Once we are pregnant, we are usually flooded with information and with other people’s birth stories. You may hear that someone had a c-section because they got an epidural, another had a fast labor because she ate dates, another pushed for three hours, and on and on.
The truth is that no one will have the same birth story because so many variables are happening simultaneously. Just because one person’s induction led to a c-section does not mean that yours will, and just because someone else had a vacuum delivery with a large baby does not mean every large baby results in delivery interventions. It depends on your flow, balance, and space in your body, as well as how the baby navigates that space.
As a doula, here are my top ten tips for hospital births to make your experience more enjoyable and your labor and delivery easier. Keep in mind that there is an exception for every rule.
1. Trust your provider.
If you feel uneasy or are constantly being judged or dismissed by your provider, try finding a new one. If a person feels mistreated during labor or delivery, almost always, the provider dismisses their wishes or questions during their regular appointments.
2. Pack essential items for the hospital.
Beyond the regular items on your packing list, bring your own drinks, straws, and snacks. Drinks with electrolytes are helpful to keep your energy up, straws to make drinking easier, and some easy snacks you can take little bites of, like nuts, protein bars, and granola bars. I also suggest bringing the nurses something like a pack of donut holes, a cookie, or a fruit and nut tray. It goes a long way as you ask for extra pillows, help switching positions, and anything else you need.
3. Ask questions when you have an internal exam.
It is your choice if you want an internal exam (as long as everything is going smoothly). When you have an exam, ask the provider three questions.
- What is my dilation? (ex. 4 cm)
- What is my effacement? (ex. 50% effaced)
- What station is the baby currently in? (ex. -1).
We tend to focus solely on dilation (I need to get to 10cm), but the baby’s station is an important piece of knowledge. When the baby is -3 or -2, the baby is still really high in what is called the pelvic inlet, -1, 0, +1, the baby is in the mid pelvis but still needs to drop more, and +2, +3 the baby is in the outlet and is ready to come out! If you wait until you are +2, you will be pushing for far less time than if you start pushing while you are at 0 station.
4. Ask for more time.
If your provider suggests an intervention, such as “Would you like some Pitocin?” or “We can break your water to speed things up,” find out the pros and cons of each intervention. Sometimes, interventions are necessary, but the best thing you can do is be educated on your options. You can ask for more time if there is no medical necessity.
5. Labor on the toilet.
Welcome to the dilation station (this is what doulas call it). Once you are in labor, try to sit on the toilet about once an hour (additionally when needed) and try to have a few contractions while you are there. Sitting on the toilet allows your pelvic floor to relax, which can help you dilate faster.
6. Get in the correct position.
Once you are in labor, it is best not to lie down on your back. When you are flat on your back, the baby has a harder time descending into the birth canal. While sleeping, lay on your side with a pillow between your legs.
7. Ask for the epidural when you are ready.
Generally, if you have to ask, you aren’t ready. Ask for the epidural when you are ready, not when the nurse asks if you want one. When you are ready, you won’t question it because you’ll be shouting, “Get me that damn epidural now!”
8. Get in position for the epidural.
Once the epidural is placed, rest reclined for 20 minutes only so the epidural can flow through the body evenly and then come off your back. You can lie on your side with the pillow between your legs. Even better, try to switch sides every half hour. This is the moment where you want to avoid lying on your back because it is much easier for the baby to navigate downward with more space when you are on your side, and it can decrease the chances of needing pitocin. Sometimes when you switch sides, the monitors slide off, so the nurses have to come in and replace the monitor, this is also why you brought the nurses snacks.
9. Get pushing.
I like to think of pushing as being fun! (Stay with me.) Pushing is productive, and you know that you are making progress, unlike the past numerous hours of contractions. If you are doing natural labor, you can try pushing in various positions, with a favorite for many people being on hands and knees. If you’d had the epidural, you can ask if you can push on your side. If you are on your back, bring the back of the bed higher so you are more in a sitting position instead of lying down. Pushing lying flat with your head up usually results in a longer, more forceful push phase. Many hospitals also have a birthing bar and can give you a sheet to wrap around the bar and pull yourself up to push.
10. Manage your visitors.
You are in charge. Enjoy your new baby. If you do accept visitors, remember to request that they bring food!