It is your first pregnancy and you are alone at home just doing your usual house chores, then suddenly you feel your tummy contracting so much it hurts. Water flows down your legs and you realize that you are about to give birth! What do you do? Here’s a guide on how to be prepared if this happens:
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What to do when I feel like my baby is coming?
Pregnant women are known to give birth not only at home, but also inside a car, at the back of an ambulance or anywhere else that the situation permits. Often times, these births happen so suddenly that the family were not able to prepare anything for it. Unexpected birth is usually unattended by any health care professional but some are lucky enough to be able to cross paths with a stranger that turns out to have some medical knowledge.
Since situations like this happens often with first time mothers, it is important to know what to do to prevent unwarranted events that may put both the lives of the mother and the baby at risk.
1. Assess the situation first. Did you notice that the contractions became more frequent and stronger than normal so that you don’t even have time to rest in between? Or did you see a fluid gushing down your legs that doesn’t smell or look like urine? These are some things you might experience that point to you being in true labor. A first pregnancy often takes longer than the subsequent ones in terms of labor and delivery. If you were able to experience this before, there is a higher chance that it will repeat with the second pregnancy.
2. Call for HELP or 911! It is so much easier nowadays for help to arrive because of technology. Use it to your advantage and call 9-1-1 for help, inform them of your whereabouts and what you are experiencing for them to be able to guide you through the process, in case that your home is too far from the hospital. If you also know someone like a neighbor or a friend that is a healthcare professional, call them and ask for help. They might be able to assist you and if needed be the one to deliver your baby.
3. As much as possible, be calm. Nothing goes well with panicking! It will be frightening, especially when it’s your first time, but don’t worry and let your body do its work. It is inherent for women to bear a child and it will happen naturally. Home birth is still practiced in other rural areas and countries today!
4. Your comfort is important! Contractions are hard to deal with,which is why anything that can ease your comfort is helpful. Try to lie down on a bunch of pillows, this position is also ideal once you deliver your baby. Sitting up on the edge of the bed with your feet on a chair is good too but make sure that you have a partner if you do this so that someone will catch your baby when needed.</blockquote >
I have the urge to push! What to do?
They say to resist the urge to bear down as much as possible to prevent the delivery of your baby quickly and any damage to your tissue. Panting or breathing fast can help you, not holding your breath which contributes to adding pressure on your uterus. Lying on your left side may also ease the urge to bear down.
If you feel like your baby is coming out, you shouldn’t force it. Focus on your breathing and let it come naturally. Push whenever the contractions are at their peak (meaning your stomach is hard when touched) and gently press your hand against the perineum. Do not pull the baby’s head as it will naturally go out of the vaginal canal on its own, just guide it out.
Once the head is delivered, if the umbilical cord has wrapped around the neck, unloop it as quickly as possible, as it could potentially choke the baby.
Once the umbilical cord is out of the way continue delivering the baby slowly, do not pull the head, instead gently push the head downward and repeat until the shoulders come out. Once the shoulders emerge, the rest of the body will easily follow.
Once the baby is out, listen for the cry of the baby. If it doesn’t cry immediately, rub your fingers alongside the nose to remove the mucus and the secretions. Gently rub the babies back with a dry towel.
Dry the baby off with clean towels and place the baby on your chest to keep it warm. Don’t cut the Umbilical cord immediately as it is safer for your baby at first, if you have two strings, tie one of them 2-3 inches away from the belly of the baby. Tie the other another 2-3 inches past the first string. Now cut the cord with scissors while keeping the placenta at the level of the baby.
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible, because home births, most of the time may cause complications for both the mother and the baby.
Things to prepare for an emergency labor:
- Baby hat & Blanket. To keep your new-born warm after the delivery, A dry towel would be fine for this but it’s good to have something baby specific in case you need to use the extra towels during delivery. Check out this comfortable baby quilts, here.
- Diapers. Giving birth is messy enough, putting a diaper on your newborn will only help lessen any additional clean up. Click here to view the available newborn diapers online.
- Feeding bottle. Incase you are not planning to breastfeed or have yet to begin producing milk. Check out this breast like BPA free baby bottle, here.