It was about the final prep for birth.
D-Day: noun – the day on which an important operation is to begin or a change to take effect. The last few weeks of pregnancy can be overwhelming – physically and emotionally. Know and understand various testing and procedures often done in the final weeks of pregnancy. Also included in the Countdown is planning your postpartum period, including breastfeeding support and finding a pediatrician. Understanding your options, you will be able to face the last few weeks of pregnancy with confidence and excitement.
The notes from our instructor really cover everything we talked about, but I do have to say that my favorite part was Bobby learning how to give a prenatal message! It was glorious! He has yet to give me another one though.
In order to prepare I have been trying to get my exercises done and our Doula said I should take a bath 3 times a week with music and try to focus on each muscle and relaxing it. The baby loves music and does not stop moving when it plays, so I'm not sure if we will be able to play music while I'm in labor, but the dark really helps relax.
Notes from our instructor:
"Final preparations! This is an exciting time but also a time often filled with many tests and sometimes results we may not be prepared for. Learning what these tests tell you and your options depending on the results is best to do now rather than later.
The GBS (also called Group B Strep or Beta Strep) test is a swab that tests for bacteria that is commonly present in the body. Treatment approaches vary and may range from IV antibiotics in labor to doing nothing at all and everything in between.
Sarah Buckley’s book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering has lots of good information, including some pertinent information regarding GBS and ultrasound. She is a doctor but very natural oriented and also points out how differently GBS is treated in different countries.
This article has some information about ultrasound and some of the benefits of keeping it to a minimum, including possible emotional benefits of avoiding it. (i.e. avoiding big baby scares, induction dates based on that, etc.)
Vaginal exams in pregnancy are often NOT done in other countries. This post shares two stories of women and their emotional experience with the pregnancy vaginal exam.
Induction and induction agents are very common today in many hospitals, not just for women NOT in labor, but also for women who are already in labor to speed the process. This article by a midwife discusses the common happenings in a typical induction. You should know what will likely happen if you choose to go the induction route.
Discussed here are some of the risks and benefits of inducing labor. Keep in mind that there are always risks and benefits to every choice. Make choices that you feel most comfortable with and that you will feel best about in the future.
What is Pitocin? It is commonly used in labor and delivery both to begin or speed labor.
Here you can find the package insert for Cytotec, another common induction agent. (Note that it is approved for uses that DO NOT include induction).
ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) points out that a pregnancy isn’t considered overdue until after 42 weeks.
“What is post-term pregnancy? A post-term pregnancy is one that lasts 42 weeks or longer. Women who are having a baby for the first time or who have had post-term pregnancies before may give birth later than expected.
However, the most common cause of postterm pregnancy is an error in calculating the due date. When a post-term pregnancy truly exists, the cause usually is unknown.” Source found here.
Relaxation Exercise: Progressive Relaxation
Dads, you have learned a few massage techniques from Birth Boot Camp Massage Therapist Hannah Reasoner this week. Try using them as you read through this exercise. As you mention the various parts of the body, gently massage the tension away in those areas.
Here is the link to that article I mentioned that explains how the baby is the one who initiates labor:
This is the link to the article with more information about the Biophysical Profile and Non-stress test:
And finally, here is a long, detailed article about GBS:
*Disclaimer: This post in no way replaces the Birth Boot Camp class. All things in this post either came from the Birth Boot Camp website, are my insights or my instructors insights from class which have been appropriately cited. I am writing this post in order to help with future pregnancies, labors and deliveries.
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