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  5. 6 Things to Expect from Labor & Delivery

6 Things to Expect from Labor & Delivery

By Sarah Lorge Butler
July 23, 2009
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Every baby enters the world in a unique way. That's why birth stories are so much fun to hear. So what will your labor be like? Doctors and mothers answer common questions from moms-to-be.
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Q: How long does labor last, and will I feel pain the whole time?
A: Much of labor is spent in "early labor". During this phase, it is best to be at home where you can walk, sleep, or snack. During active labor, contractions become regular and painful, and the cervix dilates. Normal dilation during active labor for a first-time mom should progress a minimum of 1 centimeter per hour; with pushing time, that's 6 - 12 hours.

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Q: How will I know when to go to the hospital?
A:Ideally, you'll get to the hospital when you're in active labor, not early labor. Look for contractions every 4 - 5 minutes for at least an hour, and they should be getting stronger, longer, and closer together. If you can't talk through them, start looking for the car keys.

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Labor & Delivery: Labor & Delivery Timeline

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Q: Once I'm admitted can I walk around?
A: Most hospitals will let you pace around, but you'll need to check fetal heart rate monitoring every 15 minutes. You may also take a shower to relax or bounce on a birthing ball to ease pain. But, if you have an epidural, you'll be hooked up to an IV and you might be too numb to walk.

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Q: Will an epidural slowdown labor?
A: If you're too numb when it's time to push, it can be hard to feel what to do. According to Jonathan Waters, MD, chief of anesthesiology at Magee-Womens Hospital, in Pittsburgh, epidurals slow labor by about 40 minutes, on average. In some cases, the anesthesia can actually speed labor once a mother relaxes through the pain.

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Q: Why would I need Pitocin to speed up labor?
A: "Perhaps in the past, Pitocin was used too liberally or too aggressively, but most hospitals have a Pitocin protocol," says Amanda Flicker, MD, an OB-GYN at Lehigh Valley Hospital, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. "They start at a low dose and increase it slowly to get the strength of the contractions to where they need to be. You shouldn't fear it."

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Q: What are my pain-relief options besides epidurals?
A: Many women find they can manage their pain by using nonmedical strategies such as Lamaze breathing or the Bradley Method, which emphasizes visualization and a solid understanding of the birth process. Other options include hypnosis and water birth.

Originally published in the August 2009 issue of American Baby magazine.

All content on this website, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.

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6 Things to Expect from Labor & Delivery
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