Q&A: Labor Day – What to Expect From Childbirth
jessica albert 
Image: iStock
Is your due date around the corner? No matter how much of literature you’ve mugged, delivery can ignite a lot of concerns and anxiety in your mind. You can read and read books, and content on webpages but the void that you feel is not really very easy to fill. First of all, relax. Childbirth is something very natural and if you’ve reached till here without much trouble, you’re going to go through it fine.
If the fear of the unknown bothers you too much, here are some of the most important things that you should know:
In This Article
Q: Can I Be In Labor If My Water Hasn’t Broken?
A: The answer is yes. You can be in labor even if your water hasn’t broken. Quite different from what you’ve been seeing in all those movies and TV shows eh? Water breaking is referred to a sudden gush of fluid down your private part and it doesn’t really happen to all women. Many of them just feel a trickle or for some, the doctor breaks it in the hospital (1).
If your water breaks, go to your doctor and tell her what happened. Describe to her the amount and appearance of the fluid that came out when your water broke. Water breaking may hint that you’re going to be in labor but it’s not an absolute rule. This is why it is a must to head to the hospital as soon as it happens.
Q: How Long Will Labor Last For?
A: Once you start getting the pain and your water breaks, it can take four to eight hours for your baby to get delivered (2). This is just an average estimate and it might last longer. It’s observed that women who’ve already had babies before, have shorter labor period when they give birth again. However, nothing is for sure and the time can depend on multiple other factors. It may also depend upon the complexities involves in your pregnancy. It might take longer for women who’ve got an epidural. To be on the safer side, always expect that it’s going to take a while.
Q: What Can I Drink During Labor?
A: A lot of women think that they’re only allowed to have ice chips during their labor. This is not true since most women can consume clear liquids like water or juice to rehydrate their body according to the The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (3). You are generally not supposed to eat anything during labor since you never know if you will need to go for a C-section or not.
Q: What Is An Epidural?
A: You can get an epidural for pain relief during labor (4). Once an anesthesiologist completes the procedure, it will take around 10 to 20 minutes for you to feel relieved. You need to hold still while he does the procedure and also remember about the time it’s going to take for the chemicals to start functioning.
Q: Will The Contractions Stop After Delivery?
A: Once you give birth to the baby, the pain stops. But, nobody really gives much thought into the pushing out of placenta except your doctors. Mostly, you will start experiencing contractions from five to 30 minutes after you give birth, in order to remove the placenta (5).
These are some of the important things that you need to keep in mind while going to the hospital. Always remember to pack your hospital bag at least a few weeks prior to your due date. Also, figure out how you will reach the hospital and always make a Plan B in case your Plan A fails when you’re in an emergency.
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