5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Labor and Delivery
Pregnant! Gosh, I remember the day that faint line confirmed I was pregnant for the first time. I was so excited. After all, I knew from a very early age that if I was meant to do anything in this world, BE anything in this world, it was to be a mother.
As excited as I was, I was also nervous. I immediately dove into books, articles, and reached out to my fellow family and friends. I took tours of birth centers, and hospitals. I participated in the birthing classes that were offered. I felt confident. I felt prepared, but there were a few things that no one (not even myself) prepared me for.
Here are 5 things they don’t tell you about Labor and Delivery (from a personal perspective).
You might poop! Gross right?! Well it’s the reality of labor and delivery. Yes, it can be embarrassing however this is actually a good thing. It means you are using the right muscles!
You can deliver your baby in all sorts of positions. If you chose to have a natural birth (it’s not for everyone and that’s ok-no judgement) you are free to move around, change positions, etc. You can birth your baby semi reclined, in a squatting position, or even on all 4s.
After you’ve already pushed, you still get to push! Now that you’ve delivered baby, it’s time to deliver the placenta.
Pregnancy shakes are a thing. Not everyone experiences the shaking but it can happen and it’s nice to know about. Adrenaline is high during active labor as your body prepares for delivery. This can create all sorts of things for your body including shakes, and cold sweats.
You can say no! There is so much happening during labor and delivery and in a chaotic environment, it can be hard to make a decision. You have the right to say “no”, or “not right now”, or tell me more when it comes to your labor and delivery experience.
Be sure to surround yourself with a team that you trust during your prenatal experience, labor and delivery, and postpartum. Having a team that understands your birth plan, and personal values is the absolute best. And once your are holding your sweet baby in to your arms, take a second to read 5 things they don’t tell you postpartum :).
As always, feel free to reach out to your team at Shift Physical Therapy and Wellness for any questions you have during any and all of the phases of this journey.
Written by: Jackie Giese
