Epidurals
Let’s be honest. Most of us would love to avoid the pain of labor and birth, but epidurals have both “pros” and “cons.” We already know the good part: a reduction in pain for you. But there’s less talk about the downside. It’s important to know that epidurals can set the stage for slower labor, more difficult pushing and dangerous blood pressure changes—all factors that can lead to a caesarean delivery.
You may not get support for exploring other, more natural pain relief options like movement, focused breathing, a warm tub or massage (ahhhh!) to keep pain in check. So, weigh the risks and benefits before agreeing to an epidural; it’s an important step in making this personal decision.
Infographic: Is an Epidural My Only Option?
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Overuse of Cesarean Birth
Cesarean delivery can save lives, plain and simple—but, it’s pretty major surgery, and like any other surgery, it carries risks for you and your baby. So, there should be a really good medical reason to use it, right? It’s sad to say, but more and more babies are being delivered by cesarean even when there’s not a good medical reason to do so. In the United States, about one in three will end up in the operating room.
Some people are told they are too overweight, too short or too old for vaginal delivery. Others are told their babies are too big or coming out too slowly. Parents who have already delivered a baby by cesarean often are told that a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is off-limits and another cesarean is their only option. Many of these reasons sound like solid medical thinking, but aren’t actually supported by the research.
To help spot a cesarean you might not need, be prepared to ask your care provider questions like: “Can we wait a little longer?”, “Is my baby in any immediate danger?” and “What are the risks if I proceed with a cesarean delivery, and those if I don’t?”
Infographic: What's the Deal with Cesareans?
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Induced Labor
An increasing number of hospitals are cracking down on inductions, and for good reason. Artificially starting labor may be good for a care provider juggling a busy calendar—or for your family members who want to book their plane tickets—but it can make labor harder and more painful for you, and stress and/or jeopardize baby’s health. Studies have consistently shown that the risk of having a caesarean for first time parents nearly doubles with induction. It also increases your baby’s chance of being born premature. That’s because due dates aren’t an exact science. Even if you and your care provider are positive about your dates, every baby matures at a different rate. Inducing labor can mean your baby is born before they are ready.
Aside from the risks of induction, there are specific benefits to letting labor start on its own. During the last part of your pregnancy, your baby’s lungs mature and get ready to breathe. They also put on a protective layer of fat and develop critical brain function through 41 weeks of pregnancy. Cutting the pregnancy short can be tough on your baby, who is still going through these developmental phases.
Before agreeing to an induction, take time to learn more about the benefits of letting labor start on its own.
Infographic: To Induce or Not Induce?
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Electronic Fetal Monitoring (EFM)
There isn’t a parent on the planet who wouldn’t love a way to monitor every moment of her baby’s in utero existence. We all want to know our babies are doing well. Using the same thinking, most care providers will monitor you baby’s every heartbeat during labor using electronic fetal monitoring, or EFM. It’s worn like a belt around your belly and, as long as you don’t move, it will record every heartbeat on a little strip of paper. Your care provider will watch the monitor and that little strip of paper for signs of trouble.
Sounds great, right? Well, there’s a catch. Actually, three big catches.
- It doesn’t work. It’s natural to think that using EFM would help care providers spot babies who are in trouble, but every study that has ever been done has shown the same thing: Using EFM doesn’t help improve the health and well-being of babies.
- EFM can lie. Well, not on purpose, but studies show that EFM can frequently give a false signal that a baby is in trouble. This means an emergency cesarean, even though baby is perfectly happy and healthy.
- EFM confines you to bed. The best way to move your baby OUT is to get yourself up and moving. If you’re stuck in bed, you’re not able to help your baby on that journey.
What’s the alternative? Studies show that a baby’s heart rate can be monitored just as safely by a nurse, doctor or midwife regularly checking in to listen at key points in your labor with a Doppler stethoscope.
Talk with your health care provider about using intermittent listening, so you can move freely, relax between contractions and avoid the anxiety that comes with being tied to a machine. Keep in mind that if you have a medical complication, if your labor is induced or sped up artificially, if you have an epidural or if a problem develops during labor, you will likely need continuous EFM. Otherwise, it can be safer and healthier to have intermittent monitoring.
Infographic: Electronic Fetal Monitoring
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recommends listening to your baby’s heartbeat at key points in your labor for low risk women.
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Restricting Movement During Labor and Pushing
In contrast to what you see in movies and on TV, lying on your back in a hospital bed is not the only way to give birth! In fact, walking, moving around and changing positions throughout labor makes giving birth easier. Movement is the best way for you to use gravity to help your baby move down the birth canal and through your pelvic bones. Staying upright actually increases the size of your pelvis to make it easier for your baby to fit and rotate as necessary.
When it comes time to push, staying off your back and pushing with your natural urges can be key to making it as easy as possible on you and your baby. Be wary of anyone trying to “direct” your pushing. Nobody should be counting for you or telling you to hold your breath. It increases the risk of pelvic floor damage and actually can deprive your baby of oxygen! Keep in mind that if you have an epidural or continuous EFM, this will drastically restrict your movement during labor.
Learn more about how movement in labor, as well as how pushing upright and with your natural urges, can improve your chances of a healthy, safe birth.
Infographic: Restricting Movement During Labor
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Restricting Eating and Drinking in Labor
They don’t call it labor for nothing! For many, labor is a physically intense experience that is demanding on the mind and body. Unfortunately, eating or drinking in labor is routinely restricted, which can mean running out of energy when it's needed most. The restrictions come out of concerns that if a surgery is needed, it is ideal that the patient have an empty stomach. But research shows that modern anesthesia techniques make complications from food in the stomach exceedingly rare and that eating and drinking during labor can be safe. So, be prepared. Make a point of discussing this with your care provider and be sure you’re able to get the nourishment you need to do the hard work for labor.
Infographic: Restricting Eating and Drinking During Labor
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Adequate Support
Research shows that having continuous labor support from a friend, family member and, especially, from a professional labor assistant known as a “doula,” results in easier and slightly shorter labors.
Many people count on having a nurse by their side to provide this support. Sometimes that happens, but most labor nurses are caring for several patients at the same time and don’t have the time to provide contraction-by-contraction support. Your support person often is expected to fill this role, but they are new to the process too, and often need cues on how to best be supportive.
So, think about having a doula or consider whether you know someone who is especially knowledgeable about childbirth. Having someone you trust by your side can help you manage your labor, support good decision-making and help make sure you’re able to communicate your wishes to your health care provider.
Infographic: Who Says Three's a Crowd?
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Separating Parents and Baby
Labor is over and your bundle of joy has finally arrived! But before you know it, your baby is whisked out of your arms or away to the nursery. That’s because in many hospitals, it’s standard procedure to take the baby for a period of time to complete some nursing tasks. However, research has shown that it’s best to keep a healthy baby with you after birth. Talk to your care provider and make sure they allow “rooming-in,” which will maximize your time with your little one and opportunities for breastfeeding.
Don’t forget to talk about what will happen immediately after birth, too. Many things like weighing, measuring and bathing are not urgent and can be delayed, be done at your bedside or right on your tummy to ensure you and your new baby don’t miss any precious moments together.
Infographic: Wait for the Weight and Bond with Baby First!
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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)
If you have previously had a cesarean delivery and become pregnant again, you may want to consider a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) for your next birth. This is a personal decision and there are many factors to consider, but 90 percent with a past cesarean are candidates for a VBAC. Once you’ve made a decision, one key element of a successful VBAC is having a supportive care provider. It’s important to understand the facts, get support and ask the right questions to ensure you and your provider are on the same page.
Infographic: VBAC-- Yes, It's an Option!
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6 Healthy Birth Practices
The Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices are the foundation of Lamaze. These practices are designed based on years of research to simplify your birth process with an informed approach that helps alleviate your fears and manage pain. Regardless of your baby’s size, your labor’s length and complexity or your confidence level, these care practices will help keep labor and your baby's birth as safe and healthy as possible.
Infographic: 6 Simple Steps For a Safe and Healthy Birth
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Choosing a Pregnancy Care Provider
Who you choose to care for you in pregnancy will dictate how you and your baby are supported and whether your preferences for birth are honored. Most importantly, your care provider will determine the continued health and safety of you and your baby. When it comes to finding a provider for you and baby, pick the one who will support you in the safest, healthiest birth possible.
Infographic: Who Should Be My Pregnancy Care Provider
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Early Labor
Early labor is the phase that comes before active labor – and you may be wondering what to expect. Early labor, while not the most physically intense part of birth, can be the most emotionally and mentally taxing, simply because of the time it takes and the uncertainty around what’s happening. You can learn more about early labor and further prepare in an in-person or online Lamaze class!
Infographic: Keep Calm and Labor On!
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Pregnancy Nutrition
No matter where you are in your pregnancy, whether you’ve just found out or have been pregnant for a while now, what you eat is a factor in having a healthy pregnancy. You should strive to eat a variety of fresh, unprocessed foods, but remember: There’s no single right diet to follow during pregnancy.
Infographic: Pregnancy Nutrition
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Push for Your Baby
The Lamaze "Push for Your Baby" campaign encourages women to advocate for better care for both their babies and themselves. With the right information and education, women have the opportunity to be active partners in their own care. Arm yourself with the right information and education so that you’re not stuck with outdated practices in your pregnancy and birth!
Infographic: Will You Push For Your Baby?
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Labor Positions
Movement and positioning in labor work magic. Movement enhances comfort by stimulating the receptors in the brain that decrease pain perception. When contractions become very strong, endorphins are released and pain perception decreases even more.
Ultimately, your movement in response to your contractions decreases pain and facilitates labor — a win-win. Movement also helps the baby move through the pelvis, and some positions enlarge pelvic diameters.
The positions shown here facilitate the normal process of labor. What position should you use? Follow your body. Move freely in response to what you feel. Your body will let you know just what position is best at every point in your labor.
Arrange to have continuous support in labor from a professional labor assistant (a doula) or a close friend or family member who makes you feel safe and confident. Ask them to remind you to try different positions or activities in labor.
Keep this list of the positions with you as a reminder in labor. Practice positions and movements before your labor begins, so you and your partner feel comfortable and confident using them.
Infographic: Labor Positions
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