Preggie Pals
“The Stages of Labor”
Episode 20, September 10th, 2012

Please be advised, this transcription was performed from a company independent of New Mommy Media, LLC. As such, translation was required which may alter the accuracy of the transcription.

[00:00.00]

[Theme Music]

Rosemary Mason: Giving birth happens in three stages. Understanding the stages can better prepare you for your own labor and delivery because you’ll know what to expect. Hi! I am Rosemary Mason. I am retired child birth educator and a current post-partum doula and a lactation specialist. Today, we are going to be exploring the stages of labor and this is Preggie Pals, Episode 20.

[Theme Music/Intro]

Sunny Gault: Welcome to Preggie Pals, broadcasting from the Birth Education Centre of San Diego. I am your host, Sunny Gault. Have you subscribed to our Preggie Pals newsletter yet? It’s a great way to learn more about the latest episodes and to learn ways you can get involved with our show. You can subscribe through our website https://www.preggiepals.com and you can now take Preggie Pals wherever you go with our free apps, both on Android and Apple devices. You can listen to our most recent episodes. You can star your favorite episodes and you can get instant access to our social networking sites. And also, just a quick note, Preggie Pals is also looking for panelist, bloggers and experts to join our team. If you want more information on that, visit our website. Okay, lets learn little bit more about our panelist. Today, here in the studio, we have two new panelist. So Kate, let’s start with you.

Kate Gittins: Hi, my name is Kate Gittins. I am 29 years old and I work for Pearson Education. I am due August 30^th and I do not know the gender of my baby. This is my first child and I will have a hospital medicated birth.

Sunny Gault: Ok, and Jackie.

Jackie Kleber: Hi, I am Jackie Kleber, I am 25. I am a kinda of practicing birth doula [Laughs].

Sunny Gault: On your way, kinda of things. [Laughs]

Jackie Kleber: I’m on the journey. My due date is November 29^th, it is a girl but this is a surrogacy. So, I have one child he is 3 years old and I am going to have a natural hospital birth at Pomerado.

Sunny Gault:  All right, Welcome to the show ladies.

[Theme Music]

[Featured Segments: Prenatal Fitness Tips]

Sunny Gault: Before we start todays show, here’s some great pre-natal fitness tips.

Lisa Druxman: Hi Preggie Pals. I am Lisa Druxman, chief founding Mom at Stroller’s Strides where fitness is fun, you gotta have a great time with your baby and you get to meet other new moms and I am here today to answer your questions about fitness and pregnancy. So one question that I get especially in summer heat is; is there a concern about Hyperthermia and is there a concern about my baby overheating. And, it is a really concern but it’s not so much that you shouldn’t be exercising. You just need to do it safely. If the weather is really extreme then I would recommend that you do exercise in a cooler environment. If you’re gonna be outside then it is important to wear you know the moisture wicking clothing or light colored and make sure they are staying hydrated. But, the body is so amazing when you’re pregnant because your body actually protects itself and the baby protects itself when you’re pregnant and your better able to dissipate heat when pregnant then when not pregnant. So you’re actually able to cool yourself down better so that you’re cooling the baby down. So, really you shouldn’t be too concerned you should be careful any time where like clothes exercises in cool environments but don’t let it keep up from exercising. I mean, my general rule of thumb is, if it feels good to you it’s probably feeling just great to the baby. This is trying not a time for the heated yoga classes by any means. I am big fan of them, but this isn’t the right time for them. So go take a safe pre-natal class and again just listen to your body. Thanks for listening to today’s tip and be sure to listen to Preggie Pals for more great pregnancy tips.

[Theme Music]

Sunny Gault:  Today we are breaking down the labor and delivery process. What is exactly is happening to your body, when is it happening and why does it need to happen? Joining us here on the studio is Rosemary Mason. She is a post-partum doula whose helped many women through these different stages of labor. Rosemary, welcome to the show.

Rosemary Mason: Thank you.

Sunny Gault: I know you are up pretty late about some twins, so we really appreciate you being here in the studio with us.

Rosemary Mason:  Happy to be here. Thanks.

Sunny Gault: Okay, so let’s talk little bit about these stages. First of all, why is it important that we know more about the different stages. I mean our bodies naturally gonna do it, why do we have to know about it?

Rosemary Mason: I think everyone likes more information in what’s happening with their bodies, so that’s why we take classes. We wanna know about breast feeding; we might, we that’s we take our child birth education classes to understand when we go through these phases and you won’t be so afraid. I think the more knowledge we have the better we feel about things.

Sunny Gault: Ok, now a lot of pregnant women wanna know especially if this is their first, when we talk about labor and delivery we wanna know how long is the process; and I know that it is a loaded question for long time. [Laughs]

[00:05.06]

Rosemary Mason: It’s a long time. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: Yeah right, but totally worth it. So is there an average length lets just talk about for first time moms.

Rosemary Mason: You know, I think first time moms anywhere between 8 to 12 hours is kinda of the norms sometimes we will go little shorter, sometimes it goes little later than that. And I am talking about actual hospital time not so much the time within the home. As you know there’s four stages of labor- and the first stage is just our early labor we are at home and we are just relaxing in our, body is going from 0 to 2; 3 to 4 centimeters and so those would be the things that you’d be at home when we you’re getting maybe little twinges, you maybe little backache, maybe it comes forward, maybe it comes down your legs. There’s so many different aspects of contractions and you had baby before; so whether any contractual or your contractions feeling like at those really stages?

Jackie Kleber: It was like a whole week before.

Rosemary Mason: Okay so you had the prodromal labor.

Jackie Kleber: Exactly, yup.

Rosemary Mason: That’s also another aspect of that early stages, when you think, “Oh! I am gonna go in labor and it’s not today. [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason:  Oh I am just kidding. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault:  So you’re talking about a week prior to your due date, okay so, you’re feeling down. And that’s different then Braxton’s hicks or we are talking about Braxton hicks.

Rosemary Mason: It’s the sort of Braxton hicks as well, once again your body is getting prepared to go down that labor path and it’s getting there more than away from it.

Sunny Gault: Okay Alright! Now I am curious Jackie with you, did you have any kind of child birth preparation method that you were exploring? Or you did hypnobirthing right in and you knew like that.

Jackie Kleber:  Oh no. I knew absolutely nothing.

Sunny Gault: Right so [Laughs], which I think a lot of us are in that position honestly so and that’s totally fine. I was just curious; so Rosemary do any of those child birth methods seem to whether summons or you’re talking about the Bradley method or whatever. Does that seem to affect the length of the birth, the labor and the delivery process?

Rosemary Mason: I think it does, and they give you have some education behind you. I think you kinda of know what’s gonna be kinda of expected and you kinda of; not as afraid I think that’s the biggest part, I think fear makes us tense up and the more we become, I’d say we become Barbie Dolls. And the more tense we are, you know, I can’t imagine Barbie having, I don’t know; no offense to Barbie; but Barbie would not have the best person in the world [Laughs]. I think Raggedy Ann is what you wanna aim for [Laughs]. Raggedy Ann saw really flexible where you know she just let everything go and it be really great, she has Andy with her and has pretty eyes so [Laughs].

Sunny Gault: No offense to Ken [Laughs].

Rosemary Mason: Ya, no offense to Ken, he would be off flying his plane.[Laughs].

Sunny Gault:  We also hear too if we given birth prior that the whole process could happen faster, is that true?

Rosemary Mason: I think that’s true too. I think your body is already in the groove and it just kinda goes right in to it and I think pushing’s is lot easier.

Jackie Kleber:  You know what to expect.

Rosemary Mason: You know what to expect and you just kinda go oh ya ok, we will get there when we get there.

Sunny Gault: Yeah.

Rosemary Mason:  Though as in sometimes our first time mommies have kinda see the get to the hospital a little too sooner, they’re gonna have hospital birth and I think they see something’s on the T.V about oh my gosh you know, never in T.V they have to get it down within 30 minutes or an hour to get that birth done.

Sunny Gault:  Right.

Rosemary Mason: if you really look at the clock in the wall its spinning in like hour after hour [Laughs] and I think it’s really important for those early stages to stay home, relax, bake bread, watch gone with the wind, get your things in order and, you know, maybe not, tell everyone in the world during that early labor cos sometimes outside forces make you go to the hospital when you really aren’t ready to go.

Kate Gittins: Yes, that’s my biggest fears like when to go, once you’ll start happening?

Rosemary Mason: Right, you’ll know you’ll just really you can talk through your contractions then you can stay home. If we remember that at the hospital there is no floor show, there are not giving you bunch of food and things like that. So, this is a good time to be home you know having some good clear liquids, just relaxing……

Sunny Gault: Eating.

Rosemary Mason:Yes and eating and letting that labor progress. We want the labor to get longer stronger and closer together, that’s it job.

Sunny Gault: Are there certain stages for women that are usually longer, shorter when we talk about?

Rosemary Mason: I think that early stage is the longest one.

Sunny Gault: Okay.

Rosemary Mason: I think that’s, you know, the body’s is getting prepped up  for everything that’s going on and I think that the newness of everything is starting to happen. The first stage of labor has three phases and that’s the early, active and transitional. So the early we are staying home relaxing and then we are going from 0 to 4 centimeters and once we get in to active labor, this is when we are about 4 centimeters, this is when we want to start thinking about maybe head knocked and where we are going to be delivering. It will be great to get there when you are 9 centimeters, good for you and that’s ok too. Active part is when things are really happening. Now, moms are not able to talk through the contractions. It’s a little more challenging for her. She may be thinking about medications at this time. And that’s kind of the longest come in next step and to it. Our transitional, that’s when you’re going from 7, once we get to like you know afford 7 centimeters in active we are going from 7 to 10 centimeters in our transitional, that’s the toughest part of labor but also the shortest hard to labor. This is when she wants to give up and I don’t wanna do this anymore and mostly likely we are checked at the time you are probably 8 or 9 centimeters and you only have maybe another 20 minutes to go. So this could be maybe only an hour. My personal transitional’s were only about 20 minutes and then I was pushing babies out.

[00:10.05]

Sunny Gault: Did you have all the training and stuff when you’re giving birth to your own children?

Rosemary Mason:  No, not at that time and maybe it was good, I don’t know but [Laughs]. It's very intense and you feel lots and lots of pressure and lot people think we have to go to the bathroom and that’s always a good sign as a birth doula you know as you'll find out Jackie, it's like oh goodie, [Laughs] she’s feeling really bad and she is throwing up and she feels like she has to……

Sunny Gault: Here we go.

Rosemary Mason: Here we go, yeah. As a birth doula’s we love fluids coming out of new mommies [Laughs]. So we think it’s really fun that your throwing up and things are coming out of you and you know, the tips or in case someone says oh I feel nausea’s please don’t just hand ’em that small little basin give ’em like the big, big one because that they feel like they been really keep up [Laughs].

Sunny Gault: So for women, especially this is their first pregnancy, what are some of the symptoms that they feel? Let’s kind of go through these, I know we just kinda of talked about the different parts of the first stage of labor but let’s kinda go through them again and what are we experiencing? What are the symptoms? How do we know what we are going through, you know, like in early labor? Let’s talk about that.

Rosemary Mason: Sure, let’s just start with early labor. Alike lot of moms its kinda of sneaks up on’ em a little bit, cos your just like maybe your just reaching for a plate or a cup and you feel little tinge in your back and you’re like oh gosh, I better go to my chiropractic  coz I feel like a little tinge not realizing that wow, this, you know, I am three days past my due date and I might be that. Maybe your just fixing dinner, you sat down to the dinner and you feel this other twinge, you’re thinking that’s strange and before you know it, it’s gotten to be more of a constant and your kind of timing it. Maybe its 20 minutes apart and you’re lasting like 30 seconds, the contraction is out. It’s kinda like a little for full four minute, it’s a 20 minute or 20 second build up. A 20 second of wow this is really fun and then 20 second of it coming down. So feel that intensity.

Sunny Gault: Okay.

Rosemary Mason: And that’s kind of really, so you like that, you wanna just be relaxed and you wanna finish your dinner. And the partners too, this is when they will know to turn off the TV or kinda be more intent with their partner maybe have your bag ready. Please agree on the way you’re gonna be going to the hospital. These are important things that you wanna be thinking about.

Sunny Gault: Okay, do lot of people disagree on how they’re getting to their hospital [Laughs]?

Rosemary Mason: Yes. Many people. Yes.

Sunny Gault: What you’re gonna walk, you’re gonna drive,  what?[Laughs].

Kate Gittins: There’s fifteen ways with your hospital [Laughs].

Sunny Gault: Oh! you’re talking about the path? [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: The actual Journey, yeah the actual driving.

Sunny Gault: Oh! I see the back seat drivers then this case, oh my goodness!

Rosemary Mason: Actual driving some moms thinking when you getting in the car she’s gonna this way and partners like and you’re like. It’s like, the partner will find a hand around his throat like you know

Sunny Gault:  Oh really?

Rosemary Mason: Ya, where you’re going and where are you parking.

Sunny Gault:  Really, I would have never thought that. I guess emotions are high you are just, ya I guess pretty irritable [Laughs].

Rosemary Mason: Of course, you know, whenever we going it’s like you know then the, here comes the big stop watch and everyone has 9 different stop watches they all are using and……..

Sunny Gault: All the apps and stuff.

Rosemary Mason: Yeah exactly, now everyone has apps and you once again you become so focused on your phone that you forget someone’s actually on labor, so partners I remind them just really watch your partner, how are they feeling, they wanna be with you, they want you to hold their hand, make sure they are drinking something. We have to set the timer so your drinking something every hour; you’re eating little something

Sunny Gault: And going potty.

Rosemary Mason: Yes and going potty remind him that. Because that gives them up and moving in different positions once, “you know you have to go to the bathroom”, “oh! yes okay I have to get up and move around”.

Sunny Gault: Right, okay, I am also thinking cos I am parent of two boys now and so would this be a good time to that if you need someone to watch your child or kind of arrange all that kind of stuff then at that time.

Rosemary Mason: Exactly, yeah, and this happen a lot especially if it is your second one, it’s 3’0’clock in the morning and you’re thinking oh, we'll hold off, chill, you know 6 or 7 and then call grandma or someone else at that time. Which is actually good because this then progresses your labor that’s why I think second time labor are shorter because we have a first one that we are thinking about, and not so much about, you know, what’s going on with us personally and then we can walk in and have that baby really quickly.

Sunny Gault: If we have a doula or mid-wife that’s part of our team here, what point do you recommend contacting them?

Rosemary Mason: Call them right away; call them as soon as you think you’re in labor. This is the person that you wanna be talking to, maybe she’s made me arranged or she’s gonna come over and hangout with you during the early part of labor to kind of keep you calm help with your breathing exercises, help you get in the bath tub, whatever it needs to be done. But definitely do call your labor, I mean your labor doula, even if it is 3 in the morning these women wait for these calls [Laughs] 3 in the morning. They have everything set so you’re not bothering them. This is their job to be with you.

Sunny Gault: It’s amazing, I have talked to doulas to whom are doula’s having a baby and they still don’t want to call their doula,

Rosemary Mason: Exactly

Sunny Gault: I am like don’t you tell people to call you anytime?

Jackie Kleber: Yeah its funny and they still think oh I don’t wanna bother you; you know,

Sunny Gault: Ya

Jackie Kleber: Ya it’s good.

Sunny Gault: So call [Laughs].

Jackie Kleber: Yes, please call [Laughs].

Sunny Gault: Ok then how do we know we are transitioning in to the active part of labor?

Rosemary Mason: Now on our contraction are taking a little more of our attention they are getting the be well this is now I know I am in an active labor and I am kind of, I am not able to speak through a lot of the contractions, people ask me a question and I am like just a minute, and you maybe you know you just stand over the blank staring your face for few minutes and then you can resume the conversation. And then you know the contractions are getting longer, stronger, closer together and now they’re last in a good minute. That’s what we are hoping that we get to become.

[00:15.07]

Sunny Gault: Okay.

Rosemary Mason: 20 second build-up, 20 seconds of very intense and then 20second of coming down. 3 to 4 minutes later, it starts all over again. So it’s a very consistent. The patterns are starting to happen. And that’s what you look for, a lot of patterns.

Kate Gittins: Good to know, yeah [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: What happens cos I hear a lot of this from women who are pregnant and going in to the labor, they are out an about, they’re grocery shopping, they are doing whatever, at what point do we say okay, I should probably take this back to the home for own, you know, wrap up whatever I am doing.

Rosemary Mason: It’s kind of everyone’s own call on what needs to be done. I think you are gonna know. I think you’re gonna know this is ok; I can leave these grocery’s, so I can get going [Laughs]. I’d probably think if you are in early labor, you’d probably wouldn’t be going grocery shopping but, you know, if you happen to be in the middle of it, and your water does break for whatever reason, you know, you probably quietly just, you know, leave the cart [Laughs]. Clean up, aisle 4.

Rosemary Mason: Hey once again I think the last statistic I remember it’s only 8% chance that your water is going to break spontaneously so then it means 92% chances is not going to happen.

Sunny Gault: It means all the movies are wrong. That’s what it means.

Rosemary Mason: Exactly, it doesn’t mean you have to put a big, you know, big blanket all over the, you know, your leather seats stools or you can leak on that.

Sunny Gault:  Okay, and then so what about moving in to the transition phase?

Rosemary Mason:  So you’re transitional once again you’ve been in a great active labor, you’re laboring around or you could be at a home birth or a hospital birth things are happening. Now, you start feeling little like you can’t do this anymore. This is where we get toward the end in our body is just really working so hard and you are just thinking “ahh, ok that’s it. if I didn’t hate the medications I am taking them now, no matter what I don’t care, I don’t wanna do this anymore”. I have had moms tried to get out their beds and say “I will come back tomorrow. I don’t wanna do this anymore” [Laughs]. I promise, I really, I can’t take a break, ya I can just pause here because I need a break. I promise I will come back tomorrow. I know I can do much better tomorrow [Laughs]. Like. it’s a test like, I am not passing the test and I am failing and it’s not it’s just about what’s normal going on, and in this transitional part. And you said that you know someone will come in and check you are probably at 9 centimeters and then you gotta click because now your switching your brain from, “wow! I am actually going to be pushing this baby out.

Sunny Gault: Right.

Rosemary Mason: it’s going to the second stage, which is pushing.

Sunny Gault: If you are planning for a hospital birth, you would obviously want to go the hospital probably in the active labor?

Rosemary Mason: Active labor will be really great, ya!

Sunny Gault: Okay.

Kate Gittins: What’s the role like again on that is like 511 or something right?

Rosemary Mason: Yeah, it’s you see 5 minutes apart last in whole minute and I would go at least 2 hours. Some people stay an hour but lot of people fudge on their hours. So, I would just make sure it’s like 2 hours. If you’re watching a movie, finish your movie.

Sunny Gault: Okay.

Rosemary Mason You know, it’s really rare that we are gonna have baby in the car. And if it is woo hoo; good for you [Laughs] you know, it’s more excited [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: I don’t know if I would be saying that woo hoo, [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason:What a great birth story where your child will be having [Laughs]?

Sunny Gault: Yeah. [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: But, we really don’t hear about it here. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: On the 5 during rush hour [Laughs].

Rosemary Mason:  Ya but we don’t hear about it here, we don’t I mean that would really news worthy. I mean, I really can’t remember the last time we read about a baby been born like that. But I think are people are really afraid of that, and it’s you know they get their maybe a little twosome.

Sunny Gault: Yeah.

Rosemary Mason: So take your time. There’s plenty of time.

Sunny Gault: yeah

Rosemary Mason: Plenty, plenty of time.

Sunny Gault: If you do get there early and that was my experience with my first born, they had me like walk the halls a little bit.

Rosemary Mason: Right

Sunny Gault: Cos I came in and I think I was 2 centimeters and they wanted me to at least be 3 I think before they admitted me. And so, I walked for an hour and then they admitted me cos I opened up obviously, a little bit more.

Rosemary Mason: Yeah.

Sunny Gault: I dilated a little bit more.

Rosemary Mason: So you could have been stayed home even little longer and had that bowl of oatmeal you know. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: You know, the thing was for me is though my contractions they were happening fast and I was scared, cos I wasn’t sure, they weren’t lasting for long time but I didn’t have any time and I didn’t have any time in between and that was consistent throughout that birth like, you know, I eventual got an epidural so I am like what I am having contraction but they would say that, you know, you had like 20 seconds in between contractions.

Rosemary Mason: Your labor pattern was just irregular so it did not. It takes about for it to get really regular so it’s okay that it kind of starts off. And lot of times lot of moms when they get to the hospital they performance anxiety, and they were having great contractions at home really consistent really great, they get to the hospital and all of sudden……

Sunny Gault: The bright lights and everything.

Rosemary Mason: The bright lights and people starting to come in, all of sudden their body just kinda of closes down. And just like any type of, you know, animal when they wanna give birth they pick the safest quietest place that they can find, it’s not bright lights right in front of you, it’s you know even though you put little box there if they usually try to find the linen closet that's quiet.

Sunny Gault: That’s really a good point we do, do that like if we want comfort, I go to a you know……

Rosemary Mason: A quiet…So that’s why I really recommend that you do make your labor room as like your home as possible. Bring your favorite pillow so important to bring your own pillow, it smells like home filled with lavender whatever you wanna to do. Have your special……..

Jackie Kleber: You hear the crinkle, crinkle [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Ya right crinkle plastic on that they make us just kinda makes us go uh [Laughs]. Your favorite music I mean if you don’t like babbling brooks bring Metallica if you love it [Laughs]. I mean, if you can sing during your labor you are gonna have a better birth and that’s through Penny Simkin talks about all that time. Sing through your birth so bring in Broadway if you want to sing every song and lot of people had like lots of sense and then they make it like  I have one family that they like it Hawaiian. Hawaiian music going in whole like…..

Sunny Gault: They made it a party.

Rosemary Mason: It was awesome all though the nurses came in and we love this room it feels like we are in the island. It was an awesome birth so think of these little things that make your birth really fun. You can labor in your own t-shirt too. You don’t have to wear their gown if you don’t want to. And that also makes you feel more like you’re at home and makes you more comfortable.

[00:20.27]

Sunny Gault: Okay, very good to know all right, we are gonna take a quick break. When we come back, we are gonna discuss the second and third stages of Labor. We’ll be right back.

[Theme Music]

Sunny Gault: Welcome back, we are talking about the stages of Labor and our special guest today is Rosemary Mason. She is a retired Doula but, she is also a post-partum doula who has helped many women through their various stages of labor. We talked about the first stage of labor during our first half, so now, we are talking about the second stage of labor which is pushing.

Rosemary Mason: Yes, the big show and the best part of the whole labor is the pushing. This is where everyone starts coming in and they start setting up the room.

Sunny Gault: That’s what I noticed cos again my first born was born vaginally in a hospital and I, everything was kind of slow throughout the night and all of the sudden, everyone’s coming into my room.

Rosemary Mason: Ya, the show’s starting.

Sunny Gault: wow, you know what’s showing, what’s going on, do I need; I didn’t bring popcorn, you know. [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Ya, it’s like that. This is when the family starts getting anxious and then you know the partner’s all excited and they start moving the room around and breaking down the bed. [Laughs] I had a cute story, a family that the light went out right the major lights, they had to call the technicians and this man, just came in and you could tell he was like; Oh my gosh I am here! [Laughs] Quickly, changed the light within the fastest light change I have ever seen in my life [Laughs] and he was in and out.

Sunny Gault: I wonder who was more embarrassed, probably the guy.

Rosemary Mason: I think he was very embarrassed; it was they didn’t wanna move her, so it’s like that.

Sunny Gault: Oh my goodness ok so for pushing, this can obviously be various times as in, you know how long does it last? Right?

Rosemary Mason: Exactly, can be from 15, up to 2 to 3 hours, if your pushing except very effectively then it may take you 2 hours. Sometimes, with the medication may affect a little bit of the pushing, yeah, it takes longer, may be not; I don’t want to put in anyone’s; you know seed in someone’s brain that’s gonna take longer, cos I have had moms who had epidural to push their babies out in 20 minutes as well.

Jackie Kleber: What push, well, ya two.

Sunny Gault: For yours, for your first born?

Jackie Kleber: No I wish. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: Oh ok, I was like. [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Actually we really need contractions if each one can contraction can be dilated sort of centimeter it takes 10 centimeters to be fully dilated and if each contractions was only one we only need 10’s contraction really. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: Yeah, let’s explain what happens during the pushing phase. So for me, I think they had me one push so to speak was really multiple pushes.

Rosemary Mason: Correct, it’s kinda like you wanna have 3 good pushes in that one contraction so you’re wanna take that nice.

Sunny Gault: Okay and you’re counting to ten or something like that?

Rosemary Mason:….it’s, some people like to count to ten. Some people will just do a low gruntle sound. It’s kind of like, if you’re in the Olympics right now, we can be watching the weight lifter while they make that oooh that real huck sound, that’s what you wanna do because that’s gonna lock in in the breath of the top. And if you think of PSI’s pounds per square inch [Laughs] this is our using on top of the funds to help push down the baby, so if you lock your breath uuuoohh and then bear down and if you curl like a little "c" you’re gonna put more pounds per square inch on the top of your fundas and that’s gonna help push that baby right on out.

Sunny Gault: Okay, because the contraction itself is designed to help push your baby out.

Rosemary Mason:  Exactly.

Sunny Gault: So that’s exactly what your body trained to do. So you’re working with your body?

Rosemary Mason: That’s exactly what it's trying to do, working with your body so you wanna feel it so you had

Sunny Gault: Is there any way to prepare for that, I mean? [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: I always, in my classes I always have my partner’s learn to push. So if you wanna get you know your partner and put ‘em to pushing position and you be the doula and you help him. Push, you know, push through this; it’s really lot of fun. Because this helps them understand what it’s all about and curling into position, cos we don’t want you to do it. It’s kinda nice. It’s also like if you really have to go to number 2 and you’re really constipated.

Sunny Gault: That’s exactly what it is!

Jackie Kleber: That’s exactly what I wanna say.

Sunny Gault: It’s not a very pretty to say, but it’s exactly the thing.

Rosemary Mason: Yeah, you might even have a little bit of, you know, expulsion at that time and…..

Sunny Gault: That’s good.

Rosemary Mason: That’s really good once again, that’s a birth doula [Audience Scream] [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: But for moms, mom are lot of moms are really scared about that. They are really scared about doing something that can embarrass them but trust me when you’re in the moment and you’re trying the baby out that’s the last thing you’re thinking about.

Rosemary Mason: Yeah, I still think they think about it. This, I’ll let you know it’s not a lot. I think everyone thinks it’s gonna be this massive like there’s so embarrassed and it’s really a tiny bit. Nurses will just wipe it.

Jackie Kleber: Lot of time nobody even knows, they sweep it away so fast.

Kate Gittins: Ya, that’s it carry on. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: Ya [Laughs] she’s hoping that's what happens.

Kate Gittins: I am sure I won't be worried about that when I am pushing; I‘ll try to push this baby out. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: What Rosemary, causes the actual urge for us to push our babies out cos you hear from women, I have feel like have to push and they’re like no you’re not 10 centimeters yet or whatever; what is that urge to push the baby about?

Rosemary Mason: It’s just really strong urge about just everything about the placenta and once everything’s just working together really hard. It kinda goes in upward motion and come down you can’t see it on radio but it’s up and down [Laughs]. And that’s the pushing part so right when the contraction gets to its peak, it’s just done, it’s done its work and it needs to expel. It needs to bring this baby down. The baby is working its way down in to the birth canal. And that it is just a natural process in what you’re feeling.

[00:25.20]

Sunny Gault: Okay, now why would that happen before 10 centimeters? Why would we feel that?

Rosemary Mason: I think of nerve endings on the top it’s just triggering everything else so, it’s just getting you prepared for what you should be feeling. And once again 10 centimeters is what everyone thinks is 10 centimeters when they go on feel, maybe 1 person says oh your only nine and half, you can get another person there and say oh no your 10. So…….

Sunny Gault: I want a second opinion on that [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Exactly, [Laughs] you know, and I think a lot of women have gone through that, where one person says oh you’re this; and another person says you’re this and it's nicer to go up and sit back. I think it’s just all relative and what they are feeling.

Sunny Gault:  Okay, alright. And those talk about ring of fire you heard that too? It’s like your, that’s where;

Rosemary Mason: Yeah, I think of lot people you know are expecting this big ring of fire, I think if your un medicated I think you feel little more this pressure and it’s a very  intense pressure. It’s a lot of pressure right in that perineum area where the baby’s head started to emerge. Lot times I have had moms with epidural not really feels so much of that burning or that real intense feeling and they feel the pressure but its little lighter and it’s not as  intense as your un-medicated. I always personally love that feeling, all three of my children were born un-medicated, that’s because my oldest is 32 so that’s makes a difference [Laughs] when I am you know when your old. They didn’t really have a lot these types of things, you pretty much just went in labor no one really did anything to you, you actually they got you transferred in to the delivery room, so, if you pass mommies if your crowning you had actually lift yourself up and get on to a gurney and then they would take you down in to the delivery room. And you are already crowning so it’s kind of, you know…..

Sunny Gault: You don’t wanna be moved.

Rosemary Mason: No, you don’t wanna be moved at that point for those of you who know and then that’s what was going on.

Jackie Kleber: Why would you say no? [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Yeah, I know there wasn’t not much of choice you know, everyone is waiting for you in the big room,

Jackie Kleber: Nope I don’t care.

Rosemary Mason: it’s really funny [Laughs].

Sunny Gault: And what causes the ring of fire as the baby starting to crown right?

Rosemary Mason: Exactly, and its pressure lots of stretching in the perineum area and so lot people may use, perennial massage and that’s also you can do ahead of time, but that’s also what’s going; we want this stage to be kinda of slow, we want that baby’s head when they come down to be in a nice position, its low, its stretching that perineum nice and easy to lift just comes right over the head and there you see your looking down and they’ll come popping little head up and they’ll turn which rotates their shoulders neck and turn to the left or right which rotates the shoulder which pops on out and then you’ll see mom or partner can reach down there and bring their baby up to the chest. And that’s the best part.

Sunny Gault: Yeah, what I thought it was so amazing with my son is that the realise that you feel once the whole body comes out, you know, you get that hang and that’s my accomplishment.

Rosemary Mason: It’s a cool feeling.

Sunny Gault: …….and then you are working on the shoulders and then, you know, they turned to the side and then the actual delivery of a baby I mean to feel that from the mother’s perspective there’s no other feeling…..

Rosemary Mason: Yes, No other feelings in the world.

Sunny Gault:  No other feeling in the world.

Rosemary Mason: As a doula’s perspective, there is no other better way to start your day than having you know been some of the baby.

Sunny Gault: It’s so funny. I was just thinking about that years and I was thinking about you and, you know, the crazy night that you had and taking care twins and stuff and then I was like, you know, every day mid-wife and doulas going to their job knowing they are going to witness probably birth one night every day but when you have a mom who’s gonna give birth and that’s an amazing thing to witness.

Rosemary Mason: It’s an honor for anyone.

Jackie Kleber: It’s like a high.

Rosemary Mason: Yes it is. It’s like a super high. And it’s an honor in the same time and we do it for the love of it not, you know, for just for our own glory or anything else. It’s just we just really enjoy this whole birth process.

Sunny Gault: Probably gives you totally different outlook on life too because you see it.

Rosemary Mason: Oh yeah, very much so. You’ve had a birth so, you just really feel that. As a new mommy you know coming up over here [Laughs] it’s a, you know I just wanted to say really lot of fun, I always tell my moms this is the best day of your life, this is your child’s birthday and don’t let fear stop you. I mean, it’s a hard day, ya it’s really hard, but there’s lots of things are really hard in you don’t get baby out of it. So it’s wonderful to just to go through the whole process and knowing that your body can do this and it does a great job.

Sunny Gault: Yeah, I don’t think a lot of people talk about this third stage which is the delivery or pushing out of the placenta.

Rosemary Mason: Exactly, I think a lot of our moms forget that once you have baby and they are excited about that there’s another little part that comes out and that’s the placenta.

Jackie Kleber: I forgot to tell my husband that the placenta comes out. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: So what’s he thinking?

Jackie Kleber: So when it came out he was standing over in the corner, you know, cos they were he was on my chest and everything and he was standing over up by my head and here comes the placenta, and my husband was like uhhhh, he thought it was my liver. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: It’s like that organs first come out what is that. [Laughs]

Jackie Kleber: He was like, I was looking at the doctor and the nurses, and no one was freaking out [Laughs] so I decided I wouldn’t either.

Sunny Gault:  So forewarn your partners everybody, you do have to deliver the placenta.

Rosemary Mason: And do hold it up to make sure it’s all there so I mean it’s something that I find placenta just so fascinating I always wanted my kids do reports on them and stuff and  they would say no, [Laughs] it’s just where your child is lived it’s just most exciting thing in the whole wide world. And I just find them very excited.

[00:30.09]

Sunny Gault: Yeah.

Rosemary Mason: Now, you can have the placenta encapsulation where they can then freeze dry your placenta and you can use the encapsulation on that.  Lots hospitals are very good about having letting you take your placenta home so, that’s a good thing.

Sunny Gault: Right.

Rosemary Mason: But that’s you know that’s I’ll think once again a lot of people don’t realize you have to then push out the placenta it’s just not gonna lot of cases it will slip out but lot of time you have to give it a few more pushes. But you have that baby in your arms at that point; you’re just like final push with it, this time.

Sunny Gault: Right yeah.

Kate Gittins: Yeah, most of my friends have said they don’t even remember doing that.

Sunny Gault: Right.

Kate Gittins: The one thing that they don’t remember.

Rosemary Mason: Your endorphins are just like t-woo are just up at the top and you just

Sunny Gault: And you’re typically feeling any type of contractions with this?

Rosemary Mason: You probably, most of them do have little contractions they come through and once again……..

Sunny Gault:  It’s kinda like the after-shock after the earthquake.

Rosemary Mason: There you go, as a Californians we all know that. [Laughs]

Sunny Gault: I am trained to think that way. [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Once again our uterus has to get back down to the size of the fist and that takes, you know about 10 to 12 days, 7 days, it depends on every ones little different. But it takes you have to squeeze back down them, besides.

Jackie Kleber: You so have cramping after the baby.

Rosemary Mason: Exactly.

Sunny Gault: Yeah, you do.

Rosemary Mason: That’s another thing I like to let moms know too.

Sunny Gault: That’s normal

Rosemary Mason: Especially, if you’re breast feeding those contractions drizzles after pain will start but that’s a good thing we want our uterus to get back down we don’t want to be boggy we want it to be nice and firm. Where the placenta had adhered that’s an open wounds so that where they use that final massage and then the nurses will teach you themselves, if you don’t want them to do it, where they actually rub right there on the top, where the placenta had adhered and so, it’s an open wound that they want to rub it down and that’s the final massage that you’ll be experiencing and you’ll learn to do that yourself.

Kate Gittins: Oh.

Sunny Gault: Okay!

Kate Gittins: Haven’t heard about that yet. [Laughs]

Rosemary Mason: Yeah, it’s one of those fun things that they do, they are like; no one told me this! [Laughs] That’s a little painful so I just, you know, cos they kinda have to come and rub it up to make it nice and firm then you can do it yourself.

Kate Gittins: Okay

Sunny Gault: Alright, this is been interesting; thank you Rosemary and this is great.

Rosemary Mason: You’re very welcome.

Sunny Gault: I love learning about the different stages and what women can experience if you guys wanna continue this conversation, you can on our Facebook page or even on the episode page on our website. And we want also listen some additional resources for the different stages of labor and we’ll put that on our episodes pages as well.

[Theme Music]

[Featured Segments: Maternity Fashion Trends]

Sunny Gault: Before we wrap today’s show, here’s some maternity fashion trends.

Krystal Stodden Deck:  Hello Preggie Pals I am Krystal Stodden Deck. Maternity fashion expert and founder of Borrow for your Bumps. Where you can buy or rent as dynamic maternity styles for a monthly rate. Today, we are gonna talk about choosing the perfect evening dress for the growing bump and fancy upcoming occasion you want not only look great but feel great. These tips will help so get on creating that perfect look. First focus on effort.  Use your favorite magazine or online store to find out what you love. Don’t be afraid to set out of your comfort zone to try something new. When making a purchase online make sure to read the details about the fabric combination, and find something made of similar material in your closet; so you can feel it. You want to look good but as your bump grows the material should be stretchy. Next consider your dream, for a slimmer appearance choose an A line dress that will elongate. Accentuate cleavage with plunging neck line or for smaller chest. Sweet heart neck lines are the most flattery. Make sure that dress appropriate for the occasion. Formally lines are required for ankle length gown. Cocktail is usually more flexible so go for any length dress. So for colors black is always safe but for a fun twist add some hot pink tops and yellow purse. For a softer looks try a rose or pro colors and silk or satin. If you are going to be sitting for a majority of times choose a dress with more details on top or accessories with the chunky necklace or dramatic earrings but not both. Finally pull it all together. Metallic heels goes with everything. But if you can’t walk in 5 inch heel don’t buy 5 inch heel. For more stability and comfort; try a thicker heel or flats is best to choose a longer dress style or for a full skirt or if you opt for something around the knee. For fall, avoid hosiery and use self-tanner to add some color to your legs for more chic look. Follow these simple tips and you’re sure to look like one hot mama. Make sure to check out more evening dress than for http.www.borrowforyourbump.com and enter your promo code Preggie Pals at checkout and save 20% off in your entire order. Thanks for listening to today’s tips on finding the perfect evening dress and be sure to listen to Preggie Pals for more great pregnancy tips.

[Theme Music]

Sunny Gault: Well that wraps up our show for today, if you have any questions about today’s topic or any pregnancy related questions you can send us in an e-mail or call our Preggie Pals hotline and that number is 619-866-4775 and we’ll answer your question on an upcoming episode. If you have a pregnancy topic, you’d like to suggest for our possible show idea, we would love to hear it. Visit our website at https://www.preggiepals.com and send us an e-mail. Thanks for listening to Preggie Pals, Your pregnancy your way.

[00:34.53]

[Disclaimer]

This has been a New Mommy Media Production. Information and materials contained in this episode are presented for educational purpose only. Statements and opinions expressed in this episode are not necessarily those of New Mommy Media and should not be considered facts. For such information in which areas are released to be accurate, it is not intended to replace or substitute for professional, medical and advisor care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating healthcare problem or disease or prescribing any medications. If you have questions or concerns regarding your physical or mental health or the health of your baby, please seek assistance from a qualified healthcare provider.

[00:35.38] End Of Audio.