What is your due date? Sometimes referred to as your EDD or estimated date of delivery. It is called an EDD, because while the average pregnancy of a human is about 280 days, 10 lunar months, 9 calendar months, and about 40 weeks, no one can pin point the exact time your baby will be born. Full term is considered between 37-41 weeks.
Write down your due date. Add 7 days to that and also subtract 14 to 21 days from the due date. This time range is about the time you can expect your baby to make her appearance.
It is so hard to pass your due date, take it from me, I know! But at least we aren't elephants that are pregnant for around 624 days!
If your baby comes on her own, or because of a medical necessity prior to 37 weeks, she is considered preterm. Turn to page 11 and read the left hand column and see the yellow box (READ), also check out Krysta's story in the videos available in Chapter 1. (WATCH)
As you approach the last weeks of your pregnancy your body will start to give you signs that the time is nearing to have your baby! Turn to page 18 and READ. You may also want to watch the mucous plug video in Chapter 2.
There will come a time when you will feel a contraction, followed by another, and then another and the question will arise..."Is this it?"
Well there are ways that you can tell the difference between warm-up contractions and true labor. Look at the yellow chart on page 19. (READ). Keep in mind that with true labor the contractions will come at regular intervals, get closer together, and get more intense despite changes in your activity.
Here are 4 things you can do to test if you are in labor:
1. Start timing them. (Go to Chapter 2 on the website, SeeWhatYouRead.com and go to the Select a PDF drop down menu and select "Contraction Timing chart". Print this out if you can. (PULL IT UP, READ about how to time them)
2. Change your activity. If you were active, then lie down. If you were lying down, then get up and walk, take a shower, or anything that is active.
3. Drink some water (dehydration can cause uterine irritability)
4. Empty your bladder (A full bladder also can irritate the uterus)
4. Empty your bladder (A full bladder also can irritate the uterus)
In Unit 2, we learned that the first stage of labor is the process of the cervix changing to 10 cm dilated or open and when the cervix is 100% thinned out or effaced. See pg 20's yellow table for a refresher.
There are three phases within Stage 1.
Stage 1 of Labor: cervix dilates from 0-10 cm
Phase Dilation length of phase frequency duration of contraction
Early
|
0-3 to 4 cm
|
6-12 hours
|
5-30 min
|
30-45 sec
|
Active
|
4 to 5-7 cm
|
3-5 hours
|
3-5 min
|
45-60 sec
|
Transition
|
8-10 cm
|
30min- 2 hrs
|
1-3 min
|
60-90 sec
|
Read pages 21-23 and all accompanied videos in Chapter 2: Early Labor, Active Labor, Internal Rotation, and Transition. (READ and WATCH)
The images below give excellent information on what mom can expect to feel, what is going on, and what the partner can do to help in each phase of labor.
Note that if you click the image, it will enlarge.
If I had to give a short phrase to represent each phase I would say:
Early Labor- long, stay at home
Active Labor- move your pelvis, get to the hospital
Transition- intense, but shortest
In Unit 2, we spent some time in Chapter 4 looking at comfort measures to relax and distract. Now, let's look at how movement can aid us in labor.What kind of movement did you see in the video clips so far? (THINK)
Let's go back to Chapter 4 and take a look at page 36 and the text on page 37. (READ and WATCH accompanied video, Labor Positions, and the Fitness Ball.)
Do you remember me telling you that if you don't practice these techniques at home, you likely won't try them in labor. So get movin'...
This is a link to a great visual for labor positions. Here
Recall the pictures and videos you have seen. Watch them again if you would like, so you know what the positions look like- then you do them. (PRACTICE these positions)
In active labor and transition, you may like a familiar song with a beat to move to, or you may prefer relaxing music. Maybe try both while you practice these positions and movements.
To wrap up this unit, go to chapter 3 on the website and watch Christina's Birth Story. (WATCH)
Your assignment for Unit 3:
1. In regards to Christina's birth, answer the following questions:
What did she do to cope in labor? What relaxation/distraction/movement/positions did she use?
What did her partner do to help?
Did you notice that she had any rituals?
2. Read this scanned document about the 3 Rs of labor.
3. Email me any questions you have and let me know you are done with Unit 3.
