Pain: There will be pain. Rather than be terrified and crumble in fear about it- let’s face it, learn how to cope with it and remember that there are pain management options.
Panic: The muscle that I become most concerned about as labor intensifies is the brain…it has a need to be in control-not possible in labor. Reassuring her that she is OK, that she is doing well and steadily guiding her through one contraction at a time is key.
Partner: You are essential in labor. No one can take your place. You are the only one in the building that loves her head to toe. In between contractions you are the one to wrap your arms around her and love her.
Passenger: The baby is the one that actually call the shots in labor. Intermittent monitoring of the fetal heart rate (FHR) provides a snapshot of how the baby is tolerating labor. It is not uncommon during a long labor for the FHR to show signs of stress, requiring additional monitoring, IV fluids and possibly a cesarean birth.
Process: Labor unfolds. Think of it like a road trip: You have a good vehicle with gas in the car, a reliable roadmap or (GPS system!) You begin at point ‘A’ with the goal of getting to point ‘B.’ What happens as you make your way across country remains to be seen. You cannot control the weather, the road conditions, the other drivers etc. etc.
You make decisions along the way, based on your experience…just like the day you are in labor.
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