Childbirth Class Part 2

We had part two of our Childbirth Preparation Class at Valley Presbyterian Hospital.  We saw a birth videos that went over two types of pain medications.  Narcotics and epidurals.  The narcotic basically makes the mother high and affects the baby.  It only lasts for two to three hours but it doesn’t slow labor and you can still feel the contractions so you know when to push.  However, the baby will be affected and born sleepy/less alert.  The epidural is administered by an anesthesiologist and injected into the spinal cord.  It lasts hours and numbs your pain but it can slow your labor because you can’t feel the contractions, however it doesn’t affect the baby.  The woman presenting the info suggested waiting on the epidural until you’re 6cm dilated because it’ll have less of a chance of slowing your labor.  I liked the pain medication birth videos better.  The women seemed calmer, more alert and happier.  Last week’s no pain video just looked agonizing.  Then we saw a c-section video but it was an animation that just explained the process.  I honestly don’t think there’s anything wrong with c-sections.  They’re so common I heard one in three babies are delivered that way and they are the most performed surgery in America.  People are always scared of them but I honestly don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

The presenter also talked about forceps (which she said she’d rather have a c-section than risk the damage that forceps can cause), vacuums (which cause your baby to have a cone head that can last for months to a year), and episiotomies.  I really don’t want to have any of those.  I’m praying my child’s delivery goes smoothly and I don’t need any surgical assistance.  Joe and I actually did come up with a birth plan.  When I go into labor we’re going to try to wait until I’m 6cm dilated before I get the epidural.  If there’s any complications we’ll go with the c-section.  I’m definitely refusing the forceps and vacuum options. 

She also went over inducing labor if the doctor manually breaks the water (she claims it doesn’t speed up labor at all but again, she’s biased).  Apparently, her doctor had suggested she induce labor when her baby was 8lbs but she refused.  The baby was born 10lbs and because of its huge size she had a very long and difficult time with her labor that needed an episiotomy.  I’m fine with inducing.  If the baby’s big enough to come out, why beat around the bush?  It’ll just be harder to push out the bigger it is.  Plus, there’s a danger of the baby pooping inside the womb and breathing it into its lungs it if you wait too long after your due date and that can lead to complications. 

We did our breathing exercises again but this time she made us hold ice cubes to give us some discomfort while doing so we could get an idea of having to concentrate through the pain.  We also touched on diaper changing, breastfeeding, burping and swaddling.  She recommends figuring out the baby’s eating pattern so you can get used to feeding it before it gets to the stage of crying out of hunger which isn’t good.  She mentioned that most women’s waters break at the hospital.  You’re supposed to head to the hospital at 5-1-1.  When you have contractions 5 minutes apart for 1 minute each and it lasts 1 hour.  If your water breaks at home it should be clear with no smell.  If it’s green like pea soup the baby pooped and may have inhaled some so you have to get to the hospital immediately.  Also she said 60-75 percent of women poop during labor so I guess it’s very likely to happen.  She also went over the underwear and pads that you’ll get at the hospital.  Apparently they have huge pads with ice packs on the bottom to help with recovery and you’ll need overnight pads because you’ll have bleeding for 4-6 weeks after giving birth.  Fun…  Plus, after giving birth apparently you won’t be able to go to the bathroom by yourself so the  husbands have to help you at least for the first day.  Everything about childbirth sounds kind of horrifying but I definitely feel better prepared now.