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Birth Options for Your Unique Delivery

The birth of your baby is one of the most important moments of your life

It's never too soon to start planning for your baby's birth. As your due date gets closer, you will have plenty of questions. It's also normal to have thoughts and feelings about labor and delivery, including fear of the unknown.

Childbirth classes, tours and routine visits with your provider will help you learn more about your birth options. This includes everything from your birthing environment (lighting, sound, music, etc.) to labor support (spouse/partner, doula, etc.) to pain management options and more.

A Unique Labor & Delivery Experience for You at Bryan

Bryan Family Birthplace has many options to help you welcome your little one to the world. Whether you prefer a natural birth, pain medications or other methods to help during labor, the choice is yours.

Learning your options early in your pregnancy and talking to your doctor will help you decide what is best for you.

What are my options?

Low-Intervention Delivery

A low-intervention birth means as little interference with the birth process as possible. This could mean a natural, non-medicated labor and delivery, it could also mean receiving an epidural for pain management with few other interventions. Or it might mean nitrous oxide for pain management instead of an epidural. It's your unique experience and can be designed solely on your preferences.

A low-intervention birth might be right for you if you are:

  • Carrying a single baby
  • Delivering your baby between 37 weeks and 42 weeks of your pregnancy
  • Have no complex medical conditions
  • Have not previously had a cesarean section (c-section)
  • Do not require induction for medical reasons

Every person is different, so it's important to talk to your provider about whether a low-intervention birth is right for you. Even for high-risk patients, some low-intervention options may still be available.

Pain Medication Options for Delivery

  • Nitrous Oxide is a blended mixture of 50% nitrous oxide and 50% oxygen managed by the patient inhaling through a mask. For some, it "takes the edge off" the peak of the contraction and reduces anxiety. There are no known immediate effects on your baby. You may choose to use nitrous as your sole pain management option, or before having an epidural in place. However, they will not be used together at the same time. Learn more about nitrous oxide.
  • Epidural Anesthesia is given through a catheter (small, flexible tube) placed in your lower back and numbs sensations in the uterus, abdomen and lower back. It can stay in place to provide continuous pain-relieving medication until your baby is born. Once the epidural is in place, you'll receive continuous fetal monitoring, frequent blood pressure checks and possibly a urinary catheter. It will require you to stay in bed because of the numbness in your legs.
  • IV Pain Medication can be administered through an IV for quick pain relief. It enters your bloodstream and affects your entire body. While it works quickly, and does not numb your muscles, so mobility remains possible, there are potential side effects, for both you and your baby, to consider. It's important to discuss with your provider.

Comfort Items During Labor

  • Peanut-shaped balls are especially useful for added comfort and pain relief while lying on your side.
  • Birthing stools add support during labor and delivery by resting or leaning on an inflatable birthing stool.
  • Birthing balls provide many benefits during labor, including back pain relief and new positioning.
  • Coaching, massage and breathing techniques: Our highly trained team is ready to be by your side through your entire labor and delivery process. This may include encouragement and motivation, positioning techniques, a calming touch or even a back rub, along with patterned breathing guidance. Their support is endless.
  • Hydrotherapy: The use of hot water in our whirlpool tubs during labor can provide a soothing and calming experience.
  • Massage, yoga and labor positioning: Our labor and delivery staff are trained in position and labor support. They are happy to share their expertise by showing new labor positions and even a calming touch or a back rub, to aide in providing comfort and pain relief.

Birth Environment

Ways to enhance your experience during labor and delivery may include:

  • Dimmed lights
  • Quiet environment
  • Use of bath tub/shower
  • Playing your own music
  • Wearing your own clothes
  • Using your own comfort items
  • Using your own essential oils
  • Sound machine
  • Photos

Support Person

The person you choose to be with you during labor and delivery will help you get through the experience more comfortably. Whether you choose your partner or spouse, a family member or a close friend, it's important they understand they will be actively giving you help and support through each stage of labor and delivery.

Consider having your labor support person attend childbirth classes with you.

Your labor support person can:

  • Support comfort measures, like adjusting pillows or changing positions
  • Help you relax through touch, massage or suggesting new relaxation methods
  • Time how close together contracts are, and how long they last
  • Implement the skills learned in your childbirth class, like breathing and visualization
  • Provide updates to family and friends as you wish

Some people prefer to have the continuous support of a doula during labor and delivery. A doula is trained to work with families before and after their baby is born.

Monitoring You & Your Baby

Internal and/or external monitors are used to keep a close eye on the health of you and your baby as you progress through labor and delivery. Mobile monitoring allows you the freedom to move around your suite, try different positions and even walk the halls during labor.

  • External monitoring is used to check your baby's heartbeat during labor and measures your contractions. This is done by placing an electronic fetal monitor on your belly.
  • Internal monitoring may be recommended if closer monitoring is needed.
  • Mobile telemetry can be used to track your contractions and the heart rates of you and your baby through mobile monitoring.

Delivering Your Baby

The final stage of labor is the delivery of your baby, either a vaginal birth or cesarean birth (c-section). Talk with your provider about each of these options to know what to expect and share your preferences.

For example, for a vaginal birth:

  • Do you want to view the birth using a mirror?
  • Do you want to touch your baby's head as it crowns?
  • Do you prefer natural tearing versus an episiotomy (an incision to enlarge the vaginal opening for birth)?
  • Do you have a preference on who cuts the umbilical cord?

Other items to consider:

  • Do you approve of the routine newborn cares? (Skin-to-skin, vitamin K, eye ointment, hepatitis B vaccine)
  • If your baby is a boy, will you have him circumcised?
  • How do you plan to feed your baby? (Exclusive breastfeeding, pumped breastmilk, formula or a combination of breastmilk and formula)

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