Labor Pains and What to Expect

Going into labor can be a very scary thing for both the woman and her partner. Many women having a baby for the first time go into this blindly.

They don't know what to expect and in some cases are scared that they will not be able to handle labor when it begins.

There are many things that you can do to help prepare yourself as well as your family for the big event. The first thing you can do early on in the pregnancy is set up Lamaze classes for you and your spouse. This will help you to learn exactly what will happen during labor.

While some people don't believe in the methods of Lamaze classes, they can actually be very helpful for the mother, to prepare her for what to expect. In these classes they go over the different stages of labor and what will happen during each stage.

They also discuss Braxton Hicks contractions which are also called false labor. This way a woman knows exactly what to expect through different times of the stages of labor.

They will also help teach her how to focus on something else when the pain becomes too intense. This is a good method to use for those who wish to do all natural childbirth.

That means with no epidural or any type of medication to help you with the pain you will endure during labor. Even if you choose not to use the breathing techniques they teach in the class you can still walk away with a fountain of information about your pregnancy and what to expect when in labor.

One thing to keep in mind is that false labor may go away if the woman changes her position such as standing up or maybe rolling over. True labor will not go away no matter what you do. The pains will still be there no matter if you're sitting or standing.

Real labor pains generally start from the lower back and come around into the lower abdomen. False labor will generally be in the front lower abdomen. Some people say it is nature's way of preparing you for the real thing.

If your water breaks, you can be sure that labor will start shortly after. If you are unsure if you're in labor or not you can always have your doctor check to see if your dilated and they can also test to see if contractions are actually happening.

Remember your doctor is used to going through this with many different women so ask any question that you have to your doctor. He or she will be happy to put your mind at ease and to check you thoroughly to make sure everything is going as planned.

You want to be sure to practice a dry run of when it comes time for labor. That means to drive to the hospital at different times during the day so you can see how long it will take you to get their own labor actually begins.

This will help you to know the best route to take during certain times of the day when traffic may be more heavy.