Labor and Delivery Facts Women Should Know About

As a nurse, there’s nothing more fulfilling, exciting, and definitely exhilarating than seeing a mother give birth to a beautiful baby. And there’s nothing even more fulfilling than to see a mother shed tears of joy over the birth of her little bundle of joy. It’s definitely priceless. But listen up moms and new moms out there, if you’re having a baby on the way for the very first time or for the second or third or umpteenth time around, you may feel a little anxious and queasy about what will happen to you this time in the delivery room. Seriously, there’s nothing to be scared about. Read the fine print because we will be dealing with nuggets of wisdom and that you need to know, and the things you may not understand, that happens in the delivery room.

First of all, a mother should never be embarrassed when she lets out poop. Girl, when you’re in the delivery room, you can’t even deal with the way you look like anymore, so cut the useless struggle with a hairbrush or mascara wand. As a nurse, I have seen things enough to make a man of steal a bit squeamish: bulging boobs, blood gushing from your crotch, gore, even butts and lacerations in all the wrong places. Worse: poop. Don’t worry sister, as your attending nurse tells you to bear down then something unexpected and smelly comes out, it’s okay, you’re on the right track.  That only means you’re bearing down correctly. And don’t expect the people around you to turn up their noses, no, they’re trained to handle something as harmless as poop as much as they’re trained to handle bitchy, drugged mothers-to be.

               Hollywood since the birth of film has exaggerated childbirth in so many movies, pays, and television series. All you see are women in semi-fowler’s position, with their legs apart, throwing their engagement rings and wedding bands and cursing their husbands for giving them such pain, but seriously, as much as your limitations in the form of pain relief (epidural, saddle block, general) is concerned, you can choose what position is best for you when you give birth. Take your pick from holding on to bars, on all fours, sitting down, even standing, or for the more holistic mother, bearing down in a tub of warm water. Of course you can do that!

               Plan ahead. Weeks before your expected due date, try to pick out a few clothes for yourself and prepare the things that you’ll be needing when the baby’s out, from the moment you take a ride to the hospital until you take your little bundle of joy home. Feeding bottles, diapers, bibs, layettes, everything you definitely need. And oh, try to pick a few clothes for your husband too, that way, if he panics, you can still keep your cool knowing he’ll be finding whatever he needs even if you’re already in the DR. Nothing beats faster than a woman who’s already prepared for ‘the date’. 

              And if you ever think that shaving is required especially when your case calls for a C-section, it’s ok. Shaving is optional. And don’t worry about the health team’s reaction when they try to shave off what’s there below. After all, no one can blame you if you didn’t have a wax because you can’t see your belly. Same goes for your unpolished toenails.

                  I know you’d be annoyed when they raise the sterile blue or green sheet draped in line with your tummy, especially when you’re having a C-section. But trust me, it’s placed there for a reason. Perhaps you may not be prepared with the things that the doctor may be taking out of your body, and you may faint at the sight of it. All do have to do is enjoy the soft music, the calming effect of the anesthetic, and focus on the most important thing of all: your baby.