First clip/Vid is from @lindseybosway ♥️
It’s a Perfect example of lightening ⚡️(notice it’s spelled with the “lighten”).
Honestly - it does not mean much in either direction, baby is coming regardless!
But it is nice to breathe better - but that gets swapped with having to pee ALL THE TIME when they’re so low.
JK giving you 8!
01. The average about of time spent pushing for first timers is about 90 minutes, and can be up to or past 3 hours. For a second timer, it’s usually shorter. Less than 60 minutes and for many, only 1-2 pushes. big picture? You’re not failing if it takes a bit of time.
02. Most hospitals prefer you deliver within 3 hours of starting pushing. But in a lot of scenarios, it is appropriate to keep going if both you and baby are doing well in progress is being made.
03. There are two ways to push your baby out - open glottis pushing or closed glottis (or breathing baby out/uncoached vs coached/purple pushing). Hospitals are prone to do coached - and it gets a bad rap. But do whatever feels good to YOU. Seriously.
04. Try whatever positions you want, even when you are in the bed if you have an epidural. Just look at your RN and tell them “I want to do sidelying,” or “i’d like to try hands and knees,” or “I’d like to be on a tilt.”
Whatever you’re thinking about trying, speak up and ask. Or just do it if you have mobility.
05. That being said, being on your back isn’t physiologically best but if you like it - do it. I pushed 3 out there by choice and felt strong and didn’t tear. Just tilt your body to a side (like with a wedge) to give your sacrum room.
06. Urge to push is real - and in a lot of scenarios, it’s OK to labor down and wait for the urge to push if you don’t have it right when you are 10 cm.
07. The fetal ejection reflex is also real. But not everyone will experience it. Don’t feel like you have to wait to push because your body will just do it for you. It’s OK to join in on the process, particularly if you are feeling an urge to push.
08. Pushing and perineal tearing can be related. But they aren’t always. And other things can help prevent tearing as well, like positioning, hands-off providers, un coached, pushing, or delivering in the water. My soap box is that it can be physiologically normal to tear too! Basically, you are not a failure if you push well, you feel in control the whole time, and you have a first or second-degree tear.
Comment 3PACK for my third tri pack to help you prep and
What’s transition? ➡️ Transition is the 3rd phase of the 1st stage of labor.
This is the time from about 8 cm dilation until complete dilation and/or pushing. It’s usually the most intense, can cause panic and tons of “I can’t do this,” and for most, it’s the shortest part of labor.
Physically, you’re likely contacting every 2-3ish minutes and/or vocalizing with contractions. You may also have an urge to push, start shaking, have nausea, or start throwing up. Some get a sudden burst of energy too.
When you feel all of this - it’s REALY easy to lose control. What can you do?
1️⃣ BREATHING: Control your breaths. If you need to, let a partner guide you. In for 4ish seconds, out for 5-6 seconds. You can breathe moderately quicker over the contraction peaks too (look into paced or patterned breathing).
2️⃣ MOVE: In or out of bed, mama, you can move - and you’ll likely want to. Do it. Get help if you need it. This is good.
3️⃣ TEMPERATURE: Consider a cool compress on your forehead or the back of your head and/or a fan. It’s normal to feel SO warm and contained - that coolness can help.
4️⃣ SOUND: If something in the room is distracting you, get it out or turn it off. Vocalize as you need to - deep releases doing your exhales.
5️⃣ THE TEAM: Whoever is around needs to know what this stage is and recognize it. Then they can remind you that “You’re almost there” when you’re thinking “absolutely not, I’m out.” Comment E10 and I can send you my podcast episode on this and how to recognize it!
6️⃣ AFFIRM: Those around you need to speak truth - “You’re doing so well.” “This means you are close.” “You are already doing it.” “You are safe.” Transition is when everyone wants to quit. So you’ll need a ton go encouragement.
As the RN? I LOVE transition - you are so close! As the mama - I hate it (and I cry 😭 ). But these tips work - I’ve used them every time in my own births and taught them over and over.
Hang on, mama. You can do this! 💪🏼
#birthprep #laborprep #expectingababy #thirdtrimester #37weekspregnant
Seriously, I’ve told her about all of this and think it’s worth it! I’d pull it all out (or buy it) tomorrow for myself if I were having a baby.
Tap follow and comment TOP12 (one word) and I can send you this to your DMs!
Postpartum is wild times, but sometimes, there are just some things that make it a little better and these are mine.
*ok totally dependent on why you go in and what’s going on, but in general…here’s some common things.
01. Most of the time, they’re putting you in triage first. Then they’ll decide if you should stay.
02. This sounds kind of weird, but you kind of have to “prove it.” Water broken, cervix dilated and changing, baby coming now - otherwise, they might send you home.
03. They’ll want at least 20 mins of fetal monitoring. This is basically required unless you are just delivering instead.
04. They OFTEN want to check your cervix, particularly if they’re just not sure you’re really in labor.
05. Sometimes in triage they’ll check your cervix, have you walk around/labor for an hour or two, and then check again to see if you’re changing over time.
06. If you’re a “keeper,” they’ll move you to your labor room. So if you wanted, you could wait to bring your bags in until you know you’re starting.
07. When admitted, they’re typically going to draw bloodwork and start an IV. At this point - time to have a baby!
Hope that helps a little! If you’re prepping and planning, comment 3PACK and I can send you my third tri pack for all the birth planing and bag packing you need!
#birthprep #laborprep #expectingababy #thirdtrimester #37weekspregnant
@lindseybosway so glad you shared this! (More to the video on her page too)!
This is such a good example of using tools that are available to you…whenever you are ready to and because you want to.
#thirdtrimester #birthprep #laborprep #epidural #expectingababy
“Sunny side up” baby often = back labor
In episode 51 of the @loandbehold_thepodcast , we’re talking what back labor actually is, why it happens, and the real tools that can help you manage it and support baby’s positioning (both before labor and during).
Comment E51 for the episode!
Your knowledge can make a big difference here - and when all goes well, maybe even lead to a bit of an “easier” labor for you!
Episode 51: Back Labor: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What You Can Do About It with Lo Mansfield, The Labor Mama
#thirdtrimester #birthprep #birthpreparation #expectingababy #firstpregnancy
The chicken lady - @_jen_hamilton_ is here!
Her other important titles? (L&D nurse, educator, now author of Birth Vibes - available NOW, philanthropist, wife, mom, sister) — she’s got a few.
On this episode of the @loandbehold_thepodcast , we get into some of the conversations that actually matter in birth prep - and how her new book is also your roadmap for that better birth she (and I) both believe you can have.
We talk informed consent, patient autonomy, pain management, and what it really looks like to build a “cocoon of safety” around you and your fam while you have this baby.
Also hearing her story from ER nurse to L&D to building what she has now? So good.
Episode 50 linked in bio!
Episode 50: Birth Plans vs. Birth Vibes: Real-Life Tips for Hospital Birth That Feels Good with Jen Hamilton
#thirdtrimester #birthprep #birthpreparation #expectingababy #firstpregnancy
Here we go ⬇️
01. Like I said - About 50% of labors are induced (or augmented - which means they add the meds in during your labor) - and end up using Pitocin. So even if you aren’t induced, it VERY likely could come up.
02. Pitocin and oxytocin aren’t actually the same thing (even though the bag says oxytocin) Does it make you contract? Sure, and that’s usually the whole point! But Pit doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier, so you don’t get the lovey-dovey endorphin goodness that you get with oxytocin.
03. Pitocin after birth and pitocin during labor are different convos. Make sure you understand why both are used are you make choices about them.
04. Typically, the RN can turn Pit up by 2 every 30 mins or so. You can ask to go “low and slow” and have this conversation with your provider.
05. To start Pit, they’ll usually want your bishop score - which can be calculated from a cervical check. This tells them how ready your cervix is.
06. When being induced, pitocin usually comes AFTER other meds to get the cervix ready. Sometimes (if you’re already dilated), they’ll want to go straight to Pitocin.
07. Pitocin, foley bulb, and/or breaking the bag of waters are usually the tools that can be used in a VBAC induction (the cervical ripening meds are usually a no).
08. Pitocin can overstimulate the uterus (too many contractions, can lead to baby heart rate changes too) - that’s one of its risks and has to be said. In this scenario, it can be turned off and it leaves the body very quickly.
Is this everything you need to know? Nope! But it’s a good place to start understanding better.
If you want to do some more simple birth prep, comment 3PACK and I’ll send you my free third trimester guide for prepping, planning, and packing.
Or comment PREPME and I’ll send you a link to our most popular birth guide!
#birthprep #thirdtrimester #birthpreparation #expectingababy #firstpregnancy
Ok, here we go.
The shakes. Especially during transition or after birth? They can be SO wild and seriously - absolutely uncontrollable. Sometimes, you even end up passing off the baby bc you feel like you’re gonna drop them. Try sticking your tongue out to see if they’ll go away!
You fart - sometimes a lot. And sometimes more so after getting an epidural and def once you relax and sleep too.
Pooping during pushing - and sometimes if you have an epidural it just comes out even when you’re not pushing because, well, baby’s head is just pushing it down and out.
Your breath stinks - seriously. If you have a long process, once you’re in it you kind of forget your dental hygiene and all that heavy breathing and sleeping and all that means it’s kind of stinky. It’s fine if you realize it’s you, okay? (but birth partner, not you. You need a mint if you’re gonna be that close).
Your vagina might be so swollen you don’t even recognize it. Seriously - maybe don’t look those first few days unless you need to.
Speaking of smells - there are a lot of other ones (and they’re normal). Bloody show has a smell. The hospital has a smell. Discharge has a smell (even when not infected). Your down there has a smell. BO obviously is at play. If there’s an essential oil you love, it can be great to just mask the NORMAL smells of labor and birth.
All real, even when no one talks about it.
What am I missing? There’s more, you know there is!
#laborprep #thirdtrimester #firstpregnancy #momtobe #birthprep
When you find the right nursing bra(s), it feels like you’ve found gold. And when they’re affordable too (and ideally, last a really long time)? Even better.
Comment BRAFAVS (one word) for the list of loves, okay?!?
This isn’t sponsored at all, just a random list of beloved favs at all the price points. And yes, sometimes they’re just ugly and beige, but most of these actually have other fun color options so don’t even worry about that!
(Also, there are mother’s day sales going on for at least 1/2 of these, so don’t miss those!)
