labour

What will labor be like?

There are three stages of labor and you will experience all of them but how it will be depends upon the size and position of your baby, your pelvic structure and certain biological events: how quickly your cervix effaces and dilates, how rapidly your contractions peak and fall. No two labors are the same.

The first stage of labor: The first stage of labor has three phases-latent, accelerated, and transitional. The latent phase, during which the cervix dilates 2 or 3 centimeters can last up to eight hours. In the accelerated phase, the cervix dilates more rapidly and can reach 7 or 8 centimeters in two to three hours. Finally, during the transitional phase, the cervix stretches to its full 10 centimeters in an hour or two. A first-expectant mother may experience twelve to fourteen hours of labor before her baby is born.

The second stage of labor: What a woman is doing in this second stage is pushing the baby out of the birth canal . If a woman is giving birth for first time, this stage may take two or more hours but in subsequent pregnancies, the pushing may only last for five to thirty minutes. Sometimes a woman sees her newborn after only two or three pushes.

The third stage of labor: The baby is a presence in the room, alive, breathing but a mother is not through with labor until she delivers the placenta.The third stage is considered the time from the birth of the baby to the expulsion of the placenta from the womb. Usually this takes from ten to fifteen minutes, but there is not set rule.

Parenting News: Breast Feeding In Public

Breast Feeding In Public

Babies that are breast fed are very portable and easy to comfort no matter where your schedule has you going. Many women however, worry about breast feeding in public. The worry of nursing in a public place is normally worse than the actual experience and often times the only people who notice you feeding are the other mothers who are doing the same thing. Many women find ways to breast feed discreetly. You can ask your partner or even a friend to stand in front of you while you lift your shirt from the waist. When you breast feed, the baby's body will cover most of your upper body and you can pull your shirt down to her face to cover the tops of your breast. Some mothers prefer to put a light blanket over their shoulders as a type of cover.

When you are visiting someone else's home, you may feel more comfortable either leaving the room or turning away from people when you first put the baby to your breast. If you would like more privacy, breast feed in an empty room, car, or public restroom. A lot of restrooms are becoming more baby friendly and they even have a seperate are with a changing table and a chair. Several shopping malls now offer special mother's rooms where the mom can breast feed her baby in privacy, which will help sensitive babies who are too distracted by feeding to nurse well in public. It won't take long at all though, before your baby will learn to breast feed without any fuss at all. An alternative way is expressing or pumping your milk at home and then offer it in a bottle while in public.

Keep in mind, offering bottles with artificial nipples in the first few weeks can and probably will interfere with breast feeding. When breast feeding in public, you should always use what works best for you. During the first few weeks, it will take some getting used to, as it will be as new for you as it is for the baby. With some time, you'll have no problems at all. If you don't feel comfortable breast feeding in a certain location, then you shouldn't. You should feel a certain level of comfort when you feed, as the baby can tell when you aren't comfortable doing something. If you show your baby that you aren't nervous - you and your baby will be just fine. [See Similar Topics]

PICTURE	DESCRIPTION
	(top left) The cervix has thinned but is not yet dilated. (middle right) The cervix is fully dilated. The baby begins to push his head into the birth canal. (middle left) The baby usually turns to come out through his mother's narrow passage. Note the shape of the baby's head. (bottom right) Once the baby's head is out the rest of the delivery should pass by relatively quickly.

What is a contraction?

Contractions happen when the uterine muscle contracts and feels hard then relaxes and feels soft. These contractions will come and go. You may or may not feel pain in your abdomen, upper legs, and lowe back. Contractions happen normally during pregnany. Contractions that happen too often can lead to preterm labor and cause your baby to be born too soon. How to feel a contraction? Feel your upper belly while lying down on your left side. If it is soft and you can easily press your fingertips in, this is not a contraction. If it is hard and you cannot press your fingertips in, this is a contraction. Steps of Self-Palpation Self Palpation is a helpful way for you to check to see if you are having too many contractions. Follow these steps once a day or anytime you have signs of preterm labor. Begin at about 24weeks. Drink 1-2 cups of water, juice, or milk Go to the bathroom (urinate) Lie on your left side using pillows for support Put your fingertips on the top of your belly.

Feel and time contractions for one hour. Write down: 1. How long your contractions last. 2. How far apart your contractions are. Ask your care provider when to call about contractions. Always call if you are confused about what you are feeling.