Ok, so you’ve taken the classes and you paid attention. You did the breating and the visulizations and your all ready. Well, I hate to tell you , but it doesn’t work the way it does in class. Its also not as bad as it is in the movies but don’t expect the easy going, calm breating either.
The amazing thing is that as my wife was laboring, I could see in her eyes the moment the pain was taking over. In a split second she went from the normal woman I know, trying to handle the pain, into what I can only call a frightened animal tryin gto escape. At those moments none of the fancy breating did any good, no hee hee haaaaa hee hee haaa. It was all of a sudden my monent to take charge. “LOOK INTO MY EYES” I would say in a strong and assertive voice. She’d open her eyes and look at me. “Breate IN, Breathe OUT, keep looking at my face”. The in breate is slow and steady and the exhale comes out as a cry or a whimper. It good. Breathe in quietly, breathe out loudly, In soft, out moan. Don’t stop until its over.
Also, the monitors they use are amazing, with it you can see the baby’s heart rate, but most importantly, you can see the contractions. If you can, watch them while she is there. You will quickly see the patterms. The devoce reads the muscles in the uterus and you can actual see them on the monitor before she starts to feel them. You can also see them peak and then start to subside. Its a great help because it help you to know when she is going to need assistance.
Other than breating, make sure you keep 2 things handy at all time. Firsdt a pitcher of water/ice chips. She may not feel like drinking the water at times, but the ice chips are great. Use a spoon, and give her some between contractions. My wife couldn’t get enough of them. The kept her hydrated and gave her somehting to checw and to put her focus on. Second is a cool or cold wash clothe. She will be warm and sweaty, and a cool clothe on the neck or the forehead at the right moment will be the best.
Don’t try to be funny either (you know who you are). Don’t make jokes or try to lightne the mood, it won’t work. Be supportive and caring, and be assertive. The staff may be great, but they have other duties. Your only duty is to your partner. She, your baby and you are your top priorities and you have to take care of all of them right now.
