Re: 16 year old soon to be mother, seeks truth of natral child birth

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Dear First time Mother,

You have received some wonderful replies today...and I'll add my 2 cents worth. :)

Read, read, read...books by William Sears,MD, Sheila Kitzinger, and Penny Simkin are great. You will find these at your local library so you don't need to invest in them.

Prepare yourself physically and mentally. As was said previously, labor and birthing your baby are hard work, but the best, most fulfilling work you will ever do in your life! Walking everyday or swimming are the best all-over exercises and yoga is extremely helpful to maintain flexibility and increase strength. Janet Balaskas has a great book called "Active Birth" which provides lots of info about physically preparing for labor and birth with yoga and other exercises. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider first tho.

I don't recall if this was mentioned or not but you may seriously want to consider hiring a doula (professional labor support person). A doula tends to the mother in a non-clinical way. She does not put your hubby out of a job! She is there with you throughout labor and birth to keep an eye on you and your needs and to help your hubby help you. As much as we would love to have the labor and delivery nurses with us every minute, that is not feasible. Many hospitals are understaffed in L&D and nurses have other duties and/or other patients to tend to. There are many links to doula sites on the Pregnancy & Birth links page listed below:

http://www.obgyn.net/pb/links/patient_pregnancy.htm

I have had a vaginal birth, c-section (11+ lb baby), and two VBACs (vaginal births after c-section). The VBACs were by far the best for *me* because I did not use any pain relieving medications. I am planning another unmedicated VBAC in August and can't wait!

Good luck to you and please feel free to ask us any questions you may have!

Mary

• Next message: Mary: "Re: Amniocentesis and a mother turning 35."
• Previous message: anonymous: "Brethine and premature labor"
• Maybe in reply to: anonymous@obgyn.net: "16 year old soon to be mother, seeks truth of natral child birth"