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Labor Part II

By nine in the evening my contractions had remained constant but because they still had not changed too much, I felt that perhaps there was something I could do to kick my labor into high gear. I did not want to rest for fear that the contractions would diminish. My husband and I continued to get things organized for what was hopefully the arrival of our daughter within the next twenty-four hours. Throughout the evening my midwife checked in to see how I was doing and I kept telling her the same thing: the contractions are constant but still mild. … Continue reading →

A link between Infection and Preterm Labor

A study at Stanford University School of Medicine found a potential link between preterm birth and infection in the amniotic fluid. The study involved testing the amniotic fluid of women in preterm labor for bacteria or fungi. Researchers found that 15 percent of the samples tested positive for bacteria or fungi, a large increase from previous findings regarding the role of infection in preterm labor. They also found a link between the level of infection and the risk of delivering a younger preterm infant. The infants were generally sicker than in mothers without infection. Researchers believe the presence of the … Continue reading →

False Alarms in Labor

As you get close to your due date, Braxton Hicks contractions tend to get more intense. These can begin to resemble real contractions. If this is your first baby, it can be difficult to know the difference. Many women end up at the hospital at least once, thinking they are in labor. If you have a false alarm and go to the hospital, you may feel embarrassed when they send you back home. Don’t feel embarrassed, you are not alone. As most labor and delivery nurses will tell you, many first time moms do the same thing. It happened to … Continue reading →

The Let’s Talk Pregnancy Blog Top Ten: How to Induce Labor Naturally

If you’re attempting to have the most natural labor possible, you’re going to want to avoid artificial induction at all costs. Not only are artificially-induced contractions often significantly stronger and more painful, but starting labor unnaturally can likely lead to further complications. The current state of your cervix will determine how likely the onset of labor is. No amount of any of these, save number one maybe, will produce a baby if it’s not time. Sure, there are plenty of old wive’s tales for starting labor naturally, including eating spicy foods or taking a ride down a bumpy road. But … Continue reading →

Hot Weather, Pregnancy and Asthma

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I’ll be attending an outdoor wedding this weekend. Temperatures are supposed to reach the eighties, and with isolated thunderstorms in the forecast, it’s likely to be quite humid as well. One of my good friends is just weeks away from her due date and will be standing up in the wedding. We were wondering if the sweltering heat would bring on labor. There is no evidence that hot weather can bring on labor for a full term pregnant woman, but there are other precautions for those who are expecting during these hot summer months, particularly those who have asthma. Hot … Continue reading →

Reduce Your Stress for Your Baby’s Health

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Recent research conducted at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical Center revealed that stress during pregnancy increases the child’s risk for asthma. Stress in the mother triggers an immune response, evidenced in the cord blood collected at birth, possibly later heightening their response to inhaled antigens. It stands to reason, therefore, that reducing stress during pregnancy can only have a positive effect on both the baby and the mother. Most of us immediately want to remove the source of the stress. Sometimes it is simple enough as hiring a babysitter for a few hours or telling someone to mind … Continue reading →

Untreated Asthma During Pregnancy May Put Infant at Risk for Future Asthma

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Once again, research indicates that treating health issues during pregnancy, such as diabetes, for example, decreases the health risks for the child. This time the topic is asthma, and it has been found that women who don’t properly treat their asthma during pregnancy raise the risk that their child will suffer from the same disease. Over 32 percent of children born to mothers who neglect to treat their asthma during pregnancy develop the respiratory illness themselves. This new evidence comes from a study conducted at the Université de Montréal, the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research … Continue reading →

Can Evening Primrose Oil Help Soften the Cervix

Proponents of natural birth methods and many midwives swear by using evening primrose oil to help ripen the cervix. Evening primrose oil contains prostaglandins, which are used for inducing labor. It is said to help soften and ripen the cervix to help prepare it for the birth of your baby. Evening primrose oil is more commonly used by midwives. Very few obstetricians employ this method for softening the cervix. Most go to the medical methods of stripping the membranes or inducing labor with prostaglandins or pitocin. There is some debate about the effectiveness of evening primrose oil. Like other natural … Continue reading →

Sweeping the Membranes

If you have reached or passed your due date, your health care provider may suggest sweeping the membranes. This is a somewhat common practice among obstetricians. The purpose is to help bring on labor. Sweeping the membranes is a fairly simple process. It is often done during a vaginal exam when the doctor may also be checking the cervix for ripening. The doctor uses a finger to gently detach the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus, near the cervix. The worst part for the mother is the discomfort associated with the exam and the stripping of the membranes. … Continue reading →

How Can I Tell if My Water Breaks?

How will you know when your water breaks? This is a common question among first time mothers. It’s not uncommon for mommies in their second, third or even fourth pregnancies to wonder about the water breaking. Sometimes the water doesn’t break right away. With three of my four babies, the nurse or midwife broke it at the hospital. I had never experienced my water breaking in any of those labors. It turns out; my experience isn’t all that uncommon. The water usually doesn’t break until after labor has started. It only happens before labor starts in about 10% of pregnancies. … Continue reading →