Preparation for childbirth needs to be done well. Especially if this is your first time giving birth. With careful preparation for childbirth, Mother will feel calmer to welcome the presence of her beloved baby in the future.
When making a list of labor preparations, Mom and Dad will know and understand the things that need to be prepared before delivery, as well as what can happen before labor and during the labor process.
Armed with thorough preparation for childbirth, Mother and Father will not be bothered by childbirth later, because everything needed has been prepared properly.
Various Preparations Before Childbirth
There is nothing wrong with preparing the things needed during labor long before the day of delivery arrives. The following is a labor preparation guide that Moms and Dads need to know:
1. Looking for information about childbirth
While waiting for labor to arrive, you need to increase your knowledge about childbirth. The first information you need to understand is the signs of giving birth. By understanding it, you will be better prepared for childbirth.
In addition to recognizing the signs of labor, you also need to know various methods of giving birth. Thus, you can adjust your health condition to the birth method you want.
If you want a normal delivery, the important thing to learn is breathing techniques and exercises to facilitate labor. However, if your health condition does not allow you to have a normal delivery, you can find out various information about the caesarean section procedure.
To get this knowledge, you can consult an obstetrician or take a class for pregnant women (antenatal class).
2. Prepare for labor pain
Important information that should not be missed is knowing how to deal with pain during labor. To relieve the pain that arises, you can learn methods of reducing labor pain.
Not only Mom, Dad can start learning ways to make Mom feel more comfortable and reduce pain during childbirth, for example how to massage properly so that it can help Mom stay relaxed when facing labor.
3. Preparing for childbirth
Mothers can start packing things to be taken to the hospital or maternity home two weeks before the due date (HPL).
To be more practical, Mother can divide the bag into two, each of which contains items for needs during labor and the other contains equipment for post-natal needs, such as milk bottles and baby feeding equipment.
4. Choosing a doctor and place of delivery
Mothers may have considered and chosen a doctor or midwife who will assist the delivery process from the beginning of pregnancy.
However, if you haven't decided yet, you can choose a doctor or hospital where you will give birth later through various considerations, ranging from convenience factors, affordable locations, practice schedules, to the facilities owned by the hospital or clinic.
5. Understanding unexpected conditions
Despite all the plans that have been prepared from the start, unexpected situations and conditions can happen. When facing labor, you may experience some of the following:
Long labor
If your stage of labor is not progressing or your labor is prolonged, your doctor may intervene, such as breaking the amniotic sac if your membranes have not ruptured or speeding up the stage of labor by administering oxytocin.
Childbirth requires tools
If the normal delivery process is obstructed, even though the mother has been pushing for a long time, the doctor may need to use a vacuum or forceps to help remove the fetus.
Possibility of cesarean delivery
Even if you choose a vaginal birth as your method of delivery, the risk of needing a cesarean section is still there.
Your doctor may recommend a cesarean section if your condition does not allow or has a high risk of having a normal delivery, for example, the fetus is too large, the delivery is too long, or the fetus is experiencing fetal distress.
now, those are various things that Mom and Dad need to prepare before giving birth. To make delivery more smoothly, Mother can discuss with Dad to start planning what things need to be prepared.
If necessary, you can also consult with your obstetrician or midwife regarding the preparation for delivery that you need to do, according to the conditions of the pregnancy and the fetus.
