Labor Links

I don't know about links, but get a Doula! I have one for my upcoming birth and I had one last time. Wonderful support for Mom when Hubby isn't up to par. I can give you the name and number of mine if you like. She's also a massage therapist-yeah!
B.
____@____.com

it's kinda grafic.. but this will show you all you need to know about the different types of deliveries... it helped me as a single first time mom. i knew what to expect. hope this helps.

http://www.babycenter.com/search/showResultsForContent.ht...

Check out this website:

http://www.azdoulas.com/

The lady who runs this coordinates tons of childbirth class teachers. I looked at the April schedule, and there's actually a 2-weekend class starting TOMORROW if you're interested. There are also others there you can look at, and a lot of the teachers there are also willing to do private, individualized classes. Just contact them and ask! These classes are just great - I highly recommend them.

I find that childbirth classes are mostly for the papa. We mommies have done so much reading and research, but they're generally pretty clueless. A structured class is really good for them.

The best book I know of is "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth." You can get it at most libraries.

Have you considered hiring a doula? A doula can guide you both, look after your interests in the hospital, and give your husband encouragement and support as he supports you. You can look through a list of local doulas at the above website as well.

Best wishes for a wonderful birth!

When I was pregnant with my first child, I watched Birth Day on the Discovery Health Channel almost every day. Many of the women had routine deliveries and some of the cases involved complications. I found it very informative to see a variety of procedures and different things you can experience during labor and delivery. It gave me a better grasp on what to expect and it helped my anxiety level. The experience is so different for every woman but I liked that this program didn't just show the "easy" deliveries. I also convinced my husband to watch some episodes with me so he could feel informed as well. If your husband is internet savvy have him look at BabyCenter online. They have some videos of the delivery process that might be helpful.

Hi Carey. I am a childbirth educator and one of the websites I send my clients to is www.childbirthconection.org. It has really good research related articles and lots of evidence based information. I would also second, third and fourth the opinions of all those who said to get a Doula for your birth. I'm also due in May and i'm hiring 2 of them!! If fianances are an issue, you can find a volenteer doula who is still working on getting her certification. Try azdoulas.com or go the DONA website for a list of doulas in the area. Or write me and I will give you some more personal reccommendations depending on where you are. Good Luck! J.

On discovery channel watch "Birthday" and I think the other show is "Special delivery" I was on bed rest and my perinatologist said if I couldn't take the class in my living room I couldn't go so I watched tv and we did just fine.

Carey,

you may want to check out Scottsdale Healthcare (Shea Campus) website www.shc.org. they have a class strictly for dads. click on Events Calendar on the left hand column. then click on Prenatal Education.

Hope this is a little help!

I have had 3 children naturally and 1 with an epidural.My sister has had 7 at home. What a wonderful experience!! The best thing I can suggest is hiring a professional Dula. This is one who is studying to become a midwife or has a career in coaching mothers through labor. Some hospitals will allow a Dula to assist you through labor. I think it mostly depends on your relationship with your doctor and how willing he/she is to have another professional in the room with you. Natural childbirth is the hardest thing in life to do, but very rewarding. My experience with my epidural was not as positive as my other births. I couldn't walk around, I had to have a cathader, and my baby was very, very sleepy for a couple of days. Natural childbirth allows you to work WITH the labor instead of working against it. No drugs means you have control over what is happening. You can stand, sit, walk, take a shower, or bath (water births are awesome; my sister has had 5 of hers in the water and she's convinced it relieves about 40% of the discomfort), crouch on your hands and knees. A typed up birth plan is so important. This way, every medical personnel can read it and have a clear understanding of what your preferences are. State on there who you are okay with being in the room, that if you want to hold your baby right away and you will let the nurses know when YOU are ready for them to do all their checking on the baby (I held my baby for an hour before they did the weighing and measuring). I put on there NOT to ask me at all for any pain killers/ epidural; I didn't want them to tempt me with it the whole time, I wanted my natural birth to be successful. I also brought a CD player and had my favorite Jim Brickman CD to focus with. Also, I asked the doctor not to have too many bright lights, he was very respectful of this and made my hospital birth as close to a home setting as it could be. I brought my own night gown (I hate those hospital ones), my own slippers and my own pillow, and my own baby blanket to put on the baby right away. Hope this wasn't too much info. One thing to remember; this is YOUR birth not the doctor's and nurses. It's your choice to have control over the experience and what's going to happen. The nurses tend to get a little pushy and want to have a handle on what's happening during labor. I'm not sure if you are religious, but I'll throw this in anyway; focus on Jesus and his suffering and offer up your suffering to him. I'm catholic; I held a rosary and focused on the crucifix and it was the most amazing experience. It truly helped. God Bless. A.

This is a great book. It gives all of the details step by step. It advocates natural childbirth but you don't have to focus on that info.

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way: Revised Edition by Susan McCutcheon-Rosegg, Erick Ingraham, and Robert A. Bradley (Paperback - Jul 1, 1996)

Doulas are great way to go. They help and encourage you and dad. There is also a book I can't remember the exact title but it is something like ease the pain of labor and icrease the joy. I can get the excat name later but it does a great job explaining the aspects of labor and what your body is going through. If instered in a doula check out Adobe Doula.com
L.

Get a doula. Seriously, it's the best thing I EVER EVER did for myself. I used Jessica with Angle Dance Birth Services--I found her when I was 36 weeks pregnant with my second daughter. It made my birth so amazing, so comforting and honestly I would never have another child without a doula again!!! Check out her site at www.jessicawild.com or you're welcome to email me at ____@____.com
Much love to you and your new addition.
S.

Leading up to my home birth I must have looked through every web page on this site: http://www.birthdiaries.com/

A book I recommend for both you and your husband is "Sharing birth: A father's guide to giving support during labor" by Carl Jones. I borrowed a copy from my midwife but know you can find it on Amazon. It's an older book (from the 70s I think) but has great very specific information about labor that both DH and I found valuable. I also read Ina May's book referred to in the pp and it was very helpful, with a real grounded perspective on womens bodies and our inherent wisdom to birth babies.

Take care and have a wonderful birth :)

Carey,

Congratulations! You may want to check with other hospitals even through their website (I went to St. Joe's)to find a class that may be occurring in the next week or so. Most are not expensive and insurance will usually cover.

Good luck.

Carey,
you can get a video at the library they are better than reading a book especially breathing methods.
T.

Carey, have you considered hiring a doula? Not only will they help you while you are in labor, but they will assist your husband in supporting you. I am getting ready to have my second, and am attempting a vaginal birth after c-section, so it's like the first time in a lot of ways, and I wanted the extra support. I went through Desert Doulas to find mine. Good luck!

I would suggest not going to just one site for information. There are many good sites that you can visit so that you can get a wide overview of birth options, special circumstances, tools and techniques for labor, etc.

Probably the best thing you could do, besides taking a childbirth class, is to hire a Doula. She can help you find specific information and give you And your Husband support during your birthing. Check the web for Doulas in your area.

Hey Carey,

My husband and I watched a childbirth class video that I borrowed from a nurse, Labor of Love rather than attend a class. You can buy it on amazon. My husband actually remembered more tips from the video than I did! My labor came so quick, all I remembered to do was breathe! Here are some helpful tips below, Good luck!

Tips For Labor Coaches

Your role as a labor coach in the birth of the new child is very important. You are the person who will assist the mom during her contractions prior to delivery and will stay in the hospital room through the birth. Through soothing techniques like helping mom breath and rubbing her back, you will be a great source of comfort and support through the childbirth. Above all, you will be a familiar face in a day of entirely unfamiliar people and events. Just being there counts for a lot!

Here are some tips for the big day:

* Be prepared: You should attend birthing classes with the mom-to-be prior to the due date. You will learn many techniques and activities that will help you when the big day arrives.
* Know what to expect: It is a good idea to go on a tour of the hospital to get familiar with its layout. Talk with nurses or other staff members to get an idea of what will happen on delivery day and what you should expect.
* Have patience: The process of labor and delivery is often lengthy; that's why it's important to have patience and be ready to wait.
* Be supportive: She will need you there to be her advocate and cheerleader. Take time to comfort and distract her with warm showers or rubbing her lower back.
* Bring things for yourself: You might be at the hospital for many hours, so it is important to bring things for yourself like a bathing suit (so you can take warm showers with the mom), snacks, comfortable shoes for walking up and down the hallways, toiletries, and a change of clothes.
* Make decisions: At times you will have to evaluate a situation and act quickly based on the information. For example, if the mom is severe pain and wants an epidural, you may have to find a nurse or doctor who will be able to help.
* Know her expectations: You and the mom should discuss both of your expectations for the day of delivery. It is critical to know what she wants and expects prior to arriving at the hospital. Does she want to use breathing techniques? Does she want the midwife to play a critical role? Does she want you to be hands-on? A written statement of birth preferences will help clarify these decisions. Of course, when the contractions are in high gear, many of these decisions may "go out the window"! That's ok, too. During labor, mom generally will do anything helps her get through it, which may include abandoning birth preferences.
* Discuss her wishes about pain medicine ahead of time: Natural childbirth is really, really hard work. It's a little like running a marathon – if you're committed to making it all 26 miles, you need solid help and encouragement all the way. Nobody stands on the sidelines of a marathon offering cab vouchers to runners. Similarly, labor coaches and well-intentioned health care providers shouldn't keep offering drugs to a mom who's trying to do natural childbirth. On the other hand, the best laid plans sometimes run amuck during a long and painful labor. Talk with your partner ahead of time about how she'll tell you when enough is really enough. If she decides she wants medication, it's important to support her decision fully.
* Find a distraction: As the contraction pains begin to get closer and more painful, it is recommended that you and the mom find a distraction that will take her mind off of what's happening. Some people bring items from home like a photo or teddy bear that the mom can focus on. While others find something in the hospital room like a spot on the wall or on the ceiling.
* Be flexible and understanding: Mom will get so focused during the contractions that she may not want or need you after all. She may seem to ignore you, or may get angry at you or others in the room. Remember not to take anything said during labor personally. It will all be a blur after the baby is born!
* Remember, just having you there will mean so much to her: Having a child is perhaps one of the most emotional journeys anyone can embark on and you will be there every step of the way!

Dr. Sears baby book is a great resource for delivery and once baby is here.

Hi hope the little advice I have will help...I am a mother of 4. I took a childbirth class with my first child and all the techniques that I learned was only a blurr when I went into labor with my first child. The biggest things that I remember and that helped me were to breath with every contraction. This means breathing slowly and calmly. Another big point is to relax, no matter how painful the contractions are you have to relax and breathe it through. I used to moan and breathe with every contraction especially when they would be strong ones. You don't want to fight the contraction this will, as I learned in my class, contract your ability to dialate. For instance, you may dialate to say 7 and if you contract and don't relax then you may go back to a 4. This happend to me with my first child. So right now would be the time for you find out what it is relaxes you, a sound, a picture,a song etc. It helped me when people would talk to me about anything, that way my mind is not on the pain but on something else and I could breathe and relax. Have your husband practice on being your supporter almost like your trainer. Because he will need to help build your strength, say words of encouragement. This always helped me! Another helpful advice would be to always ask questions!!! Ask the doctor or nurses what it is they are giving you and why. And if you choose to have an epideral you may need to make arrangements now before your due date. And ask about alternative medication for pain or what they are. And most importantly, do not do anything that makes you uncomfortable...it is your day!! SO remember, breathe, relax, and always ask questions!!! Don't forget the carseat and the diaperbag! Good luck and best wishes.