dealing with Difficult Hospital Staff

I’ve heard some horror stories recently about negative hospital staff in the labor and delivery room. I’ve also experienced some down right nasty nurses during the four times I’ve delivered babies. I was much more affected by attitude with my first baby than with my fourth. When a woman is in labor, she is vulnerable to negative or nasty nurses. A roll of the eyes or unkind statement can really affect the confidence the woman feels in labor or as a new mother. A family friend was told by a nurse that she was being “too loud” during labor. She … Continue reading →