The Delivery Room

Hospital Choice

Labor

Hospital Admittance

⇒ Delivery and In-Hospital Care

Preparing for Delivery

Once you reach the delivery room, the staff will set up a fetal monitoring machine to record your contractions and the baby's heart rate. If you have requested to receive some form of pain medication, this will also be the time that they will begin to administer it. Since this is the most active stage of labor, it is usually a good idea to change positions frequently and try to use relaxation and breathing techniques to cope with the pain.

The Baby Is Born!

Once the baby is born, vitals are taken, and the newborn is cleaned up, you will finally be able to embrace and admire your new beautiful bundle! If you plan to breastfeed, the nurses may suggest that you try right away.

Depending on the hospital and the arrangements that were made, you may be moved into another room where you and the baby will settle in for the remainder of your stay. However, other than those visitors you anticipated coming to see the baby, you will also get frequent visits from various hospital staff:

• Technicians will visit to check your's and the baby's vitals 3 - 4 times a day
• A lactician may come to discuss with you the benefits of breastfeeding and assist you in doing it comfortably and properly if you decide to
• The nurse will check in periodically to make sure you and the baby are comfortable and to make sure your body is adjusting as it should
• Your doctor may come to see how you and the baby are doing
• The pediatrician you selected will come to make sure the delivery went well and that the baby is doing fine. They will also do a physical of the baby and check her hearing
• Depending on the hospital, the nurse may bring in a video for you to watch to prepare you for parenting, review safety precautions, and provide suggestions on how to cope with the rollercoaster of emotions you will experience when your newborn is finally home
• A photographer may provide you with a packet of picture packages to choose from should you decide that you want the baby photographed

Despite the traffic, you will find some time in between to relax and enjoy the company of your newborn!

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