How you can help



Help your partner to get in to the position she feels is best, and support her there.

Talk to and encourage her all the time. Keep in physical contact so she knows you're with her.

If you can see your baby's head as it crowns, describe it to your partner or hold a mirror for her to see this will be a huge encouragement for her. How ever, don't get in the doctor's way, as she'll need to monitor the baby's progress second by second, and to check the birth of the head.

Announce that you have a son or daughter, not just a boy or girl. The words son and daughter express family feelings.

If the doctor agrees, clamp and cut your baby's cord. This is the moment your baby really becomes an individual being.

If you feel like crying, don't hold back. It's one of the most emotional moments of your life.

When the baby is born, share with your partner in the first minutes of your child's life.

By all means photograph or video your partner and baby, but don't do this to the exclusion of helping them, They are more important than any thing else.

Who's Who At The Birth

For a normal vaginal delivery, you'll probably be attended by your obstetrician or obstetrical midwife some times, though, the delivery room may seem crowded with people they may include:

Nurses.

An assistant midwife.

The obstetric doctor on duty.

A pediatrician or a neo natal specialist, if there is a potential problem.

A pediatric nurse if your baby is premature.

Birth At Home

Some women are giving birth at home, though birth in the hospital remains the norm because it's difficult to predict how your labor will progress.

Practical preparations

About a month be fore your due date, the midwife will let you know what equipment you need to have available, such as buckets, rubber gloves, and plastic sheets to cover furniture and carpets. She'll provide all the medical equipment. Decide where in your home you want to have your baby and try to work out your expectations so you can discuss them with your midwife.

When you're in labor

Call the midwife, who will come as soon as possible. She'll probably have an assistant.

For pain relief, your midwife will provide demerol (obtained by prescription be fore hand), so you're likely to try drug free ways of managing the pain first. You'll probably be better able to cope at home, any way.

You're more likely to feel in control of events as the midwife because in your territory, and that's an important psychological difference for every one.

If there's a problem

Talk to your midwife about when and why she'd recommend a move to the hospital. If that were to happen, you would go in an ambulance. In most in stances, the same mid wives who had attended you at home would care for you in the hospital.

After the birth

The midwife will stay for a couple of hours to make sure that you and your baby are comfortable and healthy, and will return later. You, your partner, and your new baby can spend your first few hours as a family together in your own home.