netpicker9

Hi,

My wifes due date is in Next Week.

What are all the precautions/preparations she need to take before going to the delivery room?

What are the questions I need to ask my doctor after that?

this my first baby.. please give all details.

Thanks in advance.

lyricb

My bit of advice:

Stay calm, and expect the unexpected. No matter how much you plan, things will go differently. Congratulations!

violet1

Yes, that's true! You never know what to expect, so be open to whatever happens.

As far as preparations, let me try to help a little:

Some people like to take relaxing music, aromatherapy scents (oils or sprays). I would suggest a tennis ball or a hand massager that you can use to help with possible back labor. My husband used this a lot!! Also, it may help to have a heat pack, or a sock filled with beans that can be warmed in the microwave to put some heat compression on her back.

I strongly suggest that she bring along a tank top of some sort to wear underneath her gown. There's a definite possibility that she could end up wearing nothing BUT that by the time she's giving birth!

Sometimes it's nice to have a pillow from home as well. The hospital will provide most of the things she'll need, so don't worry about that too much.

As far as questions for the doctor, not sure what more to ask at this point. If you have specific things you are hoping for (I say it that way bc like I said, you never know!) you might want to talk to him about those. If you want to cut the cord, tell him that. If she doesn't want an epidural or definitely does, discuss that.

Don't worry - the nurses are there to do all the work. You just need to be there to be supportive and to help her by doing WHATEVER she asks you to do. She's really going to need you. Be there and be understanding no matter how cranky she may get. After all, you'll never know what it's like to do what she's about to do!

Good luck!!

SageMother

Most of the precautions and preparations have taken place during the months of childbirth classes, I hope you attended. If you suspect that she is in labor at anytime, pay attention. She shouldn't eat anythng if it looks like she is in labor...and she might not feel anything until labor is quite advanced.

You will see and hear alot of things when it gets close to the actual birth but the one phase you might look out for is transition, assuming she's not having a pain reliever. During transition the baby's head moves through the cervix toward the outside world. If you are the birth coach then you can expect your wife to refuse to do a few things that you know she should, basically because the brain is trying to avoid trauma to the body by resisting changes in position and such.

After the child is born she may feel that your being physically close to her is undesireable. It is nothing personal, but everything that is going on with her brain chemistry is geared toward keeping things safe, predictable, and clean. Sometimes wive's react poorly to their husband being within 5 feet of the bed for the first 48 hours after giving birth, but it passes.

I hope you have already decided whether or not to call relatives duing her labor and delivery. Some people enjoy having family around, some find it extremely intrusive. Decide what you will do before time. The last thing you want to do is be in serious negotiations during labor and delivery.

Have fun!

lyricb

I didn't get to attend a birthing class because the night before the class started I was put on bed rest. I remember frantically telling the nurses in the labor room that I needed extra help becuase I didn't get to take the birthing class, but everything turned out just fine.

SageMother

The birthing classes help the father's understand what to expect, and do not change the birthing process at all. They ARE helpful in preparing the mother for a situation where they cannot administer pain relief and she has to manage without it. The information and practices with controlled breathing are in valuable.

I gave birth to my twins with no pain relief.

mamab

My biggest piece of advice is to trust the doctors and nurses. That's what they've trained for and they know what they're doing. Also, trust "mother nature." Women have been giving birth for YEARS, so I think there's some instinct involved. However, if you feel something isn't right with what's going on, don't be afraid to say so.

I remember when I had my second son. The nurses checked my progression and then left because other women were in labor at the same time. However, I felt the baby was coming and we pushed the button to get someone in there. No one came. I kept having heavy contractions and felt the need to push. We tried to get a nurse. Again, no one came in response to the call. Finally, my husband went out into the hall and pulled a nurse into the room. She told me there was NO WAY I could possibly be ready to have the baby. She checked me again and found that the baby was crowning and was indeed about ready to be born. They paged the doctor who hurried in, barely getting her gown and gloves on in time to catch him. She's telling me as she enters the room and is getting ready, "Don't push, honey. Don't push." I'm saying out loud, "I CAN'T HELP IT!!"

Trust your wife, listen to what she says, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you think it's needed.

penguinmama

I have to tell you about low tones. This was the thing that made my most recent birth so much 'easier' than the previous 4! If you watch TV or if you've heard of lamaze, there's all the pant and blow stuff. Well, that may or may not work (depends on "doing it correctly") but with low tones, it WORKS.

What it is, is you make the lowest possible sound you can make... like a very low groan... my husband said I sounded like a walrus hehehehe... but what it does is force the abdominal muscles to relax and helps work through the pain. In my opinion, it works MUCH better than pant-and-blow!

Take a rice-bag or washcloth that you can heat to apply to her lower back, if possible - that can help a lot.

And don't be afraid to let her sit up, lay on her side, or even stand or squat, if she feels more comfortable in those positions.

TracyW

Well, I am sure you have your bundle of joy by now ~ hope everything worked out the way you wanted it too.