Inspired Health

The majority of women ease into labor; a rare few will jump into hard labor from the very beginning. 

When you realize that you are in the early stages of labor:

1. Call to give me a heads up that labor has begun, if between 7 am & 11 pm.
2. Get plenty of rest now, no matter what time of day or night it is. I know you are excited that you’re finally in labor, but you might be in for a long night and it will not get any easier to sleep as contractions get closer.
3. Eat meals as you normally would. This is a time to “carb load” – have whole grains (brown rice, Ezekiel bread), ripe fruit, etc.
4. Drink plenty of fluids. As labor progresses, you should drink a lot of water and some sweet, clear juices (grape, apple) or lemonade (fresh squeezed, sweetened with honey).
5. Get your Bradley book out and review the relaxation techniques you and your husband have been working on.
6. After a nap, take a long walk together. Play cards. Work a puzzle. Do not just sit and “focus on labor” – you know the saying about a watched pot, right?  J
7. Make your bed up with fresh sheets, covered completely by a plastic sheet (or old shower curtain), then use older sheets as the top layer. After the birth, we strip off the top layers, and you have a fresh bed waiting for you.
8. Gather: a roll of paper towels, a shallow bowl (for placenta) – a small dishpan works best, olive oil in a flip top bottle, a kitchen trash (at least 13 gal) lined with a heavy duty bag, 3 old freshly laundered towels, one old wash cloth, clothes & blanket for the baby, and plenty of pillows covered in trash bags or plastic protectors & old pillowcases.

** You need to call me when: contractions have gotten steady at 5 minutes apart, are lasting a minute and are demanding your attention when they happen.

Ideas to help you stay comfortable as labor progresses:

1. Take 2 calcium supplements every 2-3 hours.
2. Soak in a tub of warm water.
3. Use moist heat on your lower back or belly. (Easiest way to do this: have a crockpot of warm water and dip hand towels in it frequently to lie on your back/belly.)
4. Have your husband give counter pressure on your lower back or hips. Give him specific guidance as to where to massage or put steady pressure.
5. Move around a lot. Lie on your left side for 30 mins, then walk for 20 mins and lean against a doorway when contractions come along, then rock in a rocking chair for a bit… you get the idea… don’t stay in one position for too long.  Find what works for you.
6. If your water should break before I arrive, please note the: color, odor, amount, and time.

CONTACT INFO:

Tricia Spears          Home: 419-752-5345  Cell: 419-681-6765

          Leave messages at each number. If I do not return your call within 10 mins, please call: 

Becky Frye            Home: 740-397-9128  Cell: 740-501-4476

Or Patty Gray          Home: 937-982-3135  Cell: 937-243-7597

As the body adjusts to accommodate the last few centimeters of dilation, just before you begin pushing, the hormone levels are so high that you will see undeniable physical signs. Observation of these signs alert you to the fact that you are in transition.

Transition is generally the shortest part of labor, lasting 15 minutes to half an hour on average. However, this is also the most intense part of labor for many women. Some women find that being reminded that they are in transition increases their ability to handle the intensity.

The major emotional marker for this stage is giving up. It is in this part of labor that most women ask for medication. This is unfortunate since the shortness of this stage of labor may cause the mother to be pushing before she has received any medical pain relief. When physical signs indicate transition, it may be best to hold out, handling the contractions as best as possible.

Physical signs of transition include shaking or trembling which may resemble shivering or could be stronger. Nausea and vomiting are also common signs. In addition to these, some women will feel hot and cold flashes or have cold sweats. Other women may begin burping or hiccupping as the body prepares.

Another physical sign is the inability to relax or be comfortable. A woman who was handling labor well may suddenly find that she has no idea what to do and nothing is comfortable any more. At this point, it is the job of her coach or labor partner to assist her into various positions in an attempt to find the one that will keep her most comfortable.

During transition, contractions will be long and close. They may be 90 seconds long and two minutes apart, which gives you a 30 second rest time between contractions. The contractions may double peak, or they may seem to be one right after the other without any break.

Transition is the time when the mother is the most emotionally needy as well. Some women need constant reassurance that they are ok and the baby is fine. This may be due to the overall "giving up" and feeling that she is out of control. Most women will respond well to positive encouragements and some require no special consideration other than giving them the physical and emotional space to labor.

For the new Mommy:

1.      Please stay in bed or resting with feet up as much as possible.  LET OTHERS HELP YOU… they are blessed by “doing something” for you and your growing family. You take care of the baby; they take care of everything else. Do not go up & down stairs more than once a day.

2.      Eat lots of fruit, veggies and lean protein. Drink plenty of water and herbal tea.

3.      If this is your second baby or more, it is normal to have cramping with nursing. I will leave you “Afterease” herbs to help with that. Taking extra Calcium will also ease the pain. 

4.      Your emotions may vary between elation and weepiness; this is normal and it will pass soon.

5.      If your belly suddenly feels crampy and/or looks swollen at the bottom, feel for the top of the uterus… if it is above your naval, ask someone to help you to the bathroom and massage your uterus as you sit on the toilet. You may pass small clots; this is okay.  We need your uterus to contract and get the blood out.  If you pass anything larger than a gulf ball or if there is a foul smell, I need to know.

6.      If you start running a fever or are saturating more than one pad every hour, please call me right away. After the first day, bleeding should be very much like your period.

For the Newborn:

1.      The newborn’s face may be swollen or even a bit bruised. The plates in the

skull may overlap. This is normal and will be better within a few days.

2.  Look for a wet diaper and a meconium movement in the first 24 hours.

3.  Keep working at nursing and do not be too quick to offer a bottle. This causes

nipple confusion. I will make sure there has been a good latch before I leave. Follow all the steps: wide awake baby with a good, open mouth; baby’s belly to yours; a pleated nipple held with fingers and thumb forming a C; bring the baby’s head to you; check that the bottom lip is not curled into the mouth.  The cross-cradle or football hold works best for good control when you feel like you “don’t have enough hands”.