Labor and Childbirth Ebook

Labor and Childbirth

• If you are going to be a first-time (or subsequent) mom or dad

• If you are planning to become pregnant in the future

• If you are an interested partner of a pregnant woman

• If you are curious about the events and techniques of labor and childbirth

• If you are worried about coping with this largely unknown area

• If you want to learn about how you can reduce your 'labor stress levels'

• Advance Planning for Your Labor... why this is an absolute essential 'must do' thing. It helps to drastically reduce your stress levels. Planning when and what you are going to be doing greatly helps in the reduction of stress... stress that would be exhibited if you leave your planning to the last minute before (or during) your labor.

• What Labor is... the stages of labor together with what happens during these stages. There are three distinct stages of labor, encompassing the onset of labor to the birth of the baby (babies).

• How to Recognise the Onset of Labor... the signs, symptoms and possible 'false starts'. The beginning of labor can 'seem' to start in several ways. Sometimes you will not be left in any doubt that it has started... 'BANG' and there you go... you're in labor! However, sometimes labor just sneaks up on you... a few 'niggles' here and there, you just don't think it's started when in fact it has!!

• How Your Labor is Assessed... to see if you have actually started your labor, and what happens if you haven't. The management of your labor is dependent upon labor having actually started! The assessment of this is all important! You will learn about the methods of assessing whether it has started... your 'labor history', the signs which have shown themselves and the investgations which are undertaken by the obstetric staff to confirm or disprove you labor having begun. Assessments continue throughout your labor to confirm that your labor is progressing as planned!

• A Description of the Typical Labor Suite... it's layout, the equipment likely to be used during the length of labor, together with the staff you are likely to meet during the your labor and the roles they perform in your labor. Labor suites can be quite intimidating due to their clinical appearances, and the various equipment within the room at certain times... learn all about them here!

• An Explanation of the Fetal Cardiogram... what it is and how it is used to monitor the wellbeing of your fetus during labor. You will learn about the 'normal' cardiogram and how this equates to the progress of your labor, together with the 'abnormal' cardiogram and how this reveals when the fetus is becoming distressed with the events of labor.

• How Your Labor is Managed Once it's Begun... the reasons why 'active' management of labor may be the one for you. Learn about potential problems associated with the active management of labor. Obstetric staff generally have a given timeframe of labor... once it's confirmed, your baby (ies) are given so long to appear. The timeframe allowed is to prevent fetal and maternal exhaustion from developing.

• Active Management of Labor... what it is, what it involves, and why you may find yourself a candidate for it's use.

• Induction or Augmented Labor... what they are and how they may affect you. Induction and augmentation of labor are designed to get you well and truly established in labor. Learn about why these methods are employed, their circumstances for initiation and just what they entail!

• The Typical Routines Followed... during the course of your labor, why they are undertaken and why. Discover how they are performed, how they will affect you and what you can be expecting. Learn about what you will, and will not be allowed to do once you are in established labor for safety reasons.

• Detailed Descriptions... of the examinations and procedures followed and implemented during the course of your labor together with information regarding why they are undertaken. Things covered include the examinations and procedures for women undergoing 'normal' labors, together with descriptions of the intervention treatments and procedures of the 'abnormal' labor, should you find your labor developing in this way.

• Detailed Descriptions of Types of Pain Relief... It's availability to you in labor, how they are administered, and why some are distinctly better than others... together with their associated benefits and drawbacks. Learn about T.E.N.S, 'Gas and Air', Opiate analgesic injection, and Spinal and Epidural anaesthesia.

• Emergency Intervention Discover what will happen if you find yourself a candidate for emergency intervention during your labor... the C-section and Instrumental delivery. You wll learn what the preceeding signs and symptoms are for this area of intervention, together with descriptions of how you are prepared ('prepped) for them, what they entail and how they are achieved.

• Instrumental Delivery... Learn about the reasons why instrumental deliveries are necessary, what they entail, their types, and how you are prepared for them. You will discover how they are implemented and what you can expect if you are on the receiving end of one.

• When You Are Discharged Home... what you can expect, and what the early days are likely to be like as a new parent household. It can be quite 'mind-blowing' learning to re-adjust to your new life!

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