From: www.tiscali.co.uk/lifestyle/
Mail
My account
How do you want to give birth?
It is a good idea for a woman to make a birth plan - a written plan of how she would like to give birth. The plan can be made together with the mother-to-be's partner or birthing companion. She should try to make a conscious choice in advance of how the labour should be managed rather than making decisions after the birth has started.
During the birth, many women experience periods of feeling distant or even indifferent to what is happening. A birth plan can help her partner explain the choices which have been made to the medical and midwifery staff. Remember that the plan can only be followed as long as the labour is proceeding normally. If there are complications, the medical and midwifery staff will discuss these with you and the measures necessary to ensure a safe delivery. They will try to follow the couple's wishes as best they can. Labour is not predictable and it is wise to keep an open mind during the delivery.
Below are suggestions of things to consider in the birth plan.
Where to give birth?
It is important to think about where to give birth. The choice
is between:
Many hospitals realise that their high-tech equipment can be
off-putting and impersonal. As such, delivery units are made as relaxed as
possible and some offer alternative methods of pain relief as mentioned
below.
Within some maternity units there are midwife-led units where
women with uncomplicated pregnancies can deliver in less medically-orientated
surroundings. Such units are usually situated near the labour ward so that if
all is not progressing well, then transfer from one unit to the other can be
made without difficulty.
At home
In a GP/midwife-run unit
Only women who are expected to have a normal delivery will be
able to use a GP/midwife-unit. Sometimes, a GP/midwife-unit can be part of a
larger hospital's maternity unit, in which case there will be facilities nearby
to cope with an unexpected emergency, if one arises.
What kinds of delivery are available?
Today the delivery bed offers a variety of options, although
they are not that widely available in the UK. The mother-to-be can decide how
she wants it adjusted to ensure maximum comfort.
Giving birth in a bean bag chair
Giving birth in water
Birthing pools can only be used where there are no
complications and where the baby does not need monitoring. It also has to be
ruled out where certain forms of pain relief are used.
Some women may have been advised that a Caesarean section will
be necessary, or it may become necessary during labour. Click here to find out
more about
Caesarean section.
The options listed above for giving birth are the ones most
commonly used today. If there are any special requests contact your local
maternity ward or talk to a midwife.
Which delivery position suits you?
Sitting in an upright position is also useful. This way a woman
does not have to lift herself up to push and gravity again works to her
advantage. It can, however, be difficult for the midwife to follow the progress
of the labour closely and because of this, it will sometimes be necessary to
adopt a half lying position for a short time.
Squatting, a position which has been rediscovered from tribal
people, is used as well. It is appropriate when the time comes to push but it
can put a strain on the knees and back for many women. For this reason some
maternity wards have small birthing stools, or it may be suggested that the
woman's partner supports her under the arms from behind.
Standing or walking is an option specially in the early stages
of labour where it encourages the contractions to become regular and stronger.
Some women find it relieves the pain to move around or to lean against their
companion. Although gravity does help the process, standing up to give birth
can be extremely tiring.
A combination of these positions can be considered to make the
delivery easier. A woman should choose what best suits her but she should bear
in mind that she is likely to be most active at the beginning of labour and
will need more rest towards the end.
What can I do to relieve labour pains?
If you like listening to music, bring your CDs to the maternity
ward. Music often has a relaxing, soothing and pain relieving
effect.
Moving around during labour can sometimes help to relieve pain.
Massage helps. It can be discussed with your partner and a
practice session on the loins and lower back is recommended. However, you
shouldn't start vigorous massage at the end of your pregnancy without
professional guidance.
Many women enjoy warm showers during labour. The combination of
the water and the warmth make the muscles relax and helps to ease contractions.
It may be possible to use a bath tub or jacuzzi in the local maternity ward.
This is an excellent way of relieving pain as well as giving the mother a
chance to work with the contractions.
There are a lot of options. Think them through, talk them over
with your partner and make your choices.
Would you like the baby on your stomach directly after it is
born?
Would you like the partner to cut the umbilical cord after the
birth?
Would you like to breastfeed your baby?
Would you like your partner to photograph or videotape the birth?
Do you want students present?
Some women feel that a natural birth is of great importance
and want it to take place at home. If you would prefer a home birth, you can
discuss it with either your community midwife or GP. Far fewer GPs feel
confident that they have the necessary skills and availability now to support
home deliveries, although you can arrange care with another GP who does offer
the service if you wish. You do not need to go through your GP, though, and can
contact the local Midwifery Supervisor directly to discuss your options. A
midwife may want to check your home, to ensure it is safe and suitable. If your
pregnancy or labour becomes complicated in any way, you will be encouraged to
opt for a hospital delivery.
GP/midwife-run units are widely available in the UK. They are
small units where babies can be delivered by a community midwife or a local GP,
rather than hospital doctors. They will usually have less sophisticated
equipment than a major maternity unit and some cannot offer all the pain
relieving methods. However, because they are smaller, they tend to feel more
personal and the chances are much higher that a woman will be taken care of by
someone she already knows.
This is a chair which can be tried out in both a lying and
sitting position before the delivery. It has countless small beans inside the
bag which support and fit themselves around the body. If it is found to be
comfortable, and it is where the woman would like to give birth, it can simply
be placed on the delivery bed. It also gives the midwife a good working
posture.
A woman can sit or float in a specialized bath once labour is
well established. Whether or not a woman can stay in the bath during delivery
varies from one maternity ward to the next. You should enquire in advance.
Sitting in warm water makes contractions less painful. It gives a woman in
labour the chance to relax and work with her contractions, instead of against
them.
The well-known position, where a woman lies flat on her back,
remains a common position for delivery. There may be some disadvantages,
however, including:
But half lying down in labour has many advantages. The woman can
rest between contractions and does not need to lift herself up to push. Gravity
works to her advantage and helps the baby settle down in the birth canal.
The standard methods of pain relief during labour are as
follows:
You may also like to try some other approaches to pain relief
listed here.
It has become quite common for the newborn baby to be laid on
the mother's abdomen directly after being born. This is to maintain the close
bond between mother and child, provide a feeling of security for the baby and
help the baby to stay warm.
Many people see this as a symbolic act to separate the mother
and baby and to involve the father as an active participant in the birth of his
child.
You may need help immediately after the birth if you would like
to
breastfeed your baby.
This is often the case if the baby is awake and very alert.
A lot of parents like to have photographs or a video as a
memento of the birth. Before arranging this, the father or partner should make
sure the mother agrees and how much time should be spent on it. First and
foremost, that person is there to help and support the woman giving
birth.
There may be student doctors, nurses and midwives studying in
the maternity ward. Think about whether to give your consent for their presence
during the delivery. Although this is part of their training, if you don't not
feel comfortable about having them there, or it is not in accordance with your
culture, it is important to say so.
The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use
Font size