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A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor, delivery, and postpartum care.
The best time to create your birth plan is during your third trimester, around weeks 32-36.
Share your birth plan with your provider, hospital, doula, and support people before labor begins.
Your birth plan should express preferences while remaining open to changes based on medical needs.
Labor has three main stages: early/active labor, pushing and delivery, and delivery of the placenta.
Generally, head to the hospital when contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour.
Options range from natural methods like breathing and movement to medications like epidurals.
Many positions can help manage pain and promote labor progress, from walking to hands-and-knees.
An epidural is regional anesthesia that blocks pain in the lower body during labor.
Skin-to-skin means placing your naked baby directly on your bare chest immediately after birth.
Delayed cord clamping means waiting 1-3 minutes after birth before cutting the umbilical cord.
Common procedures include vitamin K shot, eye ointment, hearing test, and newborn screening.
WHO recommends delaying baby's first bath for at least 24 hours after birth.
Breastfeeding within the first hour supports bonding, milk supply, and gives baby colostrum.
Common positions include cradle hold, cross-cradle, football hold, and side-lying.
Formula is a safe, nutritious option that provides complete nutrition for your baby.
Physical recovery takes 6-8 weeks, but emotional adjustment continues longer.
Seek immediate care for heavy bleeding, fever, severe headache, or thoughts of harming yourself or baby.
Baby blues are mild and resolve within 2 weeks; PPD is more severe and requires treatment.
Pack essentials for you, baby, and your partner, but keep it minimal - hospitals provide a lot.
Typical stays are 24-48 hours for vaginal birth and 2-4 days for cesarean.
Planned c-sections are scheduled in advance; unplanned happen during labor when needed.
A gentle c-section incorporates more natural birth elements into the surgical experience.
Dilation measures how open your cervix is, from 0 to 10 centimeters.
Effacement measures how thin your cervix has become, expressed as a percentage.
Station describes how far down baby has descended into your pelvis, measured from -3 to +3.
Braxton Hicks are 'practice' contractions that can happen throughout pregnancy.
The mucus plug is a protective barrier that seals your cervix during pregnancy.
Your 'water breaking' is the rupture of the amniotic sac surrounding your baby.
Failure to progress means labor has stalled - but it's not always as alarming as it sounds.
Induction means starting labor artificially before it begins on its own.
Fetal distress indicates baby may not be getting enough oxygen during labor.
APGAR is a quick assessment of your newborn's condition at 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
Vernix is the white, waxy coating protecting your baby's skin in the womb.
Meconium is your baby's first bowel movement - dark, sticky, and tar-like.
Lochia is the vaginal discharge you'll have for several weeks after giving birth.
Colostrum is the nutrient-rich 'liquid gold' your breasts produce before mature milk comes in.
Jaundice causes yellowing of baby's skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels.
The fourth trimester refers to the first 12 weeks after birth - a major transition for both you and baby.
Full term isn't just one date - it's a range, and the terminology has changed.
Breech means baby is positioned bottom-down instead of head-down in your uterus.
GBS is a common bacteria that can be passed to baby during birth if untreated.
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication involving high blood pressure and organ damage.
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy.
The 'eating for two' myth can lead to excessive weight gain - here's what you actually need.
Moderate caffeine is generally considered safe - up to 200mg per day.
Exercise is not only safe but recommended for most pregnant women.
Only about 5% of babies arrive on their due date - it's really an estimate.
VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean - and it's often a safe option.
The Bishop score helps predict whether labor induction is likely to succeed.
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