| Childbirth Preparation Class
By: Rick Gray
Here are some notes from the 6 week class my wife and I took prior to the birth of our son. This is not an article written as such, it’s just a collection of my notes and thoughts from the class. I do think there is valuable information for new or soon-to-be parents. Enjoy!
Definitions:
- effacement, cervix length
- dilation, 10 cm max
- softening, the cervix feels like your forehead normally, your nose when pregnant and inside of your cheek when delivering.
When do we go to the hospital? 5-1-1
5- Contractions every 5 minutes
1- Contractions last 1 minute +
1- They have been doing this pattern for 1 hour +
Stages of Labor:
Stage 1
- Early phase 7-8 hours, some contractions 30 seconds long, 8 minutes apart for ex.
- Active phase 3-5 hours, go to hospital when contractions are 60 seconds long every 2 minutes.
- Transition phase ½ - 1 ½ hours, contractions are 70-90 seconds, 1 minute apart.
Stage 2
Pushing – Birth ½ - 2 hours, contractions last 60 seconds and are 3 minutes apart.
Stage 3
Delivering the Placenta
Labor Support: What can I do to help my wife;
Praise, encouragement, talk with her
Music, lighting (darker lighting)
Back massage, swaying
Be sue she is drinking fluid, water, juice, popsicles, ice chips, chicken broth
Privacy – keep the curtain closed as people come and go
Cold/heat – adjust the thermostat in the room. Bring layers of clothes for me as she will want it cold.
Massage and touch is good, keep eye contact
Help her walk. Position change every 30 minutes – this allows the baby to move around. Sit, walk, kneel, etc. Move a lot.
She needs to empty her bladder every hour or so.
Counter pressure helps.
Direct her breathing patterns.
Help her keep her lips and mouth moist, especially between each contraction.
The way you time contractions is from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. Don’t push until fully dilated to 10 cm. Otherwise it will prolong the process.
Different types of counter pressure:
Double knee press
Sacrum press- our favorite.
Double hip squeeze
Pushing duration is a quick count to 10 (six seconds or so.) Don’t push with your face. The pressure should go to the baby (rectum area), not the face. Push 3 times for each transaction.
Try to keep the mother at a 45 degree angle, use the bed adjustment.
Wait, if you can, until you are at least 4cm dilated before getting an epidural, if you are getting one.
Other comfort measures before giving the epidural:
Massage
Position changes
Breathing
Get your pre registration done. Tour the birthing center. Find out how to get into the hospital at night. What are the visiting hours. What will be the length of your stay (usually 48-72 hours from time baby is born, depending on if a vaginal delivery or a c-section.) What are the room amenities. Call before you go to the hospital.
Bring pillow, blanket, bathroom bag, etc. for my stay in the hospital.
Think about what to wear.
Mom: in labor, post partum, going home.
Dad: in hospital, layers.
Baby: in hospital, going home.
Bring a dirty clothes bag to the hospital.
Work coverage- get that done. Notifying family and friends. I make calls and send emails from laptop in hospital.
The Push when having a contraction.
Pushing, I help lift her head and her legs.
I count out loud during the pushing phase.
Give ice chips between each push.
Put a cool cloth (wet washcloth) on the back of her neck if she’s hot.
She will be on her back, on her side or in a squatting position.
Don’t take the baby out of the room.
Practice with car seat before going to hospital.
Birth Plan:
A short list of goals for the birth and hospital stay. ½ - 1 page long. Use as a tool to discuss preferences with your spouse and review the plan with your doctor. Make a copy for the birthing nurse. Ex. We do/don’t want an epidural, we want the baby left on the moms chest immediately after birth, before getting cleaned up, the baby is never to leave my sight, the baby doesn’t leave the room without me there, etc.
Breathing:
Level 1
Slow, deep abdominal breathing. In through the nose and out the mouth. ½ normal rate. Start with a deep cleansing breath and end with one @ contraction.
Level 2
Starts slow, then 2x normal rate, then slow again. “Ha” (in) “Who” (out)
Level 3
Quick, quick, quick, slow. Ah hee, ah hee, ah hee, ah who. In out, in out, in out, in OUT.
Start counter pressure at 1st cleansing breath and hold it until cleansing breath at the end.
Post partum is the 6 weeks after birth. Vaginal bleeding will occur for up to 6 weeks. No tampons or sex during this time.
Rick Gray is the founder of DadsWorld.com
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