Week 34: Childbirth Preparation Class

Bobby and I attended an all day Childbirth Preparation class last Saturday. There was an abundance of really good information that we previously had questions about, or had not even thought of. Upon leaving we both felt much more informed and on information overload. We were definitely glad we took the class!

Some of the highlights discussed:

• Signs of pre-term Labor (most of this is definitely "TMI"....so I won't go into detail about here....)

Contractions: anything with rhythm, doesn't have to hurt. More than 6 in 1 hour = Call Doctor.

• Baby Movement Changes
• 32-33 weeks: movements change from kicks and rolls to nudges and stretches

• What to do if water breaks
• Call Doctor, be prepared to report what time, what color, if you tested + or - for Group B Strep (at 36 week appointment)
• After water breaks take time to shower, put on dry clothes, get towels and trash bags on car seat.
  
• Will normally deliver within 18 hours of water breaking
• Not everyone's water breaks on it's own

• Pain Medication Options
• Demerol and other similar narcotics
• gets into bloodstream through IV
• makes Mom relax, takes the edge off the pain, sleepy
• can make Baby sleepy (NO THANKS!)
• Once Mom is 8cm dilated or more, No Drugs
• Epidural
  
• Anesthesia Numbing Medication
  
• Want active pattern of contractions, around 3cm dialated
• Doesn't hurt that bad. Just a "stick and burn" and pressure. Takes only a few minutes.
• Anesthesiologist performs procedure. Leaves a flexible tube in epidural space for slow medication release.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidural_anesthesia
• Possible Side Effects: Infection at site (rare), Bleeding (rare)
• Anesthesiologist can dose down or dose up the medication. Also, Mom holds the power to release more meds with the push of a button.
• With the medication Mom may not feel the contractions so the doctor and nurses tell her when to push.
  
• Mom can still move around until baby gets real low.
  
• These meds do not go into bloodstream, and do not get to baby directly.

• Length of Stay?
• Vaginal Delivery = 2 day stay
• C-section = 3-4 day stay

• Postpartum
• Once pregnant, the placenta increases Estrogen in the body.
• Mom births placenta, but ovaries stay asleep = lack of Estrogen 7-9 months
• Sex Drive = ZERO for awhile, then Sex Drive will just be "different" for awhile
• Estrogen also acts like Serotonin.
  
• Serotonin deficiency can lead to Postpartum Depression
  

***Interesting addition to our "To-Do" list that had not been mentioned during this pregnancy before....

Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus Diphtheria Adult Pertussis) A/K/A Whooping Cough Vaccine

If a baby catches the Whooping couch in the first 8 weeks of life, the baby can die.
Apparently a few years ago several babies in Texas died from the Whooping Cough. Shortly after there was a huge marketing campaign promoting family members of newborns to get this vaccine. (I am sure you all remember.)
So it is now highly recommended that anyone who will be around a newborn, for extended periods of time, during the baby's first 2 months should have this vaccine ahead of time.
Since I have not had it yet, I can ask the nurse to give me the Tdap Vaccine after I deliver the baby. Bobby has made an appointment with his doctor to get the shot, as well as my Mom, Sister, Brother-in-Law, and Mother-in-Law.
It is not suggested that friends just visiting the baby get the vaccine. However, it is highly recommended that those visitors wash hands and use hand sanitizers when around the baby.
(I hate being that person who pushes the hand sanitizers on people, but I guess I will for Punkin's first 2 months.)

Funny side note...
Bobby's Mom does not live in Texas...she lives in Illinois. When she called her doctor's office to make an appointment for this vaccine, the nurse asked her "Why?" She told the nurse it was because she would be staying with her new granddaughter for a week. The nurse told her she didn't need that vaccine, but put her on hold to confirm with the doctor. The doctor also said that vaccine was unnecessary. But my MIL scheduled the appointment anyway...since Bobby asked her to.
So apparently, this is really just a Texas thing. And it's not a cheap Texas thing...the Tdap Vaccine cost about $65.
~~~