Labour & Birth

It helps to plan ahead. We suggest that you begin planning for your stay at least four weeks before your due date.

• Talk to your doctor or midwife about your choices and needs.
•  Arrange for someone to drive you to the hospital. Map out a route and know other routes as well.
• Pack your suitcase.
• Arrange for a support person to stay with you throughout your labour and hospital stay.
• Discuss the hospital visiting policy with your family and friends. Remember: you need rest; anyone who is sick should not come to see you.
• Have important phone numbers in easy to find places. These include your doctor, midwife, support person, babysitter and the hospital.
• Review information about booking a private or semi-private room.
• Some hospitals recommend preregistering prior to the birth of your baby, please speak to your doctor or midwife

If you choose to have a birth plan, write down your wishes. Sometimes things happen that you cannot control and your plan may have to change. Find a sample template and what to include in your birth plan.

We strive to meet you and your family’s religious, cultural and personal wishes. If you have special needs, talk about these with your doctor or midwife well in advance

During the early stages of labour, the best place for you is in the comfort of your own home. Watch this video about labour and birth.

There are four stages of labour. Discover what happens and how you might feel during each stage, and what you and your support person can do during these stages. Learn more about the birth stages.

Stay comfortable during Labour

• Change positions often: walk, stand or sit. See more comfort positions.
• Rest or nap
• Take a warm shower or bath
• Read, watch TV or listen to music
• Sit in a rocking chair
• Use a hot water bottle on the back
• Eat a light, easily digested snack
• Drink plenty of fluids

Know about the differences between pre-labour and true labour.

• You are less than 37 weeks pregnant and you experience contractions every 10 minutes or less
• You feel constant abdominal pain that does not go away
• Your water sac is broken and you develop a fever or if the fluid from your vagina is coloured yellow, green or red
• You have bright red bleeding from your vagina
• Your baby’s movements have slowed down (less than six movements in a two-hour period)
   

• Doula Services Association of BC
• Doulas for Aboriginal Families
• Aboriginal Patient Navigator contact information
   

Labour pain is different for every woman. Know your options for pain relief medications prior to delivery; this will assist you and your partner in making choices while in labour.

Immediately after birth, or as soon as possible, your baby will be placed on your chest skin-to-skin. Keep your baby skin-to-skin until after the first feed. Learn more about the importance of skin-to-skin.

If your baby needs some extra care adjusting to life, they may be taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Sometimes situations may arise where you and/or your baby need special care and may require transfer to another hospital. Learn about what to expect and how to care for your baby in NICU.

Your body has spent months nurturing and growing your baby. Understand the changes that occur after giving birth:

• Your emotions-Giving birth is an emotional and tiring experience. Your hormones change dramatically in the first few days. Some women get the baby blues and feel weepy around three to five days after giving birth. 
• Your breasts-On the third or fourth day, your breasts may be tender because milk is still being produced. Your breasts will continue to change shape until breastfeeding is established. 
• Your abdomen-Your abdomen will probably be quite baggy after delivery. This is partly because your muscles have stretched. Find tips on reaching a healthy weight after giving birth. You may sometimes feel a painful twinge or period-like pain in your stomach when breastfeeding. This is your uterus (womb) contracting to return to its pre-pregnant state. 
• Your bladder-At first, it may be difficult to pee or tell when your bladder is full. Pee regularly to prevent your bladder from becoming too full. If you find that it stings when you pee, pour warm water over your perineum or pee in the shower or bath. It is quite common after having a baby to leak urine accidentally if you laugh, cough or move suddenly. Kegel exercises can help prevent this. 
• Your vagina-The area between your legs (perineum) may be sore, bruised, and swollen. If you have stitches, you may feel more pain. Find ways to ease your vaginal discomfort. You will have heavy bleeding and discharge which gradually lessens. Use pads only. Not tampons.
• Your pelvic health: Learn about pelvic health in pregnancy and postpartum
•  Your bowels-At first, your bowels may seem sluggish. To avoid constipation eat fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains and drink plenty of water. 
•  Your rectum and anus-Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels in or around the rectum and anus. They are common after delivery and can be painful and itchy. They often go away in a few weeks after birth. Find ways to treat Hemorrhoids.
•  After Caesarean Births (C-section)-In the event you have had a C-Section, you will need to take extra precautions to ensure your body heals. Learn more about the importance of modifying your activity, diet, and caring for your incision also when to seek medical attention. 
•  When to seek medical attention-Learn more about your first days at home.

• Public Health Maternity Care Services 
• Postpartum Care Locations
• Early Hearing Program: Newborns have their hearing screened shortly after birth.

For more information on these services please contact your local health unit.