How do you handle things when the D-Day actually arrives

Hi everyone,
I have been questioned a lot by first time Pregnant moms, and moms planning for vbac that how do they KNOW when the D-DAY is actually here?

How do they know it's time to go to the hospital?
Most are scared since they have heard horror stories about excessive pains from friends and family, and the most common question is, does it pain a lot to have normal delivery? If that's the case, better to opt for cesarean. Many do not know how the pains actually would be like, and what things should be kept in mind, when to go to the hospital, what to expect etc.

Ladies, first of all.. cesarean section is done when there is some sort of distress to either the mom or the baby. The baby's position isn't supporting normal delivery, or the mom has some health issues that put either of their lives at risk. It wasn't done just to avoid the pain during labour. If you are told, or believe that going for cesarean now will be easier, just because you avoid the pain, let me tell you, it's completely wrong. Both normal and cesarean section have their own set of problems associated with them. It's a major surgery.

Since ages, our mothers and grandmothers have been going through all this. Without medications, without help. Why did we suddenly fall so weak? Having said that, I totally support the modern technologies that make things easier now. For pain tolerance, there is epidural available, that takes away most of your discomfort, and you can still deliver normally. There are breathing exercises to help with pain during labour. All this make labour somewhat tolerable and easy.

Now. How do we know that it's time to go to the hospital?
👣The very first thing, as soon as you enter your 9th month, your hospital bag should be packed and kept ready so that you can just grab it and leave when the pains begin. I have already written a detailed post on what should go inside the hospital bag, so if you like you can give it a read😊
👣 Labour isn't like what they show in movies, your water breaks, you shout terribly, go to the hospital, push a couple of times and the baby is out. Reality is far from this.

👣 Actual labour begins really slow. You would feel a discomfort and pressure around your back region, and the pain will spread from your back to front. Thighs might also pain. This sensation would last for sometime and go away. When pain like this comes in regular intervals and the time keeps decreasing in frequency Along with increase in pains, it's the time to go to the hospital. And don't worry that how would you know that you are getting labour pain.. it's a different kind of pain altogether, something you never might have felt before. So you would know 😁

👣Many times, hospital would either send you back or you just lie down on the bed waiting for things to get over because it's taking a lot of time. First time labour can be really long - even for one or two days. Ideally, your contractions should be less than 10 mins apart.. somewhere around 5 mins. But if the hospital is far away, you can plan on going early to avoid last minute hassle and traffic.

👣 Staying active during labour will help you the most. My active labour lasted just for a couple of hours, only because I chose to get up and walk whenever I had contractions. Walking around will help baby descend downwards and take proper position for delivery. If you lie down as soon as the pains begin, your labour will take much longer.

👣If you see bleeding or water like discharge that doesn't stop, it is time to go to the hospital immediately.

👣 However, Water break is something that doesn't happen to most ladies till the final stages of labour. For most ladies including me, doctor had to break the waters on her own. If your water breaks down earlier, or on its own suddenly, it's an emergency and you should go to the hospital.

👣Many hospitals will require you to change into their gowns as soon as you are admitted. For some hospitals, till they actually take you to deliver they won't give you the hospital gown to change. So find out what's the protocol followed in your hospital and carry your clothes accordingly.

👣Ask for epidural if your hospital provides it and you think you would need. It doesn't harm you or the baby, and is safe. It will make things easier for you so that you stock up on energy. It's very much essential to have energy during pushing stage.

👣Eat/drink light. Many hospitals would mostly not give you food or tell you not to eat anything in labour. However, now things are changing and they allow liquids and light diet. This was avoided to eliminate nausea during labour since we are very much prone to it. You need food and energy so have light but healthy diet so that you aren't exhausted.

👣 Having warm water/milk sips during labour is said to help. When my pains began, my mother gave me a glass of warm milk to drink before leaving for the hospital, and after getting admitted, I was given warm water there as well. Staying hydrated is essential.

👣Stay positive. Don't think bad or negative things. You are in the hospital under doctor's guidance. If God forbid anything happens, they will take care immediately.

👣If your hospital allows someone to be there at your side, take someone whom you are close to, and who can support you mentally. You are going to need that emotional support. Usually husbands are allowed so that they too experience what wives go through during labour... But if your husband is faint hearted, do not risk taking him inside🤣🤣
So, here are my two cents on what to do when your labour pains begin. I hope this helps you.. feel free to add if you think I have missed out on something and if you think I wrote something that's not correct.
Comment how was your labour and delivery experience... I would love to hear from all of you 😊

Till we meet again 😊
#wishfulbyakanksha
#mylittlesunshine
#labouranddelivery
#labourpains
#normaldelivery