Thank you i will try this, I hope it works

mabebe1:

So sorry ma'am, I had same symptoms in my first trimester.....I always drink milk in the morning before any solid food.....then I support the meal with apples...it keeps me okay

Thank you so much for this , it came at the right time , please what's your advise on gin, someone advised that taking gin once in a while makes the baby fresh at birth , how true is this , some other mums made reference to it too , my wife is in week 37today and I gave her little yesterday , the baby was so sharp and kicked so well thereafter ... Is it true that it makes the baby fresh ?

Secondly , please how do one bath for the baby, I'm asking for my wife now , cos the mum won't be able to arrive early for the omugwo and I want to know the procedures on how a bath a new born baby , at least 2 days before mum arrives
Will really appreciate your response

Very useful article. Please how many weeks did it take your episiotomy cut to heal up after delivery? And how many weeks after did you resume having sex with your husband?

beeijeoma:
Today I will look at lochia, episiotomy and episiotomy care

Lochia is simply after birth discharge that is experienced by women after giving birth. It is made up of blood and mucus and tissue . The discharge can last for up to 6 weeks and usually starts out as very deep red and lightens in color as the days go by. It is important for a new mom to take things easy after delivery as too much stress can increase the quantity of lochia experienced.
As a ftm the things you need to deal with this discharge are
1.Disposable pad eg Lady Sept and always . Lady sept is just like thick cotton wool with a net holding it together . It has no wings like always so there is a tendency for underwear to get stained so its advisable to buy always too.What I did was layer my undies first with always before I now put Lady Sept . It saved me the stress of washing stained undies
2. Disposable underwear (optional)
3. Undies that have a good or tight grip to be able to hold the pad in place
It is advisable to wash yourself with water every time you change your pad and the pad should be changed as often as possible to avoid bad smells and infection.

Episiotomy
If a woman has never had a baby the birth canal is usually very tight and sometimes when delivering a baby for the first time the canal may be so tight that it does not allow the baby come out easily. If the baby is left to force his or her way out it could result in terrible tears that may not be easy to repair and could also cause excessive bleeding . What medical personnel do is give you an episiotomy which is basically a cut and this cut is done at the peak of a contraction . My first child had a very big head and I was given a double episiotomy that is cut in 2 places. I didn't feel the first one but I felt the second cut and it was really painful. Once the episiotomy is given the baby slides easily out of the birth canal. Once the baby and placenta have been delivered the next step is to stitch the episiotomy. I was given anesthesia before my stitch was done and I feel every mom should ask for it. I cant imagine being stitched without them numbing the place first.
For episiotomy care you need
Sitz bowl or a big bowl you can sit in comfortably
Salt
Disinfectant ie Dettol
You fill your sitz bowl or regular bowl with warm not HOT water , put in the salt and Dettol and sit in the water for about 10 mins . It is good to do it twice a day both morning and evening. I did this for about a month when I had my first and would do it after I had my morning and evening bath
The episiotomy site gets a bit swollen and can be quite painful . I used to seat on a hard surface stool and it helped the swelling go down a bit, but the pain was a bit much and I was walking funny for about a week after having my son

Plaese do not use hot water for sitz bath it can damage your stitches and you may have to go back for re stitching. It is also advisable to have someone check your stitches before you are discharged from the hospital . My double episiotomy was not properly stitched and i almost cried anytime i looked at my vjay are in the mirror it was a mess and intercourse with my hubby was slightly painful. It improved but i knew something wasn't right, It was when i had a tear with my 2nd baby that they were able to stitch me properly and put everything right again and i was back to normal

AroOkigbo:

No, it's got nothing to do with CS.
Epidural is an anaesthesia given at your sinal cord to ease labour pain.
My wife took it during the birth of our second child and it was cool.

Really this is good news. I'm hearing of it for the first time. It will do a lot of women good, assuming the cost is a considerable one. Thank you. Op thanks for your reply as I await your next post...

As a soon to be first time mom in her second trimester, what are good medium to make a baby small if said to be quite big in order to avoid tear and have an easy delivery, what can be taken and also taking water, pap and meals consistently to aid sufficient breast milk for the baby doing exclusive breast feeding wouldn't it hinder your mission to regaining a flat less bulging tummy after birth and lastly is slight pains and discomfort during pregnancy at long intervals or at random a normal thing with pregnancy at all its stages

Really interesting piece @op... I would have placed a spell on Seun and the mods if this had not reached front page.. I really enjoyed reading through... My question though is, how can a woman who just put to birth maintain a flat tummy? Is the process painful?

Insightful thread i must say. Kudos

Behappie:
As a soon to be first time mom in her second trimester, what are good medium to make a baby small if said to be quite big in order to avoid tear and have an easy delivery, what can be taken and also taking water, pap and meals consistently to aid sufficient breast milk for the baby doing exclusive breast feeding wouldn't it hinder your mission to regaining a flat less bulging tummy after birth and lastly is slight pains and discomfort during pregnancy at long intervals or at random a normal thing with pregnancy at all its stages

Actually, the reverse is usually the case.

The more often a woman breast feeds, the faster the womb contracts and her stomach goes back in shape.

cerpvad:
Very useful article. Please how many weeks did it take your episiotomy cut to heal up after delivery? And how many weeks after did you resume having sex with your husband?

For my 1st and 2nd kids my episiotomy was fully healed by 6 weeks. I saw my doctor for my 6 week checkup and he gave me the all clear, and the oda room activities resumed immediately. For my 3rd kid no episiotomy by 1 month after delivery my lochia had stopped so I was back in the oda room . I was so embarrassed when my doctor asked if my hubby and I were having sex because ordinarily one should wait for the 6 weeks clearance. I could not lie o, I just kept looking down. Thk God my hubby was there so we both shared the embarrassment together.
Please note that bodies differ in terms of how quickly cuts heal. If your wife has passed the 6 week mark and she is still not okay down there please let her be. Its best to wait until that area is fully healed.

prettysom:

Thank you so much Ma'am. Your messages are easily relatable as I experienced them in my first pregnancy. I'm currently pregnant with the 2nd. and in my 1st trimester but it hasn't been easy at all. I feel really exhausted, nauseous, vomiting, salivation, etc. I can barely do anything at home cos of the weakness and odour sensitivity that makes me throw up at the slightest offensive odour... What can I do to ease this tension and become useful in my home. I'm just tired cos I feel people around me don't understand and are getting exhausted too.

I also want to ask about the epidural because they offered it to me in my first pregnancy and I declined cos I was scared of Complications and stuff like that. Thanks

My dear the pregnancy symptoms you are experiencing are normal and there is really nothing you can do about it. What I also noticed is that the older one gets the more exhausting pregnancy is. You alone know how you are feeling, don't let anyone make you feel like you are neglecting your duties. If you have the energy to do housework do it , if you cant leave it. When I was pregnant for number 3 I was on bedrest from 14 weeks till I delivered, my hubby had to do the cooking and shopping and caring for the older kids because we didn't have help. He did not complain because on a normal day I am not a lazy person, the situation just could not be helped. Hopefully all your symptoms will start to ease by the 2nd trimester and you will be strong enough to do stuff around the house.

Felixamos:
Really interesting piece @op... I would have placed a spell on Seun and the mods if this had not reached front page.. I really enjoyed reading through... My question though is, how can a woman who just put to birth maintain a flat tummy? Is the process painful?

Thks for your comment . Flat tummy after delivery is achievable and I don't think its painful it just takes commitment. The key word is diet and exercise. I would advice any ftm to take it easy on the issue of weight loss and getting a flat tummy , it took 9 months to grow a baby so don't expect that your body will immediately snap back after you give birth. Some people are lucky they regain their shape fast but for majority of people it takes time. The best time to start working on yourself if you are breastfeeding exclusively is at the 6month mark after you have introduced your baby to solids , if you are not breastfeeding exclusively 6 weeks after birth you are good to go. You just need to cut back on your carbohydrate intake, increase your fruits and vegetables and avoid sugary drinks. Then add some form of exercise 15 mins a day and you will definitely see your stomach flatten.

Behappie:
As a soon to be first time mom in her second trimester, what are good medium to make a baby small if said to be quite big in order to avoid tear and have an easy delivery, what can be taken and also taking water, pap and meals consistently to aid sufficient breast milk for the baby doing exclusive breast feeding wouldn't it hinder your mission to regaining a flat less bulging tummy after birth and lastly is slight pains and discomfort during pregnancy at long intervals or at random a normal thing with pregnancy at all its stages

A baby's birth size is usually more of genetics, as long as both parents are big chances of the baby being big is high. The period when babies add the most weight is from 28 weeks or during the 3rd trimester it may help if one cuts back on carbohydrates and avoids things like soft drinks and juice. if one was eating 2 wraps of eba you can cut it down to 1 and instead add more vegetables. Even with cutting back some babies still turn out big.

Breastfeeding makes one very hungry and it burns like 500 calories everyday. If the mom is eating healthy food she should be fine and the stomach will go back to normal in good time.

Pregnancy is full of all manners of discomfort from the beginning to the end . The list is endless nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness , loss of appetite, feeling hot some days cold on some days, backache, leg ache , abdominal cramps, headache, catarrh and blocked nose, hip and joint pain, swollen feet, tooth ache, blurry eyesight, dry and itchy skin and a host of others. Its not easy for pregnant women and some women experience a lot of these all through the pregnancy.

waley007:
Thank you so much for this , it came at the right time , please what's your advise on gin, someone advised that taking gin once in a while makes the baby fresh at birth , how true is this , some other mums made reference to it too , my wife is in week 37today and I gave her little yesterday , the baby was so sharp and kicked so well thereafter ... Is it true that it makes the baby fresh ?

Secondly , please how do one bath for the baby, I'm asking for my wife now , cos the mum won't be able to arrive early for the omugwo and I want to know the procedures on how a bath a new born baby , at least 2 days before mum arrives
Will really appreciate your response

You are welcome. Please do not give your wife gin or any form of alcohol. It does not make a child sharp if anything it can cause developmental problems in the long run. Alcohol is a kind of stimulant so definitely the baby will react once it gets into their blood stream. Some doctors even ask women not to drink coffee during pregnancy talk less of gin. As long as your wife has been taking her prenatal vitamins and eating well there is no reason why you baby will not be healthy, strong and sharp.
On bathing a baby I will do a writeup in my subsequent post but if she births before then you can watch videos on you tube. The thing is to remove fear from your mind, babies are not as fragile as they look.

olufummy02:
Thanks for this great write-ups.
Please, how long does tear heal up completely and how soon can one resume the oza room affair? . Delivered 5weeks ago, tho I started taking care of myself and baby from 2nd week, since there's no one to stay with me. My tear site seems to be healing slowly(or so I think as a ftm). All stitches has removed but d site still looks like a wound.

The best way to confirm if you are fully healed is during your 6 week check up. The doctor or nurse will check and tell you. As per the oda room its best to wait until doctor clears you so you don't injure yourself in the process.

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to the Father, but by Him.
Repent and accept Jesus today as your
personal Lord and saviour; He will keep you
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It is very important to make this all important
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beeijeoma:
Today I will look at lochia, episiotomy and episiotomy care

Lochia is simply after birth discharge that is experienced by women after giving birth. It is made up of blood and mucus and tissue . The discharge can last for up to 6 weeks and usually starts out as very deep red and lightens in color as the days go by. It is important for a new mom to take things easy after delivery as too much stress can increase the quantity of lochia experienced.
As a ftm the things you need to deal with this discharge are
1.Disposable pad eg Lady Sept and always . Lady sept is just like thick cotton wool with a net holding it together . It has no wings like always so there is a tendency for underwear to get stained so its advisable to buy always too.What I did was layer my undies first with always before I now put Lady Sept . It saved me the stress of washing stained undies
2. Disposable underwear (optional)
3. Undies that have a good or tight grip to be able to hold the pad in place
It is advisable to wash yourself with water every time you change your pad and the pad should be changed as often as possible to avoid bad smells and infection.

Episiotomy
If a woman has never had a baby the birth canal is usually very tight and sometimes when delivering a baby for the first time the canal may be so tight that it does not allow the baby come out easily. If the baby is left to force his or her way out it could result in terrible tears that may not be easy to repair and could also cause excessive bleeding . What medical personnel do is give you an episiotomy which is basically a cut and this cut is done at the peak of a contraction . My first child had a very big head and I was given a double episiotomy that is cut in 2 places. I didn't feel the first one but I felt the second cut and it was really painful. Once the episiotomy is given the baby slides easily out of the birth canal. Once the baby and placenta have been delivered the next step is to stitch the episiotomy. I was given anesthesia before my stitch was done and I feel every mom should ask for it. I cant imagine being stitched without them numbing the place first.
For episiotomy care you need
Sitz bowl or a big bowl you can sit in comfortably
Salt
Disinfectant ie Dettol
You fill your sitz bowl or regular bowl with warm not HOT water , put in the salt and Dettol and sit in the water for about 10 mins . It is good to do it twice a day both morning and evening. I did this for about a month when I had my first and would do it after I had my morning and evening bath
The episiotomy site gets a bit swollen and can be quite painful . I used to seat on a hard surface stool and it helped the swelling go down a bit, but the pain was a bit much and I was walking funny for about a week after having my son

Plaese do not use hot water for sitz bath it can damage your stitches and you may have to go back for re stitching. It is also advisable to have someone check your stitches before you are discharged from the hospital . My double episiotomy was not properly stitched and i almost cried anytime i looked at my vjay are in the mirror it was a mess and intercourse with my hubby was slightly painful. It improved but i knew something wasn't right, It was when i had a tear with my 2nd baby that they were able to stitch me properly and put everything right again and i was back to normal

Thank you so much for your write up.. .I'm a first time mum, though my baby was still birth yesterday. ...i had an episiotomy and at least I can make do with your advice on episiotomy even if not the breastfeeding own. Thank you.

beeijeoma:

Thks for your comment . Flat tummy after delivery is achievable and I don't think its painful it just takes commitment. The key word is diet and exercise. I would advice any ftm to take it easy on the issue of weight loss and getting a flat tummy , it took 9 months to grow a baby so don't expect that your body will immediately snap back after you give birth. Some people are lucky they regain their shape fast but for majority of people it takes time. The best time to start working on yourself if you are breastfeeding exclusively is at the 6month mark after you have introduced your baby to solids , if you are not breastfeeding exclusively 6 weeks after birth you are good to go. You just need to cut back on your carbohydrate intake, increase your fruits and vegetables and avoid sugary drinks. Then add some form of exercise 15 mins a day and you will definitely see your stomach flatten.

Thanks a lot for the reply..

Yuneehk:
Very insightful. Following..

I guess you are now pregnant, who did it

Rextizzy:
I guess you are now pregnant, who did it

So because I'm following, it means I'm pregnant? I can't follow for future's sake bah

beeijeoma:


A baby's birth size is usually more of genetics, as long as both parents are big chances of the baby being big is high. The period when babies add the most weight is from 28 weeks or during the 3rd trimester it may help if one cuts back on carbohydrates and avoids things like soft drinks and juice. if one was eating 2 wraps of eba you can cut it down to 1 and instead add more vegetables. Even with cutting back some babies still turn out big.

Breastfeeding makes one very hungry and it burns like 500 calories everyday. If the mom is eating healthy food she should be fine and the stomach will go back to normal in good time.

Pregnancy is full of all manners of discomfort from the beginning to the end . The list is endless nausea, vomiting, constipation, dizziness , loss of appetite, feeling hot some days cold on some days, backache, leg ache , abdominal cramps, headache, catarrh and blocked nose, hip and joint pain, swollen feet, tooth ache, blurry eyesight, dry and itchy skin and a host of others. Its not easy for pregnant women and some women experience a lot of these all through the pregnancy.

Thank you ma for the long explanation, its appreciated

Yuneehk:

So because I'm following, it means I'm pregnant? I can't follow for future's sake bah

Future what? When you already have a kid inside you.

Rextizzy:
Future what? When you already have a kid inside you.

Ndi spiritual eyes have come. I've heard you.

Yuneehk:

Ndi spiritual eyes have come. I've heard you.

snowblaq:


Thank you so much for your write up.. .I'm a first time mum, though my baby was still birth yesterday. ...i had an episiotomy and at least I can make do with your advice on episiotomy even if not the breastfeeding own. Thank you.

I am so sorry about what happened to you. I lost 2 babies too so I can understand how you feel right now. It is well with you.

Today I will write on Labor and Delivery because a lot of my readers are about to be FTMs.

Labor is basically the process you go through to deliver your baby. Delivery itself could be normal delivery, assisted delivery and then delivery by caesarean section. For FTMs I know the main question is usually how will I know I am in labor. There are 3 main things most women experience that will let them know labor is close or that it is in progress

1 Rupture of membrane. This is just your water breaking, it could be a lot at a time or it could just be trickles. The minute your water breaks you do not need to wait for any other sign . Please head straight to the hospital. The water which is the amniotic fluid is a form of sustenance for the baby and once it is no longer there the next best step is delivery of the baby. There is also a higher risk of infection after the water has broken so it is best to just go to the hospital. Not everybody experiences this membrane rupture, my membrane never ruptured on its own for my 3 kids the doctor had to rupture it himself so even if your water does not break and you are experiencing other signs you may be in labor.

2 Loss of mucous plug. This is a discharge that is made up of mucous and a bit of blood and it is usually a sign that labor is close. For some people it still takes a couple of days after they loose the mucus plug before they go into labor while for others it may start same day. If you loose your mucous plug just observe and see if contractions start before you head to the hospital . I did not loose my mucous plug in any of my pregnancies before I went into labor.

3 Contractions . For me personally this is my main sign that labor has started. From 2nd trimester most mothers begin to experience practice contractions called Braxton hicks and this continues till the end of pregnancy. This practice contractions are not usually painful just uncomfortable kind of and you actually feel your stomach harden up. Once you hit your 37th week which is early term delivery meaning most people go into labor from this time upwards, you may begin to find it difficult to distinguish between Braxton hicks and real labor. The distinguishing factor is that if you were standing up and you start having Braxton Hicks and you decide to lie down if the contractions stop then it is not real labor. Real labor does not stop until your baby is delivered and even if you lie down, sit down it continues and it gets more painful and becomes more frequent. Once this is happening chances are labor is in progress. As a FTM it is better to go to the hospital as soon as labor starts. Since it is your first time the hospital is the safest place for you don't wait it out at home. You do not know how your labor will progress it is best to be where you can be monitored by medical personnel

Once you get to the hospital, you will be checked to see if you are actually in labor. This check is done by way of vaginal examination, the nurse or doctor will wear gloves and put their hand in your veejay to check your cervix and how far you have dilated . For FTMs there is no reason to be scared of VE once you do not tense up your muscles it wont be painful. For most hospitals once you are 2cm dilated they admit you and set up the drip line, most places do not encourage you to eat once you have been admitted. I remember when I had my first kid I went for my normal antenatal and the doctor said I needed to be admitted immediately, I managed to convince him that I needed to go home and get my things and he allowed me. The first thing I did when I got home was eat pounded yam and okro because I was like I need energy to go and push this baby out . At the hospital you will be given a bed and the nurses will keep checking on you at intervals to monitor your progress. Your BP, babys heart rate will also be checked at intervals. The contractions will keep coming and it will help get your cervix to open to the desired width which is 10cm. Most times you will know when you are getting to 10cm because you will start to feel like you want to pee and poop at the same time'

Once you are 10cm you will be moved to the labor room that is if you are not already in there and the next step is pushing you baby out. When it is time to push it is important to listen to the person taking the delivery .Some nurses will ask you to hold your ankles while others will place you legs in a stirrup and then you will be asked to push when you feel a contraction, when you are pushing you place your chin on your chest and kind of look between you legs and bear down and push as if you are seriously constipated. If you are not sure when you are contracting tell the nurse so she can tell you when to push. If you are pushing when you are not contracting nothing will happen, it is the force of your pushing and the force of the contraction that helps push the baby out. You will continue pushing till the babys head is right at the veejay entrance , the nurses will usually tell you they can see the head and most times this is when they give you an episiotomy if you need it. Once baby's head is out you will be asked to stop pushing, please listen , they ask you to stop so they can check that the babys cord is not around his neck. If it is they will remove it before asking you to push the rest of your baby out. Once the baby is out, a nurse will show you so you can see the sex they will cut the cord and then deliver your placenta. Both you and your baby will be cleaned up and then moved out of the labor room to your assigned room or bed.

For some women after they have reached a certain stage in labor their contractions begin to slow down instead of increasing and this is why doctors will decide to give Pitocin to speed up labor. It just helps to make your contractions stronger and speeds up you labor.

I will be back to write on the other delivery methods later today or tomorrow

thank you, this is really helpful

Thank you. I'm really interested in the assisted delivery method. Cs is another I have heard a lot about but still looking forward to reading your post on it. I am positive this will be of immense help to many. Good job!

Continuation

Epidural is used when a woman does not want to experience pain during labor and delivery. It is like anesthesia and causes one to loose sensation from the waist down so the mother is in labor but she is not experiencing any pain. The epidural is administered via the spine and it is usually administered between 4 and 5cm. I remember when it was time for the epidural I was asked to sit and arch my back outwards, my back was cleaned with antiseptic wipes and the catheter through which the drugs will be administered was put in my spine via an injection. It was not really painful just like a pinch and immediately the drugs entered my system that was it . I didn't feel any pain from the contractions but I was not able to move my legs as I was numb from the waist down. A monitor was attached to my stomach to keep track of the baby's heartrate and my contractions. I was scared when I was going to be injected but I am so glad I took the epidural. I had experienced labor pain 2ce before so I was grateful for the pain relief. It has its risks just like any other procedure some people suffer from headaches, back ache but I was lucky I didn't experience any of that . Some people also find it hard to push with an epidural but I did not , my baby was out in less than 15mins. I noticed that it slowed down my labor so I was given Pitocin to help speed things up. After I got home I noticed my hip area was a bit weak kind of and it maybe because of how my legs were positioned during delivery

Assisted delivery is just delivery using forceps or a vacuum . I am not sure how common this because I do not know anyone that has gone through the process. It is used when the mother in labor is unable to push on her own so the doctor uses the vacuum which is like a suction or the forceps to help deliver the baby.

Cesarean section or CS is delivery by surgery and is used for a variety of reasons. You have cases where it is termed emergency surgery meaning the mother is already in labor or has tried a normal delivery but something now happens along the way that has brought about a need for surgery. Some of the reasons for emergency CS are
1 Distress or tiredness of the baby. This is when the baby's heart rate starts dropping dangerously during labor
2 Tiredness of the mom . If the mom has been in labor for so long that she is exhausted and the baby is not forthcoming the next step is CS
3 The baby does not descend into the birth canal even though the cervix is dilating.

Elective CS is when CS is planned even before the mother goes into a labor. This usually happens when the doctor has decided that the mother and baby would be at risk if labor is allowed to proceed . Some of the reasons are
1Preexisting conditions . If a woman has conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease sometimes the best option is CS particularly when the conditions are unable to be fully controlled with medication
2Size of the baby . Some babies are just too big at birth to be delivered naturally. This is why scans are done to keep up with the baby's weight
3 Pregnancy complications such as placenta previa which is when the placenta is covering the cervix making it impossible for the baby to be delivered normally
4 if the mother has had surgery like fibroid surgery. CS is usually recommended
5 If the mother has small hips CS may be the next option

The surgery itself does not usually last too long and most times spinal anesthesia similar to the epidural is used so the mother is awake during the procedure but she wont feel any pain. An incision is made in the lower abdomen through to the uterus and the baby is brought out, most people say they feel a kind of pulling when the baby is being brought . Once the baby is out the mothers abdomen and uterus is stitched back and plaster or bandage is attached to the surgery site and the mother is moved out of the theater for observation. The baby is cleaned up and brought to the mom. After a couple of hours the mom is moved to her room and she will be in hospital for at least 72 hours after delivery for monitoring. By this time most mothers are moving around on their own and not in too much pain. The main issue with CS apart from risk associated with any surgery is the pain that comes after the surgery. The best thing is to ask for painkillers when the pain is much and as the days go by the pain reduces. You will also be educated on how to care for your surgery site

Very educative, though i believe since you have not done Cs, you may not be in position of stating all the experience.

Anyways a friend that had her two children through CS was like telling me she feels like giving birth everyday.

At first baby she did not prefer Cs but it was recommended to her. You know system is different .

In all every method of delivery has its own risk including vagina delivery, i was at the hospital last year a lady came complaining how she cannot control her pee anymore that she usually have some pressure under there and she delivered through vaginal.

beeijeoma:
Continuation

Epidural is used when a woman does not want to experience pain during labor and delivery. It is like anesthesia and causes one to loose sensation from the waist down so the mother is in labor but she is not experiencing any pain. The epidural is administered via the spine and it is usually administered between 4 and 5cm. I remember when it was time for the epidural I was asked to sit and arch my back outwards, my back was cleaned with antiseptic wipes and the catheter through which the drugs will be administered was put in my spine via an injection. It was not really painful just like a pinch and immediately the drugs entered my system that was it . I didn't feel any pain from the contractions but I was not able to move my legs as I was numb from the waist down. A monitor was attached to my stomach to keep track of the baby's heartrate and my contractions. I was scared when I was going to be injected but I am so glad I took the epidural. I had experienced labor pain 2ce before so I was grateful for the pain relief. It has its risks just like any other procedure some people suffer from headaches, back ache but I was lucky I didn't experience any of that . Some people also find it hard to push with an epidural but I did not , my baby was out in less than 15mins. I noticed that it slowed down my labor so I was given Pitocin to help speed things up. After I got home I noticed my hip area was a bit weak kind of and it maybe because of how my legs were positioned during delivery

Assisted delivery is just delivery using forceps or a vacuum . I am not sure how common this because I do not know anyone that has gone through the process. It is used when the mother in labor is unable to push on her own so the doctor uses the vacuum which is like a suction or the forceps to help deliver the baby.

Cesarean section or CS is delivery by surgery and is used for a variety of reasons. You have cases where it is termed emergency surgery meaning the mother is already in labor or has tried a normal delivery but something now happens along the way that has brought about a need for surgery. Some of the reasons for emergency CS are
1 Distress or tiredness of the baby. This is when the baby's heart rate starts dropping dangerously during labor
2 Tiredness of the mom . If the mom has been in labor for so long that she is exhausted and the baby is not forthcoming the next step is CS
3 The baby does not descend into the birth canal even though the cervix is dilating.

Elective CS is when CS is planned even before the mother goes into a labor. This usually happens when the doctor has decided that the mother and baby would be at risk if labor is allowed to proceed . Some of the reasons are
1Preexisting conditions . If a woman has conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease sometimes the best option is CS particularly when the conditions are unable to be fully controlled with medication
2Size of the baby . Some babies are just too big at birth to be delivered naturally. This is why scans are done to keep up with the baby's weight
3 Pregnancy complications such as placenta previa which is when the placenta is covering the cervix making it impossible for the baby to be delivered normally
4 if the mother has had surgery like fibroid surgery. CS is usually recommended
5 If the mother has small hips CS may be the next option

The surgery itself does not usually last too long and most times spinal anesthesia similar to the epidural is used so the mother is awake during the procedure but she wont feel any pain. An incision is made in the lower abdomen through to the uterus and the baby is brought out, most people say they feel a kind of pulling when the baby is being brought . Once the baby is out the mothers abdomen and uterus is stitched back and plaster or bandage is attached to the surgery site and the mother is moved out of the theater for observation. The baby is cleaned up and brought to the mom. After a couple of hours the mom is moved to her room and she will be in hospital for at least 72 hours after delivery for monitoring. By this time most mothers are moving around on their own and not in too much pain. The main issue with CS apart from risk associated with any surgery is the pain that comes after the surgery. The best thing is to ask for painkillers when the pain is much and as the days go by the pain reduces. You will also be educated on how to care for your surgery site

beeijeoma:

My dear the pregnancy symptoms you are experiencing are normal and there is really nothing you can do about it. What I also noticed is that the older one gets the more exhausting pregnancy is. You alone know how you are feeling, don't let anyone make you feel like you are neglecting your duties. If you have the energy to do housework do it , if you cant leave it. When I was pregnant for number 3 I was on bedrest from 14 weeks till I delivered, my hubby had to do the cooking and shopping and caring for the older kids because we didn't have help. He did not complain because on a normal day I am not a lazy person, the situation just could not be helped. Hopefully all your symptoms will start to ease by the 2nd trimester and you will be strong enough to do stuff around the house.

Thanks dear

Hi dear , my wife is a ftm and she's so scared of the whole process of giving birth , she thinks ks and cries every night now knowing that anytime from this week she will be giving birth ,more so she keeps having malaria even after just having malaria treatment in the hospital and she's in week 38, the malaria has started again, please do you have some words of advise through the whole process ... She needs those words and how to go about it .I will appreciate your response please