Tags: anaesthesia, birth assistant, dilatation of your cervix, LABOUR, sonicaid
Each hospital has its own set of routine procedures for labour. If you have visited the hospital beforehand you will have some idea of the hospital routine.
Admission to hospital
Once you’ve arrived in hospital you may be offered a wheelchair to transport you from the hospital entrance to the labour ward. If your labour is well advanced, you’ll welcome a wheelchair, but if not, you should be allowed to walk if you wish.
You may have outlined in your birth plan how you wish your labour to go, and once youve met your midwife or doctor, this is the time to make sure they have a copy that you can look over with them. They will also make some checks and will ask you questions about your labour.
If you aren’t happy with any procedure, if equipment, lights, and needles frighten you, or if you are upset by a staff member, act at the time. Your birth assistant can voice your feelings if you aren’t feeling strong enough.
Examinations
Your baby’s heart will be regularly monitored by fetoscope, sonicaid or an electronic fetal monitor (see opposite). You will probably have an internal examination every two to four hours during the first stage to check the dilatation of your cervix.
Each time you have an internal examination, ask how you are progressing. It is very comforting to know how far your cervix has dilated between examinations. If your personal birth assistant is asked to leave during an internal examination, say that you would prefer him or her to stay. If you’re asked a question while you are having a contraction, concentrate on your relaxation techniques and answer when the contraction is over.
Pain relief
After the admission procedures, you will be visited by the anaesthetist if you have opted for some form of medical pain relief. If you are having epidural anaesthesia, the procedure will be set up now. This usually takes 10-20 minutes. The anaesthetist may then leave you with your birth assistant and midwife, but will return later to check and top up the anaesthetic. Pethidine, and gas and oxygen are always available.
Monitoring labour
Contractions are recorded by an external monitor strapped to your abdomen. An internal monitor is attached to your baby`s presenting part, usually the head, by piercing his skin. It provides an electrical contact that picks up his heartbeat. Some babies` heads will be bruised or have a rash where the electrode was attached.
