Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 44)

Where to Deliver First, you'll want to choose the hospital where you will deliver your baby. This decision is a major factor in your birth experience and recovery. Choose an obstetrician who delivers at the hospital of your choice. Or, if you already have an obstetrician, ﬁnd out with what hospital he or she is afﬁliated. Remember that each hospital's services and approach to birth are unique. For example, a woman with a high-risk pregnancy may require a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit in case the baby needs specialized care. For another woman, a comfortable recovery room that offers a place for her husband to sleep may be a priority. And for another, the ability to have a doula in attendance is important. The hospital you choose will be more than just the place you head when going into labor. You're likely to attend childbirth-preparation, newborn-care and breastfeeding classes there as well. To be sure you're making the right choice, take a tour to learn about policies, view the birthing rooms and get a sense for how things will go when you walk through the door, overnight bag in hand. Who's on Your Team The nonproﬁt healthcare research group The Cochrane Collaboration found in a review of more than 13,000 births that women with early and continuous labor support were more likely to have a slightly shorter labor, less likely to use pain medication and generally reported a positive childbirth experience. It's evidence that choosing your support team is an important decision and should be one of your top priorities. In addition to your spouse or partner, this team usually includes an obstetrician but also might include a doula, a midwife, a friend or a relative. Doulas provide emotional and physical support throughout labor and delivery but no clinical duties. A certiﬁed nurse-midwife is a registered nurse with a degree from a university-afﬁ liated nurse-midwife program (most have master's degrees) and has the credentials to perform most duties of an obstetrician except certain procedures such as a cesarean section. Whomever you choose for your birth team, choose someone whose ﬁrst goal is to be there for you and help you make informed decisions. How to Manage Pain Using epidurals or other pain-suppressing drugs remains the norm in the U.S. "Sometimes people look at me like I have 10 heads when I say, 'You know, you don't need anesthesia. Natural childbirth is great!' " says Laura Riley, MD, an obstetrician and the author of You & Your Baby: Pregnancy. In recent years, alternative, natural childbirth methods have been accepted and encouraged by a growing number of hospitals. Some methods to consider: * A water birth allows you to go through labor and even deliver in a deep tub (though many women choose to leave the water for the delivery). "This is the most highly rated nonpharmacologic option," Sakala says. "The buoyancy is relaxing." 44 WINTE R 2 013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
Heartfelt Purpose
Not Too Busy to Beat Cancer
Got Excuses?
Managing Your Health with a DIY Tool Kit
Is It the Stress Talking?
The Wonderful World of Greens
Knee-to-Know Basics
On the Cover
Run for Your Life
14 Good-for-You Gifts
Special Delivery
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Inspired Giving
Heads Full of Hope
Out of the White
Transforming Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Gwinnett Medical Center