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You've waited a long time to see your little one. Soon you will meet each other for the first time! Once your labor begins, you can help shorten your labor and feel less pain by learning to relax.
You’ve waited a long time to see your little one. Soon you will meet your baby face to face and become a family. As eager as you are, give baby all the time he needs to fully grow. It may be a hassle now when you’re tired of being pregnant, but knowing your baby is healthy will make it all worth the wait!
You can wait until your baby isready to be born, even when you’re sore and tired. Try these comfort tips during your last weeks.
FOR THE BABY
FOR THE CHAMPIONAs mom’s champion, you have a vital role in her last weeks of pregnancy when it can be so hard to wait.
When you see the beautiful face of your new baby, you’ll be glad you waited. Every single week helps your baby grow healthy and strong.
Well-meaning people often ask, “Have you had that baby yet?” They are eager, too! Just remind people that you want your baby to be fully ready to be born. Your baby will be here soon enough!
Your doctor might offer to induce your labor. Ask whether there is a medical reason to do so. Ask about the risk of waiting a little longer until labor begins on its own in case your due date is off a little. Find out what method would be used. Being informed will help you make the best decision together.
No woman wants to be pregnant forever! And it can seem that way when you near the end of your pregnancy. Find ways to keep busy and stay comfortable so the time will pass quickly. Tell yourself your body has done a great job growing a healthy baby so far. Give it the time needed to finish the job.
All mammals need a certain period of time to grow. Human babies need around 39-41 weeks to be ready to face the outside world. At every stage of growth your baby is getting ready. When you give baby the time she needs, she will be healthier.
Sometimes there are problems with the pregnancy. There may also be a concern about your health or your baby’s health. In these cases, your doctor will advise you about whether it’s the right time to induce labor.
Many doctors advise moms to get a sonogram to see how things are going. These can be helpful to see about how far along you are and to see how baby is doing. However, they are not always 100% accurate. When you go into labor on your own, this is often your body’s way of telling you it’s time.
If your baby is born too early, he might need a little help waking up and sucking well. Ask your nurse and lactation consultant to help you if your baby has trouble learning how to breastfeed. You might need to hand express to make sure you get started making milk.
You can wait and let labor begin on its own, even when you’re tired and sore. Keep your eye on the healthy baby you will enjoy because you gave her the time she needs.
Your little one is nearly here! Soon you will meet each other for the first time. Once your labor begins, you can find comfort to help shorten your labor and feel less pain.
The key to coping with the work of labor is learning how to relax. Here are some tips to help.
FOR THE BABY
FOR THE CHAMPIONAs mom’s champion, you have a starring role as her major support during labor. She will look to you for support to cope.
Being able to relax can shorten your labor and help with pain relief.
Even if you plan on an epidural for pain relief, comfort measures will help you cope until the epidural is started. Being relaxed will also help you delay the need for drugs. You might even find that the natural pain relievers your body gives you will be enough!
If your labor does not progress or there is a medical concern, the doctor may advise a C-section. This is major surgery and you will need time and pain relief methods while you recover. The comfort measures that helped you relax in labor can help you cope after your surgery, too.
You can start methods to relax early in labor. That will make it easier to stay relaxed later when labor becomes harder to manage.
It’s hard to believe, but you can learn to relax during labor. Focus on steady breathing and keeping your muscles loose. Between contractions you will not feel as much pain. This is a great time to relax your muscles. Support from your doula and champion will help.
If you end up having an epidural or receiving other drugs, you can still breastfeed. Just be patient in the early hours if your baby seems drowsy or does not suck well. Hold your baby skin-to-skin in the first hour and throughout the hospital stay. This will help your baby have lots of chances to learn how to feed well. It will also help your milk start flowing more quickly.
You can cope with the work of labor by learning to relax. Your support team will make the work easier to manage!
Being a new mom can be even more special when it’s shared with someone close. A “champion” is a person who supports you and stands up for you. They are with you before, during, and after your baby’s birth. This can be the baby’s dad, your partner, your mom, or someone else who cares about you and the baby.
It’s simple! Just talk with your family and friends while you are pregnant about how they can support you. Ask someone you trust to be your champion.
FOR THE BABY
FOR THE CHAMPIONWhen you are by mom’s side, she will be able to relax and enjoy her new role. As her champion, you are crucial to her success!
Your champion will help you greet your baby into a strong family of love.
Your champion may not be able to be with you all the time. If that’s the case, ask a second family member or friend to be with you in the hospital. This is especially crucial if you had a C-section and need a little help to recover.
Not everyone has heard the reasons to breastfeed. Perhaps your champion is a woman who did not breastfeed. That’s okay! This is a time for all to learn. Even if your champion does not know much about how to breastfeed, he or she can still learn about it and give you support.
Many people are not sure what to do in the hospital after a new baby is born. This is a time for you and your champion to learn and talk about what will support you best. Ask your champion to download the Coffective Hospital Prep app to learn more.
It’s great when champions go along to prenatal classes and visits with the midwife or doctor. The more they know, the more they can support you. If your champion is not able to go to all of your classes and visits, you can ask other family members or close friends to go with you.
Your champion will help make your hospital stay easier. He or she can help keep your room calm and quiet. The champion can talk with your nurse or doctor to see if routine procedures and exams can be conducted while the baby is skin to skin with you. Your champion can tell visitors what you want. He or she can bring you fluids when you are thirsty, and help you get in and out of bed if you need help.
Only you can feed your baby at the breast. But your champion has a special role to make it easier. Your champion can calm the baby if he is upset, and bring the baby to you for skin-to-skin care. Your baby likes to feel safe and warm in the arms of your champion too. Your champion can also watch you while you’re nursing to see if the baby is latched well, and call for help if you aren’t sure how things are going.
Yes! You may want a single person who knows you well to be with you during and after the birth. But it’s also great to have others who know what you want to support you. Suggest that others download the app to learn more about how they can help.
Your champion is there to give you support and love. All you have to do is ask!
Download Coffective’s free mobile app and We’re Prepared Checklist and start Getting Ready right now.
Everyone can use these tools to ensure all families Fall in Love.
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