You're crossing days off on the calendar now, waiting for your due date to arrive. You feel awkward and bulky. You can't see your toes. You are really ready for this baby to be born! Anyone who has had a full-term pregnancy knows what late pregnancy is like. After awhile, you're willing to do almost anything to get that baby to come out! There are a few things you need to know before labor begins, however.
1. Induction is not the answer 99% of the time. There are medical situations where induction is warranted and the best course of action, but impatience is not one of them. Many times, inductions will fail, leading you to the operating room for a cesarean section. If your doctor is pushing for an induction, ask them to see what your Bishop score is.
To determine your Bishop score, your doctor will do an exam to check the position of your cervix, its consistency, if it is effaced at all, what dilation you are at, and what station the baby is at. A score is assigned for each item on the checklist. The higher score you get, the more likely induction will be successful. The highest score possible is 13. A score of 9 or more shows that labor is likely to begin very soon on its own.
2. Your due date is just an estimate. I know it is hard to remember this in the throes of late pregnancy… I've been there! Babies don't read calendars, they come when they are ready. If you've been going through a lot of prodromal labor where it starts and stops, maybe the baby is not in the right position to keep things going. You can try wrapping your belly tightly to see if baby's head gets applied better to the cervix, or you can try sitting upright and doing activities on all fours to get baby to turn anterior (with his or her back to your belly button).
3. You need to rest. Labor is strenuous. You may be filled with nesting energy, and bustling all over trying to get everything ready for baby, but you need to remember to rest. Lie down with your feet up for awhile and read something fun. Eat foods that pack a nutritious punch to keep you going during labor. Be sure you drink enough water to remain hydrated. Dehydration causes contractions… but they are ineffective and just tire you out.
4. Follow your caregiver's instructions on when to contact them when labor begins. Some want to know as soon as you think you're in labor; others want to know when you're in established active labor with contractions 3 to 5 minutes apart. Know who you want to be at your birth and keep a list of numbers handy so they can be contacted at the appropriate time.
5. Relax. Yes, it is exciting to be awaiting the birth of your baby. The more you can relax, the more ready you'll be to meet your new little one. Practice relaxing while listening to your favorite music. This music will then act as a trigger to help you relax even during your contractions. If you can relax, labor can be much more bearable and you'll be wondering afterwards what all the fuss is about.
Now you're ready to have your baby. Take a deep breath. Relax. Eat well. You and your baby are preparing for one of the most amazing times in both your lives… meeting face to face for the first time.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/five-things-you-should-know-before-labor-begins-933495.html
Join us at http://organic-birth.com to learn more about homebirth. Please take a moment and subscribe to our free ezine. Toni Rakestraw is the mother of 8 children, 4 of whom were born at home.
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