First time moms have numerous questions about birth. An understanding of this is crucial to make birth successful. In asking questions about childbirth, pregnant women must not only know what questions to ask, but also who to ask. Doctors are the first to be consulted about birth-related queries. One’s own mother or aunts within the family also provide useful tips that have been culled from experience.
What, then, are the most important points during childbirth that every pregnant woman must know–something about which they should make a point of asking the right people?
What is the safest method for giving birth for me?
This is the most common, and one of the most important. Not all moms can give birth the natural way, sans anesthesia and everything else. Is your body strong enough for a natural birth method? Or would your doctor rather have you by Caesarean section? Factors to consider in this decision include your cardiovascular fitness–pregnant women with weak cardiovascular systems are discouraged from giving birth the natural way. In deciding which birth method is best for you, remember that safety should be your primary concern; not ease of delivery, nor the quicker way to do it. Safety for you, and safety for your child’s life should matter most.
Are certain bodily changes normal before childbirth?
Be it swollen legs, mood swings, or nausea, first-time moms are bound to experience them and perhaps wonder whether these are normal, especially if these go on for extended periods before childbirth. These changes vary in the same way every woman is different from each other. There are those who experience worse kinds of swelling in their legs, while there are others who do not seem to experience any at all.
When is my due date?
When are you supposed to give birth? Knowing this will help you, as well as people around you, prepare for the big day. More than the convenience of having a reserved hospital room and a gamut of specialists to administer childbirth, again the safety of your child is the primary premise. Your doctors usually give you a rough estimate of your delivery date, which can vary by two to three days to as long as a week. Nevertheless, be prepared for childbirth at least two weeks before your scheduled delivery week, as some mothers give birth way before schedule.
What are the signs that I’m about to go on labor?
How do you know if you’re about to give birth? Many pregnant women, not least of whom are first-time moms, often experience false alarms due to periodic contractions before giving birth, which grow more frequent toward pregnancy’s last trimester.
