Healthy Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Having a baby? Congratulations! Being pregnant is one of the most amazing things that can happen in a woman’s life. It can get overwhelming and there is a ton of information that you have to know. But first, you have to keep in mind that being healthy during and after your pregnancy is really important. You have to take good care of yourself both physically and emotionally. Doing these will benefit you and your baby. Keep yourself healthy with these easy tips.

• Exercise daily. Staying active will give you the strength and endurance you need to carry the weight you will gain during your pregnancy and handle the physical stress of labor.

• Always take time to give yourself a break.

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet.

• Never drink alcohol during your pregnancy. It can reach your baby fast and can increase your baby’s risk for serious problems. Drinking also increases the chance for miscarriage and stillbirth.

• Don’t take drugs that aren’t prescribed by your doctor. They may harm your baby.

• Stop smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke. It can increase the risk of premature delivery, miscarriage, growth problems.

 

Don’t put yourself and your baby at risk. Feel wonderful and healthy during your pregnancy with the helping hands of midwifes from Spartanburg Birth Center.

Easy Tips to a Healthy Pregnancy

You need a balanced diet to help your baby get all the nutrients he needs to grow at a healthy rate. It is natural to gain weight during your pregnancy and it is, in fact, healthy. Your body needs to change to be able to help you grow your baby and give him the best start in his life. An average woman needs 300 healthy calories more a day that she did before her pregnancy, which will help achieve the right weight while you’re pregnant. Maximize the nutrition you get and avoid junk food.

 

Don’t remove fat from your diet, but as much as possible, pick healthy fat. For example, instead of buying a doughnut or any pastry, why not choose avocado? Its monounsaturated fats are better for you, plus, it has vitamins C and K. Eat foods that gives a lot of nutrition. Great picks like yogurt contains calcium, protein and potassium. It is also a good source of probiotics. It is also important to stay hydrated but make sure to stay away from soda and other sugary fruit drinks. They are full of empty calories. Water, milk, and vegetable juices are way better.

 

Eat smart. Always make sure you are getting a broad range of nutrients. Munch on fruits and vegetables as often as possible. Keep yourself healthy for your baby. If you are considering natural birth, visit Spartanburg Birth Center.

Exercises for Easy Pregnancy and Labor

As a mother who chose to give birth naturally, you should be prepared for the pain and the difficulties that may come with it. No labor comes pain-free, but there are ways to make it easier and smoother. Prenatal exercises open the pelvis and position the baby properly. They can help your body prepare for childbirth. They also help deliver the child quicker and safer. Before you perform these exercises, you must consult with certified professional midwives to make sure that it is within your limits depending on your state of pregnancy. 

 

Walking, Leaning

These are movements that we may not deem as exercises in our non-pregnant state, but they are very helpful in pregnancy. Walking improves your balance. It is also very helpful even minutes before the actual childbirth because of the pull of gravity. Leaning also helps in positioning the baby and preparing your lower body for the rough work during labor.

 

Proper Sitting

Proper sitting stabilizes your pelvis and strengthens your core as the pelvis tilts forwards when you sit upright. You can also sit on an exercise ball to properly align the pelvis and position the baby optimally. Cross-legged sitting, on the other hand, pushes the uterus forward.

Pelvic Rocks

Pelvic rocks relieve backaches, strengthen abdominal muscles, and make your back flexible. Get down on your knees and hands, keep your head in line with your back. Pull your stomach in with your back arched upward. Hold this position for a few seconds then relax your stomach and back allowing your stomach to sag. Repeat this up to ten times.

There are so many other exercises that you can do to achieve an easy labor and delivery. Visit your midwife at the Spartanburg Birth Center to learn more of these exercises. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and to try these exercises as long as you are allowed to do them. Pregnancy is tough, but there are ways to make it easier and also more beautiful.

What’s in Your Birthing Bag?

You’re never really sure when your bag of water will break and when you’ll become fully dilated. Even before you hit the 37th week, you should be ready to rush to the birthing center. Your birthing bag should contain everything that you need during and after your childbirth so that when true labor comes, you’ll be all set and organized.

For the Mother

There’s a lot on the list and sometimes it depends on how meticulous you are with your hygiene and other personal preferences. But here’s a quick run-through of the essentials: for proper breast support, pack nursing bras, nursing pillows, and breast pads. These items will cater to your tender breasts and will help you to breastfeed with ease. Bring a robe, socks, hair clips, slippers, and a going home outfit. These clothing items will keep you comfortable. Toiletries are a given and you must not forget to bring sanitary pads as you might still have blood flow. Lastly, bring all the documents, health cards, baby books, and other files that you will need.

For the Baby

There’s no doubt that you already have a closet full of new clothes for your newborn, but not everything should be in your birthing bag. Remember to bring only the essentials: hat, socks, mittens, receiving blankets, diapers, and a going home outfit. Also, you have to be ready with lots of wipes and an infant car seat and head support because you won’t be discharged from the hospital if you don’t have one.

You partner and your older children might also want to stay with you in the birthing center. You can also pack a separate bag for them. It’s very important to be ready so that your birthing experience will be smooth and convenient. If you need more help with your preparations, you can visit our Spartanburg Birth Center.

What Natural Childbirth is All About

Giving birth the natural way is something that all expecting mothers are either excited and curious about or afraid to even think about. Due to the development in the field of medicine, women are now given the chance to choose if they will give labor through natural birth or through caesarian operation. Through this blog post, we will give you an overview on what natural childbirth is all about.

Natural Birth: Why Do it?

Natural birth in the strictest sense is child labor without receiving any medication or medical procedures. Some mothers would say that giving birth naturally is like adding up to a woman’s burden. The pain will always be there and the procedure will sometimes be longer than usual. However, we should see natural childbirth in a different light. Child birth gives women the chance to feel more as a mother. You will feel more connected to your child as you bring him out into the world.

Keeping the Fear At Bay

Fear is the most common notion that comes first in the minds of many when it comes to natural childbirth. If ever you encounter people who pushes you to not go to natural childbirth because of the pain, do not listen to them. Prepare yourself in giving birth. Labor will be painful but your body is biologically designed to overcome that pain. Do exercise, have a walk, jog, keep moving. This will help you prepare your body for the upcoming labor. Just focus on what is going to be at the end of this journey and that is your child.

If you have any questions regarding natural childbirth, don’t hesitate to address your concerns to the committed midwives at the Spartanburg birth center.

Comfort Measures for Labor

Pain is perhaps one of the most frightening things about natural labor and childbirth. You simply can’t escape it. Using different comfort measures during the labor phase is a must. These measures may not be enough to take all the pain away, but they can help manage and minimize it so you can carry on with the whole childbirth process without medication. 

Types of Comfort Measures

First, gather tools that will make you comfortable. Put them together in a small bag for easy access. For instance, take with you a tea that you enjoy most, your favorite pillow or book, or maybe a scented candle that will make you feel at ease. Bring with you these things to help you relax during labor. Secondly, learn labor positions. Combine them and also be flexible because your baby also changes position as time goes by. Be familiar with the different positions as particular movements can be used to ease particular pains. Lastly, find an effective support group. Find a dedicated birthing center with a team that understands the beauty and challenges of natural childbirth. Orient your husband and learn about natural birthing comfort measures together. Nothing is as effective as a tight grasp and encouraging and loving words from your husband.

Natural childbirth will hurt. Labor will be tough. But as your pain level goes up a notch higher as your baby comes, you will surely see the beauty of it all. There must be a good reason why pain is a given element in this phenomenon. There are more comfort measures that are available. If you need to know more about them, you can simply ask for suggestions from the committed midwives at the Spartanburg birth center. Just as our name stands, we encourage you to acknowledge this labor of love, but rest assured that we are all in this together.

Birth Center or Hospital: Which One to Choose?

From the moment a woman realizes she’s pregnant, she has, more often than not, already decided where she would be welcoming her baby. Traditionally, more mothers are bound to choose a hospital, but options like an accredited birth centers are becoming more popular today. Both establishments have their pros and cons and for something as special as the birth of a child, making an informed decision the only way to go.

A Traditional Hospital Birth

Most parents are more comfortable in a hospital setting. The access to emergency medical care is
easy and an epidural is readily available when needed. It is also common to have a nurse with the mother through most of the labor, while the obstetrician comes in when delivery time comes closer. The downside to a hospital birth, however, is the impersonal interaction with the staff. Most mothers are forced to comply with strict rules and policies, which makes it intimidating and uncomfortable.

A Birth Center Delivery

A birth center is an alternative for parents who want a home-like environment for childbirth instead of a hospital. Places like the Spartanburg Birth Center offer tranquility and comfort while still providing quality mother and child care. A birth center is also less expensive than a hospital. It is important to note that mothers should have an uncomplicated and low-risk pregnancy because some birth centers are not equipped with an operating room for emergency care.

It takes careful consideration and planning before choosing a birthing place. Always have yourself, your comfort zone, and your baby in mind. Remember, an informed decision is the best decision.

Delivering with a Doula

The birthing process is scary and no mother wants to go through it feeling insecure… most especially when there are complications to be expected. During these situations, a birthing coach or a “doula” is an option expecting mothers can consider. These ladies provide extra support in the emotional, physical, and informational sense. Doulas help women through the challenges of childbirth, particularly during labor. They serve as a pillar of strength and support for expecting mothers and fathers alike throughout the whole pregnancy. A doula is fully dedicated to all of an expecting mother’s needs: after all, their name does mean “women’s servant” in Greek.

Benefits of Having a Doula by Your Side

Although a doula is not yet common practice in hospitals, there have already been several studies showing the positive effects of employing doulas. During childbirth, mothers experience shorter labors and fewer complications. The rates of caesarean deliveries, the need for oxytocin for faster labor, and the use of force are also all greatly reduced. Mothers in labor are also confident enough to decline the use of pain medication and epidurals when there is a doula by their side.

More mothers are satisfied with their childbirth and experience less postpartum depression after leaving the hospital or birth center. Because of the doula’s constant support and attention for the mothers, babies stay in the hospital for a shorter period and cases of special care are reduced. Mothers and babies are then able to bond faster through breastfeeding.

Doulas and Birth Centers

Pregnancy is a delicate time for a mother and her child. It’s important to find a right place and the right people as a support system. A place like the Spartanburg Birth Center and a doula by your side can give you the comfort and peace of mind you need when you’re in labor.

Keep Calm and Breathe through the Pain

Breathe in; breathe out. A new life is about to be welcomed into the world. Before you can hold your baby in your arms, there are still a lot of challenges you have to go through, but we know that it’s all worth it in the end. The most pressing and perhaps the most daunting aspect of child birth is the labor a mother has to go through. After all, it’s not called labor for nothing.

It is a well-known fact that pain is synonymous with childbirth, but it’s not something to fear, especially when you’ve come prepared and ready for the hours of labor to come. The first thing to keep in mind when you’re going through labor, especially if you are a first-time mother-to-be, is to relax. Next is to find an environment that’s soothing and comfortable for you during this time, while at the same time securing a team of capable experts that you can trust.

It is also true that some mothers are actually wary about giving birth in a hospital because it’s not a comfortable place where they feel safe and secure. This is why more and more expecting mothers and couples opt for the option like the Spartanburg Birth Center where they know they are both in good hands of professionals while remaining in a place that feels like home.

Giving birth is no easy task and managing the pain that comes with it can get exhausting, but don’t keep it all to yourself. Talking to someone you trust and rely on can help you calm your fears. Practice your rhythmic breathing and focus on something that makes you happy during contractions, this can take your mind off the pain.

Just relax, breathe, and surround yourself with people you trust. Before you know it, you’ll be cradling that bundle of joy you’ve been expecting for 9 months.

Have a Spartanburg Birth Center Help with Your Natural Childbirth

Giving birth to your child is a special occasion. For many women, this is usually done in hospitals with the assistance of doctors and medication. Admittedly, labor and the birth itself can be a painful experience. However, quite a few pregnant moms have eschewed anesthesia and decided to go for natural childbirth.

The Benefits

Deciding to undergo natural childbirth may seem foolhardy in this day and age, but doing so has several hidden benefits. First, without an epidural dulling the pain, labor is shorter. This is because the contractions help indicate the best times to push. Second, there is less chance of the need for medical intervention. Modern anesthesia disrupts the flow of labor and can necessitate the need for a C-section or similar methods.

Third, babies are born more alert; this is because the epidural that is often given to mothers is passed on to their children during labor. With more aware babies, breastfeeding can start earlier. Fourth, women can recover quicker. Anesthesia can put new mothers under a haze, while the natural endorphins produced by childbirth help calm them down and relieve pain naturally.

 

Preparing for It

For women who want to have a natural birth, there needs to be a bit of preparation. First, a birth plan is needed to ensure it goes smoothly. The plan should answer where you want to give birth and who will be attending you, whether it is a midwife or a doctor. An excellent example of a place to have your natural birth is the comfortable Spartanburg birth center, Labors of Love. Staffed with experienced midwives, it is a fine choice.

Secondly, a mother should prepare themselves for the birth emotionally, physically, and mentally. This is done by consulting midwives and reading about natural birth. Additionally, there are Lamaze classes that help ready women for the experience.

Be Natural

For South Carolina residents seeking assistance with their natural childbirth, the experienced Spartanburg midwifery of the staff at Labors of Love can help make things easier. So do not hesitate in choosing nature’s option.

What a Natural Childbirth at Spartanburg Birth Center Means to Mothers

Some mothers-to-be can’t help feeling fear over the thought of giving birth, and how childbirth is portrayed in pop culture has not exactly helped alleviate the fear of these moms-to-be. Parents have an option to give birth at a hospital setting. A natural childbirth at a Spartanburg birth center is also an option, and here are the advantages these moms-to-be can expect.

Freedom of Movement

Unlike hospital settings where the moms-to-be are asked to lie on their backs in hospital beds, natural childbirth allows them to move as freely as they choose to. This way, these would-be parents can use gravity to their advantage. Of course, an experienced midwife will still be there to assist these individuals and get whatever they need.

All-out Involvement

Giving birth in Spartanburg hospitals allow pregnant women to choose medications so they can manage the pain associated with childbirth. However, such medicines limit their senses and make them feel groggy to the point that they are unclear on what is happening to them. With natural childbirth at a Greenville birth center, moms-to-be have an opportunity to be involved 100 percent in the process, making them empowered.

Quick Recovery Time

With medications like epidurals, moms-to-be take time to fully recover and get back to their old self at which time they miss out on special moments. With natural childbirth with a midwife’s help, these moms are quick to bounce back; some can even take a walk right after giving birth if they so please. For this reason, these women who just gave birth can get right on with spending time with their precious babies and maybe even take a selfie or two for their social network accounts. After all, giving birth is a life-changing event.

Labor is not exactly a walk in the park, but it should not be such a struggle either. While hospital settings give moms plenty of options when it comes to medications, the potent effects can result in mothers not fully experiencing what labor is like. For this reason, natural childbirth is a good and equally safe alternative, but it affords priceless benefits.

Spartanburg Birth Center to Alleviate Strain on U.S. Healthcare System

For Mothers who’ve been undergoing a decent, healthy pregnancy, a hospital birth isn’t really an option if the child could be delivered within the familiar comforts of the home and the community. Couples feel a greater sense of camaraderie, friendship and community joy, and are entirely free to choose when and who could see and hold the baby in their arms, as opposed to most hospitals with their uptight restrictions.

If you’re an expectant mom wanting a home birthing within your community in Spartanburg, a birth center is your best bet. Specialized birthing centers are designed to exhibit the authentic feeling of giving birth within the familiar surroundings of home, while not compromising health care quality for both mother and child. Picking the most reputable center in your area wouldn’t be easy, but still can be done by taking note of several important details.

 

Factors to Consider in Choosing a Birth Center

Before choosing a birth center, always ask questions. Confirm if the birth attendants working with the center are licensed health care providers (i.e. physicians, nurse-midwife, and licensed midwife). Of course, you wouldn’t like being tended to by an inexperienced, unlicensed attendant when bringing the baby about.

 If possible, ask the center if they are duly accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. A licensed Spartanburg midwifery and birthing center is likely to have top-notch facilities, health care practices, and customer recommendations. Aside from the basic health care facilities, they are recognized for their adequate safety amenities like fire hazards, smoke alarms, and emergency exits/plans. This way, your safety is assured in case something suddenly goes awry.

 

 As soon as the basic concerns are met, the expectant couple should be allowed an orientation and tour of the entire center. Take note of the facility’s cleanliness, organization, health care specifications, and if the staff are both professional and friendly. Once the final expectations are fulfilled, it’s time to get down to business and plan for the big day.

What to Expect When You're Expecting... to Give Birth in a Birth Center

Despite all its known advantages, there would still be moms or couples that couldn’t bear the prospect of giving birth in a hospital. Sometimes, it would even be looked at as a place reserved for sick people, which can ruin the mood of the momentous occasion of childbirth. However, delivering a baby at home may not be so appealing either; the lack of professional health care can lead to increased risks.

So, where do picky moms go from here? The answer is simple: a birth center. Cozier and more relaxed than a hospital setting but not lacking adequate health care facilities, the birth center is a great choice for expectant mothers who have undergone fairly healthy pregnancies.

What to Expect From a Birth Center-Based Childbirth

For hopeful couples living in bustling cities like Spartanburg, a birth center is their best bet if they’re looking for an “in-between” child delivery. Designed to be less restrictive and cheaper than hospitals, birth centers do not compromise healthcare quality. Licensed physicians, midwives and/or nurses are all available to tend to Mommy and baby at a moment’s notice.

Generally, only women with low-risk pregnancies are admitted into a birth center in cities like Spartanburg, with midwifery a readily-accessible healthcare option (if a physician or nurse isn’t available). Healthy pregnancies often result in smooth childbirth, and if such an event occurs, the family is allowed to go home shortly–maybe even a few hours–after delivery. They can stay longer, too, if they would like to rest for a bit.

Immediate medical assistance is available if needed, but only for minor concerns. After all, while birth centers can offer a choice of transfer to a hospital, they’re mainly about happy, smooth deliveries, not to mention sending the family home to be with each other from day one. In the end, minimal birthing complications and a happier day is what everyone aims for, right?

Guidelines in Choosing the Best Available Spartanburg Birth Center

For Mothers who’ve been undergoing a decent, healthy pregnancy, a hospital birth isn’t really an option if the child could be delivered within the familiar comforts of the home and the community. Couples feel a greater sense of camaraderie, friendship and community joy, and are entirely free to choose when and who could see and hold the baby in their arms, as opposed to most hospitals with their uptight restrictions.

 If you’re an expectant mom wanting a home birthing within your community in Spartanburg, a birth center is your best bet. Specialized birthing centers are designed to exhibit the authentic feeling of giving birth within the familiar surroundings of home, while not compromising health care quality for both mother and child. Picking the most reputable center in your area wouldn’t be easy, but still can be done by taking note of several important details.

Factors to Consider in Choosing a Birth Center

Before choosing a birth center, always ask questions. Confirm if the birth attendants working with the center are licensed health care providers (i.e. physicians, nurse-midwife, and licensed midwife). Of course, you wouldn’t like being tended to by an inexperienced, unlicensed attendant when bringing the baby about.

If possible, ask the center if they are duly accredited by the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers. A licensed Spartanburg midwifery and birthing center is likely to have top-notch facilities, health care practices, and customer recommendations. Aside from the basic health care facilities, they are recognized for their adequate safety amenities like fire hazards, smoke alarms, and emergency exits/plans. This way, your safety is assured in case something suddenly goes awry.

As soon as the basic concerns are met, the expectant couple should be allowed an orientation and tour of the entire center. Take note of the facility’s cleanliness, organization, health care specifications, and if the staff are both professional and friendly. Once the final expectations are fulfilled, it’s time to get down to business and plan for the big day.

Considerations before Securing Midwifery Assistance in Spartanburg

While obstetrician-gynecologists are usually the people to see whenever a baby is nearing due, do not forget that an aptly skilled and experienced midwife can also provide relevant health care to an expectant mother during her childbirth – especially if the delivery is planned to be at a birthing center or home setting. Mothers who’ve had no significant complications during their entire pregnancy often opt for a home birthing since it is cheaper, more natural and allows for more time to spend with their babies once they have delivered.

However, hiring either a freelance or a birth center-affiliated midwife needs considerations beforehand. For freelancers, it is important to interview a prospect to gauge if she would be a proper fit. Questions can range from her personal life, educational background and relevant experience – pretty much like conducting a job interview on a new applicant.

It is a different situation for an affiliated midwife. Any reputable birth center in Spartanburg and other areas have in-house midwives with adequate training and experience under their belts. Usually, while consulting a center’s services, they will ask couples to choose from their roster. Interviews ensue to make sure that either one of their choices would suit their needs once the baby is due, much like the process for selecting a freelancer.

Next, it’s time for money talk – in this case, service fees. Always expect that a freelance practitioner or someone affiliated with those like Spartanburg’s midwifery and birth centers charge lower fees than a hospital-based physician. The nationwide average flat-fee for midwives range from $1,500 to $5,000. In addition, freelancers charge less than birth-center affiliated practitioners. Deals are often closed thru a signed contract.

Remember that hiring a midwife doesn’t necessarily compromise a mother and her child’s safety. Midwives are licensed professionals trained about the rigors and ways of childbirth, and always be assured that the experts they are, they will churn out efficient service 9.5 times out of 10.

Factors of Birthing via a Birth Center in Greenville or Other Areas

Delivering a healthy baby is one of those greatest dreams for a mother – along with the desire to keep both herself and the child safe. A safe delivery usually means a week’s stay in the hospital on average; under the watchful eye of experienced doctors and nurses willing to respond to mommy and baby’s needs at a moment’s notice.

However, this option would sometimes be ditched for natural childbirth – a home birth, if you will. Some mothers have preferred this method, and fortunately, reputable birth centers like in Greenville or other areas offer that very choice without compromising safety. Usually, women who’ve had no significant complications during pregnancy choose to deliver their child in the comfort of a home environment. Attended by trained midwives, mothers delivering their children in birthing centers are still entitled to advantageous privileges, as much as what hospital physicians and facilities can provide.

In out-of-hospital births, parents have all the control over the delivery. They are freer to move around, call friends and relatives in to visit, and even do their normal daily activities. Hospitals would often enforce strict rules as to when the parents can see and hold their baby, and whoever is authorized to see them at specific times. Birth centers in Spartanburg and all other areas do not implement such strict rules.

One main factor that prompts mothers to choose a birthing center is the sense of community and fellowship. The feeling of having your relatives, friends and close neighbors by your side through the entire delivery process gives a strong sense of social security and familial bond. This is mainly due to most women’s desire to give birth to their child within a familiar environment. Aside from this, birth centers charge lower service fees – this bit’s pretty self-explanatory.

However, always remember that in planning an out-of-hospital birth entails adequate knowledge about the condition of the pregnancy. If there are no significant complications for the entire conception’s duration, then it’s best to push through with a birth center delivery – it’s cheaper, natural and gives mommy, daddy and baby much more time together.

Being Healthy for Two: A Guide to Pregnancy Health

Basic Prenatal Care: A Safe Childbirth in a Spartanburg Birth Center

Every expecting mother in Spartanburg desires to give birth to a healthy baby and to remain healthy herself following the labor to secure the baby’s growth. Fortunately, maintaining a healthy pregnancy is simple, and virtually all possible tips have already been published in books and online. All it takes is the determination to put those tips into practice throughout the prenatal period. Here’s a reminder of the basic prenatal care for expecting mothers.

During pregnancy, the mother is expected to be more careful in choosing the food she eats. The temperature and processing of her meals must always be kept in check, or else they might cause more harm to the baby’s health than good despite their nutrients. For instance, unpasteurized dairy products and inadequately heated meat can lead to bacteria or parasitic infection.

Proper nutrition has to be paired with regular exercise. This improves blood circulation, which allows the child to absorb much needed nutrients. Keeping this routine for nine months will reduce any risk of complication during childbirth. Most Spartanburg midwifery specialists recommend combining simple workout regimen with balanced diet containing protein- and iron-rich food, Vitamin C, calcium, etc.

Choosing to bear a child should come with the decision to give up some bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption. It’s a known fact that these habits can lead to some serious complications, including miscarriage, premature labor and delivery, and abnormal growth. Therefore, it helps to eliminate any form of vice that poses health risks even before the start of the prenatal period.

The entire pregnancy should be monitored by a skilled obstetrician/gynecologist. This professional will help the mother cope with the physical and psychological challenges that come with pregnancy and help her every step of the way to give birth to a health child. She will recommend the right Spartanburg birth center where the mother can safely and successfully deliver.

Getting Ready to Give Birth

Preparing for Your Labor and Delivery in a Spartanburg Birth Center

Despite all the thorough preparations couples do for a childbirth, the labor and delivery experience usually ends up intense. A mixture of powerful emotions starts to swathe the porches of hospitals in Spartanburg and Greenville whenever an expecting mother is in labor. This is actually normal as birthing is a painful yet fulfilling experience. However, a simple mistake due to lack of preparation can lead to complications that a couple might regret for the rest of their lives.

How, then, do you prepare for labor and delivery? While this phase of the entire pregnancy normally takes less than a day to finish, preparing for it may involve some overwhelming tasks. Aside from keeping healthy practices in check throughout the prenatal period, you should start planning how the delivery should go. Consult your practitioner for options basing on your condition. Prenatal appointments are crucial as they help your practitioner monitor your health.

Decide where you want to give birth. A recognized Spartanburg birth center can be ideal if you want to be handled only by medical experts specializing in pregnancy and childbirth. This will increase your confidence on the result of the delivery. The facilities in a child birth center offer just the right environment for childbirth and they are fortified with the necessary equipment that can aid in the delivery should complications occur.

If you’ve been performing the regular exercise recommended by your doctor, particularly the Kegel exercises, you have a greater chance for safe and less strenuous delivery. This exercise will strengthen your pelvic floor and vaginal muscles, preventing trauma in the abdominal area of your body.

Increase your knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth, including your understanding of the signs that the baby is about to come out. Also, knowing what to expect during a typical labor will reduce your anxiety over the discomfort you will be experiencing. Less anxiety leads to normal birthing, and is therefore vital in the entire labor and delivery process in a Greenville birth center.

The Midwife Effect?

From the moment you decide to have a baby, it is important to start considering the kind of care you would need throughout the pregnancy and during the birth. While the majority of expectant mothers rely on doctors, there is a growing minority who opt for midwives to be their primary care provider as can be the option in a Spartanburg birth center.

In a scientific review published December of last year, The Cochrane Library links positive outcomes to pregnancies with midwife-led care. The review identified 13 studies involving over 16,000 women who saw midwives all throughout their pregnancy.

Several benefits were identified for the women who favored midwives to care for them during their pregnancy. There were fewer instances that required epidurals, episiotomies and instruments such as forceps during delivery. The review also showed the reduced risk of the mothers going into preterm labor or losing the baby before 24 weeks.

An important discovery in the review is the marked similarity of outcomes between low-risk and higher-risk pregnancies. This is a notable development because it means that something about having continuous midwife care helped the more high risk pregnancies have more positive outcomes.

All over the country including Spartanburg, midwifery is seeing increased interest. This is all good news for women everywhere. As more information is being brought forward, the more choices are given to mothers-to-be. With continued research, more and more women could benefit from a more personal and natural approach to childbirth with the assistance of a midwife resulting in greater benefits and fewer interventions.

Why You Should Consider Water Birth

We all know the calming effects of a nice warm bath at the end of the day. Imagine being able to get the same positive effects during childbirth with the experience provided by a Spartanburg birth center.

Water birth is an alternative birthing method seeing increasing popularity in recent years. It involves immersing the mother in a birthing pool filled with warm water. The mother may remain immersed right until the baby is born or they can remain in the water through the labor and get out for the delivery.

Mothers who have opted for this method of childbirth often report such a positive experience that they would make the same choice in the future. So what makes water birth preferable to traditional methods?

Being immersed in warm water helps to make the mother feel more relaxed and at ease. This calm state   helps to keep the mother's breathing and blood pressure under control. It also increases the production of pain-inhibiting endorphins. This natural reaction to being in a safe and calming environment reduces the need for drugs and other interventions.

Floating freely in the birthing pool gives freedom of movement for the mother as she goes through the motions of childbirth. The buoyancy allows ease of repositioning so the mother is able to find the most comfortable position for her and the baby. In addition, the flow of warm water improves uterine contractions as well as blood circulation.

By providing a natural environment similar to that of the womb, water birth is able to provide a comfortable birthing experience in Spartanburg. Birth center, hospital, or home, water birth can be done in any location. A baby's transition from the safety of the mother's womb to the outside world should be as easy and painless as possible making water birth a safe and comfortable option.