This is one of a series of articles on pregnancy. For more information about pregnancy and birth options, see my other articles including my series on homebirth.
Labor and Delivery
Labor and delivery is the grand finale, and you’re almost there. After labor and delivery, you get to meet your baby for the first time. It is a very emotional time, both before and after the delivery, and some women report that they don’t “feel” like a mother until their first baby finally arrives. Have no fear if you feel you don’t have a mothering instinct or you don’t feel bonded to your baby. Hormones are released during labor and delivery that help cement the mothering instinct and your bond with your baby. That’s part of the reason that the way you birth is so important.
Emotional Changes
You may feel afraid of the unknown (or the known, if this is not your first baby) as labor and delivery approach. You may feel stronger braxton hicks and wear yourself out with “Is this it?” and be impatient for your baby to get here. This is totally normal. You’re probably sick of being pregnant by now and just want this part over with so you can get your body back, as well.
Physical Changes
Your hips will have widened and your pelvis will have loosened up so that the baby can pass through. This could cause joint pain and other aches, as well as lower back pain. It will go away soon after delivery.
Your breasts are producing colostrum, the pre-milk that is high in antibodies and fats and proteins that your baby needs in the first few weeks. Even after your milk comes in, your body will continue to produce colostrum for several weeks after the birth.
Braxton hicks contractions will be increasing as delivery nears. They may become uncomfortable and sometimes they settle into a pattern, which can make you wonder if you’re in labor. To know if you’re in labor, drink some water and lay down. If they’re braxton hicks, they’ll eventually peter out. If they’re not, they’ll increase in urgency after a time and you’ll know you’re in labor. You may have several bouts of pre-labor before labor begins.
As delivery nears, you may experience diarrhea. This is because all those contractions (known unfortunately as ‘false labor’) are loosening everything up in preparation for the birth.
You may also experience a lack of hunger as labor begins, because your body is preparing for the delivery. While this is convenient in a hospital setting, many believe that keeping food in you is necessary to keep the contractions strong and give you energy for the birth.
Some women experience something called ‘nesting’, which is an overwhelming urge to clean the house and get things ready, with the energy to do it. This typically occurs soon before delivery, within days or hours.
What does labor feel like?
You’ll know when it’s labor. Everyone says that, but it still leaves you with questions. Sometimes the contractions you feel hurt, and you’re not sure how much they’re supposed to hurt before it’s true labor.
For most women, true labor contractions are quite painful. Walking or talking through them is extremely difficult, and you start to focus inward to cope with the pain.
I’m not going to lie to you. Labor hurts. It hurts a lot for most women. However, during the course of labor, your body is releasing endorphins to help you cope with the pain, as well as other necessary hormones for when your baby arrives.
Even if you choose pain relief during labor and delivery, no pain relief can numb the pain of delivery. Not even an epidural. The fact is, you need to feel that pain in order to push your baby out effectively, so even an epidural won’t completely numb that region. Remember that labor ends with delivery, and the more you relax and let the contractions work, the faster you’ll get to the delivery stage.
It won’t be quick, but even women with the 12 hour or 36 hour labor horror stories had some easy contractions, particularly near the beginning. These contractions are great practice for helping to keep you on top of the pain.
Some people assume that women who choose natural birth are doing it for extra mommy points or something…but labor pain is natural and necessary to have a healthy, unhindered birth. We don’t completely understand the mechanisms behind labor and delivery (even doctors don’t) but we know it’s a necessary process. The pain isn’t like a toothache or a broken limb. It’s a completely different kind of pain, and each contraction brings you closer to meeting your baby.
What about sex?
Sex is perfectly safe in a normal pregnancy until your water breaks.
Sex during pregnancy won’t hurt your baby unless your doctor or midwife tells you otherwise, so you don’t need to be concerned from that aspect. On the plus side, you don’t have to worry about getting pregnant!
Your Uterus
Your uterus at this time is flexing and toning up for the delivery. That’s what the braxton hicks contractions are for. Until the baby drops, it will be the largest it will get, and this can cause discomfort and difficulty moving and breathing, particularly if you’re short-waisted.
Your baby is plumping up, making surfactant for his lungs so he can breathe outside the womb, and getting into position for delivery. Most babies end up head down with their face toward your spine. This is the easiest position for labor and delivery. It’s getting pretty cramped in there, so he may be settling into birth position. This is called ‘lightening’ and his head settles into your pelvis. For some women this occurs weeks before delivery, particularly with their first baby, whereas with others this can occur during labor. If lightening occurs, you will feel slightly more comfortable, though at this stage that isn’t saying much. You will start to feel a heavy pressure at the base of your uterus, like you’re sitting on a ball.
Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy! Don’t forget to check out my articles on homebirth as well as my article on labor and delivery. I’d also love to hear what you think about my articles, so don’t be afraid to comment!
