If you are expecting your first child, you may nothurry. When the contractions start to repeat, each lasting at least 10 minutes, get ready to go to the hospital. If this is not your first child, the cervix will open much faster and as soon as the contractions become regular and rhythmic, you should hurry to the maternity hospital. If the amniotic fluid breaks, immediately call an ambulance or go to the maternity hospital without waiting for the contractions. Before leaving, try to take a shower and do not forget sanitary pads. Plan in advance: whether you call a taxi or a relative takes you, do not drive yourself, even if you feel fine. You have collected everything you need in advance, but even if you forgot something, your relatives will bring you everything you need. Do not forget washable slippers and documents: insurance policy, passport, exchange card. In the admissions department, you will be asked to change clothes and your documents will be checked, then the midwife will conduct an examination: how the cervix is opening, whether labor has begun. Your skin will be examined for infectious diseases, you will be weighed, your height and external pelvic dimensions will be measured, your temperature will be taken and your throat will be examined. If there are no abnormalities, you will be placed in the department for healthy women in labor. Do not forget to remove jewelry, wash off makeup from your face and nail polish at home. This is not only a hygiene requirement, your nails and lips will help determine your physical condition during labor. In the prenatal ward, the doctor will review your exchange card and ask how your pregnancy was going. The doctor will perform an external examination to determine the position of the fetus, listen to the fetal heartbeat, and also conduct a vaginal examination to determine the degree of dilation of the uterus. The doctor will tell you about the expected course of labor, familiarize you with the labor management plan, and tell you how to behave. If you do not understand something or for some reason the doctor did not cover all the issues, contact the doctor and midwife and ask all the questions that interest you. Express your wishes, clarify the need for certain procedures. During normal labor, the doctor will repeat the external examination every 3 hours, and the vaginal examination every 6 hours. Do not attach much importance to such unpleasant moments as a not entirely warm reception. You must emotionally and psychologically submit to the main task - to give birth to a healthy baby and ensure maximum safety for your health. Try not to be too verbose in a conversation with the doctor, do not enter into arguments and bickering, be polite with the medical staff. At the same time, all fundamental wishes should be discussed in advance, and during labor, all recommendations of the midwife must be followed strictly. We recommend reading:
