What they don’t tell you about giving birth!


What they don’t tell you about giving birth!

Giving birth is an amazing achievement, and every mum responds in her own way. You may feel bruised, exhausted, disappointed and even depressed at times or you may feel alert, happy and physically and emotionally content. However you feel, remember that you are recovering from a huge physical and emotional upheaval.

Friends and Family are great for offering their advice, experience and support as they have gone through the process.  You will hear good and bad experiences but remember everyone deals with giving birth differently.  What suits one may not suit another.

So why is it that everyone who offers their advice for giving birth fails to tell you the 7 useful things pregnant women really ought to know?

 

7 “Must Know” facts and tips to prepare you for labour as well as what to expect after!

 

 Rips, Tears and Bruising!

The area between the opening to your vagina and your back passage (perineum) is stretchy, your baby may need a bit more room as he is born. If your perineum stretches so far that it tears, you may need stitches.

Your midwife or obstetrician will examine you carefully after you’ve given birth to see if you’ve torn, and if so, how far.

About nine out of 10 mums tear to some degree when giving birth naturally. This may sound alarming, but most tears are minor.

Though about 60 per cent to 70 per cent of tears need stitches, a third degree tear or fourth degree tear is uncommon.

You’ll also need stitches if a small cut was made to your perineum (episiotomy) to help your baby out. About one in seven women has an episiotomy when giving birth.

As well as having a tear or needing a cut, you’re likely to have some bruising. A large bruise that is very swollen is called a haematoma. Small haematomas usually go away without treatment, but sometimes the fluid needs to be drained.

Bruising and haematomas are usually caused by the pressure of your baby’s head passing through your vaginal opening. If your baby needed help to be born, the forceps and ventouse will probably leave you with bruises, too.

 

 

Bowl Movements During Labour

The thought of having a bowel movement in labour terrifies many women. If you were to have a bowel movement (BM) in labour, it typically occurs when you are pushing the baby out. This happens as the baby’s head descends and presses on the rectum, flattening it. This causes any stool in that area to be expelled.

If this happens, the people who are caring for you are prepared for it. They will immediately remove it and clean you up. They will not say anything about it.

Some women let this fear interfere with their pushing efforts. This is not necessary. While you may be worried, those around you are used to the occurrence.

 

 

 The Perineum Massage

A perineal massage is said to help avoid an episiotomy. An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the muscular area between the vagina and the anus (the area called the perineum) made just before delivery to enlarge your vaginal opening.

It’s recommended around 34 weeks, to start massaging your perineum (the area around your vagina). Daily perineal massage may increase the area’s ability to stretch, leading to less need for an episiotomy and fewer natural tears.

Of course, perineal massage isn’t for everyone and it may not help in every case. The most important thing you can do is choose a midwife or doctor who’s experienced and comfortable delivering babies without doing an episiotomy.

 

 

 The EpiNo

You may feel sore after a tear or cut to the area between your vagina and back passage (perineum).  One of the best known secrets out there to avoid any rips or tears is the EpiNo.

Basically, you insert the Epino balloon 2/3rds into the vagina, gently contracting and relaxing your muscles against the balloon, which provides resistance.

You slowly inflate the EPI-NO balloon to the point of stretching and comfort. Each day you will inflate and stretch more.
After the stretching phase relax your pelvic floor muscles and allow the inflated EPI·NO balloon to gently expel itself from the vagina. This will familiarise you with the sensation of delivering the baby’s head.

 

epino-graphic

Used from  37  weeks the Epi-no will reduce the risk of tearing or the need for an episiotomy during childbirth and will then increase pelvic strength and tone after the birth of your baby.

With EPI-NO you can optimally prepare for the birth of your baby by gently stretching your pelvic floor muscles and perineum to avoid injury associated with delivery.

 

 

 Constipation After Giving Birth

If you had a long labour without food, bowel movements during labour, or an enema, you may go a day or two without defecating because there simply isn’t anything in your intestines. And if you had a c-section, it can take three or four days for your bowels to start functioning normally again.

If you continue to have problems moving your bowels after that, here is what may be going on:

Systemic narcotics that you were given to ease discomfort during labour – or that you’re taking now for postpartum pain – may be slowing down your digestive system.

 

  • Having a sore perineum because of haemorrhoids, an episiotomy, or a tear may lead to constipation if you fear the pain or needlessly worrying about putting strain on your stitches that causes you to hold in your faeces.
  • Your constipation is more likely to go away within a few days if you take steps to address the problem.

 

 The Way You Look After Giving Birth

After giving birth, especially in the first week your belly is some way off returning to normal (most probably looking like you did when you were around five months’ pregnant). Your body has spent months nurturing and growing your baby. Now, all the changes that helped to bring your baby into the world are abruptly reversed.

You won’t look like yourself and this is perfectly normal. Don’t put extra pressure on yourself to look amazing and be perfect, the most important thing is how healthy you and your new baby are.

Also this is just a little bit of trivia worth knowing: it’s true that your boobs will never be the same again, but that’s largely due to pregnancy rather than breastfeeding.

 

 Sex Drive – Or Lack Of It

It’s normal to have a decreased sex drive after giving birth. This feeling can last for months. In one study of postpartum women, 20 percent had little or no desire for sex three months after delivery, and another 21 percent had a complete loss of desire or aversion to sexual activity.

A number of factors contribute to these feelings.

First, your sex drive has to compete with the overwhelming job of taking care of a newborn. New babies are demanding. They require round the clock attention and a great deal of physical contact. This can be both physically and emotionally draining. When you finally have a moment to yourself, you may need a break from intense physical attachment, making sex low on your list of priorities.

Second, your body is healing from the ordeal of labour and delivery. Major hormonal shifts are taking place that can make you feel off balance. You may also worry that intercourse will be painful, and for many women, the first sexual encounters after childbirth are uncomfortable. Also, your body is still recovering from giving birth, and you may not feel as attractive as usual. These feelings can have a dramatic impact your body image and make you feel less sexy and desirable.

Third, you may consciously or subconsciously fear becoming pregnant again. Evolution may help explain this. In nature, mother animals rarely mate when they’re busy rearing their young. Their bodies just wouldn’t be up to the additional burden of another pregnancy. The same may be true of women.

The good news is that most women report that this decrease in libido is temporary. With time and patience, you and your partner can rebuild a satisfying sexual relationship.

 

Have any other tips to share with first time mums?

share them on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Look4Nurseries.co.uk

 

Get blog updates by email

Enter your detials:

Stay Connected


Get updates by email


Enter your detials: