See here for Parent Education – Post Delivery
What do contractions feel like?
- Start off as mild menstrual-like pains
- Aching in lower back
- Pressure/tightening in pelvic area and abdomen
- Gradually build in frequency, length and intensity
- Some describe contractions like ‘waves’ beginning with slow build up, a peak and then gradual come down
- Gradually aching extends around whole abdomen, back and down the thighs
- Can feel ‘shaky’ like when muscles have been working really hard and become tired
- Can feel like an intense internal ‘pulling and twisting’
When should I ring the hospital?
- Reassurance
- Painful regular contractions coming roughly 2-4 min lasting approx 45-60 sec
- Constant abdominal pain without any breaks in-between
- Waters have broken
- Any bleeding
- Concerns that you are unwell in labour (e.g. Have a temperature)
- Any concerns about baby’s movements
What will help you in labour?
- Labour in a calm, relaxing, warm environment
- Move around in labour but also rest when necessary
- Practice breathing
- Hypnotherapy techniques
- Visualisation
- Positive affirmations
- Supportive birth partner
- Keep well hydrated/nourished
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/what-happens-during-labour-and-birth/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pain-relief-labour/
- Labour and Birth – Packing Checklist
- Pain Relief in Labour – Your Options
- Pain Relief in Labour – Booklet
Induction of labour
An induced labour is one that’s started artificially. It is quite common. Every year, 1 in 3-4 or 1 in 5 labours are induced depending on which NHS Trust data you look at for the UK. It may be recommended that your labour is started artificially if you are quite far over your due date. Other reasons for induction are if there is a risk to you or your baby’s health. An example is if your blood pressure becomes too high, or there are concerns with your baby because they are not growing as much as expected. Induction will usually be planned in advance. You’ll be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor and midwife, and find out why they think your labour should be induced. Always remember in most cases there is room for discussion about when the best time for induction would be, or whether it would be safe to just wait a bit longer to see if your labour begins spontaneously.
If baby needs to be delivered quickly when you are at the pushing stage, this is how baby might be born:
Ventouse
A ventouse (vacuum extractor) is an instrument that’s attached to the baby’s head by suction. A soft or hard plastic or metal cup is attached by a tube to a suction device. The cup fits firmly on to your baby’s head. During a contraction and with the help of your pushing, the obstetrician or midwife gently pulls to help deliver your baby.
Forceps
Forceps are smooth metal instruments that look like large spoons or tongs. They’re curved to fit around the baby’s head. The forceps are carefully positioned around your baby’s head and joined together at the handles. With a contraction and your pushing, an obstetrician gently pulls to help deliver your baby.
There are different types of forceps. Some are specifically designed to turn the baby to the right position to be born, such as if your baby is lying facing upwards (occipito-posterior position) or to one side (occipito-lateral position). Forceps are often more successful than ventouse in delivering the baby, but a ventouse is less likely to cause vaginal tearing. Obstetricians will make a small cut (known as an episiotomy) to help deliver your baby with assisted deliveries and reduce the risk of tears that extend to your back passage.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/ventouse-forceps-delivery/
Caesarean birth
A caesarean birth, or C-section, is an operation to deliver your baby through a cut made in your tummy and womb. The cut is usually made across your tummy, just below your bikini line.
Emergency caesarean birth
A caesarean birth which has not been planned in advance and in most cases will occur in during labour if baby is not coping well or labour has not progressed as expected.
Elective caesarean birth
Caesarean birth which has been planned in advance and in most cases has been recommended for clinical reasons such as breech, multiple births or previous caesarean birth. Women may also choose this method of delivery for non-clinical reasons such as tocophobia, which is a psychiatric diagnosis of phobia of birth.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/caesarean-section/
