In times of peace women are more likely to conceive.

During labor, relaxation methods can help childbirth progress through the early stages with less sense of pain. Breathe, massage, relax - Breathe : the muscles of the uterus need oxygen for the hard work of pushing out the baby the natural way. When we are stressed or scared or angry we tend to hold our breathe or waste our breathe on unnecessary angry words or crying. Strong and silent isn't just for men however the breathing pattern that may help can include some rhythmic noise or chant to help with a meditative type of calm. In breath, " Ah, ah " and a longer out breathe, " oooh. " Or a chant " I'm breathing in love, and breathing out peace ." Massage : As contractions progress they can be every couple minutes so there is one minute to relax and breath and one minute of the tightening of the contraction. The uterus is a round ball like muscle with baby nestled inside. Labor progresses slowly over several hours, or occasionally days, and the contractions are weaker initially but still last about a minute. The difference is in the early stages they are about fifteen to twenty minutes apart and the time between shortens over the hours until nearer delivery when there is the one minute of rest, one minute of contraction stage. It can help between contractions for the woman to massage her abdomen to help relax the muscles. Relax: The more relaxed the rest of the body can remain, the more energy will be left for the uterus to do its work. During early stages of labor walking around or taking a shower or bath may be soothing. During later stages when the contractions are happening frequently it may help to have a labor partner breathe along with eye contact to help keep the expectant mom calm and focused on breathing instead of getting tense. After the contractions are close together there is typically a brief stage where they stop, the cervix is opened and baby is in position to be delivered. The water sac may break at this stage which can initiate the next stage when there is an urge to push. It truly is an unmistakable urge to push (like you have to go to the bathroom right now). If the attending healthcare worker says don't push it may mean the cervix isn't fully opened. Eventually though there is a series of push, then relax, and then baby is born, and yes that part hurts but pain killing endorphins surge and the feeling of joy at the sight of the baby makes it all worth it. Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

With a first infant it can be both exciting and difficult to grasp the reality of a new life. Having one or two personal support people may be a good idea for helping with relaxation and breathing or fetching a glass of ice water, however having a crowd of eager relatives or younger children or a video team may distract or add worries that needn't exist if fewer people were present. Everyone is different though. Who should be in the delivery room is a question to consider in advance along with packing a few clothes and other supplies to have ready whenever labor becomes a pattern of contractions every ten minutes or whatever your healthcare provider recommended. Plan your route to the delivery facility and leave enough time to drive safely. It is important to remain calm and arrive in one piece. Labor can be sudden as is seen in television shows but more typically there is time to look at the sunset. Nigh time does seem to be a common time for labor to occur. Time the contractions and plan some time for the drive to the hospital or other care facility. Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.

It may not seem peaceful to have a crying baby and it can be stressful if it seems nothing you try is soothing the infant. Pause and be grateful that baby is strong enough to cry. Then try the finger count: Is the baby hungry? When you tickle the side of their mouth with your little finger does the baby eagerly turn towards it and try to suckle? That is a sign of hunger. Feeding the baby will likely stop the crying. Does the baby have a wet or dirty diaper? Check and change it if needed. Is the baby too hot or too cold? Newborns don't regulate heat very well and can become dehydrated if sweating is causing significant fluid loss. They need a similar amount of clothing to what is comfortable for everyone else at that room temperature, plus the tiny knit newborn hat for young infants. We lose a large amount of heat from our head because the brain uses a large amount of energy in comparison to the rest of the body. Little socks and sock mittens can also help preserve heat and protect babies from scratching themselves accidentally if their fingernails are a little long and rough. Is the baby tired? Try gently rocking the baby back and forth rather than jiggling up and down, the side to side rhythm replicates what they were used to while inside momma's belly. They tend to like the motion of a car ride or rocking chair or baby rocker. They may like to be nestled close to the body near the left side where they can hear the caregiver's heartbeat. Is it gas? This is trickier. Jiggling up and down might help work a gas bubble up and out. Use a slight bouncy motion while supporting the baby's fragile neck and heavy head (heavy for the baby's underdeveloped muscles). If no gas bubbles are happening but baby does seem gassy turning the baby face down with your hand supporting their neck and head and their abdomen against your forearm may sooth. Rubbing their back while they are on their tummy may also help. Is the baby just wanting some love? Sometimes their is nothing wrong except they like to be near their mother or another caregiver. Having an infant carrier that can be worn can help soothe them. It also helps their digestion and heart rate regulation. The walking motion or rocking can help feedings move through the digestive system and the regular rhythm of an caregiver's heart rate helps them follow along. That is too many fingers to count on one hand, but it can help when tired and frazzled to have a checklist to help guide attempts to figure out: why is baby crying? did I try everything? Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes within the guidelines of fair use. While I am a Registered Dietitian this information is not intended to provide individual health guidance. Please see a health professional for individual health care purposes.