For the most part, your only experience of giving birth comes from what you see on TV shows and movies. Even the most medically accurate shows get it wrong when it comes to the birthing scenes, which means you’re in for a huge shock when the big moment arrives. There are so many things about the process of giving birth nobody prepares you for - so here are four things you’ll definitely want to know before you give birth for the first time:
Birth plans rarely go as planned
There’s a saying that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face, and giving birth is like the biggest punch to the face you’ll ever get. You’ve probably got a lovely birth plan in the works - but it’s almost guaranteed not to happen. The truth is you’re naive to think you have any control over the birthing process.
Prepare to be flexible, and also prepare for the worst. It’s possible you’ll need a C-section or other help getting the baby out. Don’t expect everything to go smoothly or you’ll be disappointed. It’s less scary when you prepare for the worst.
Postpartum bleeding is a thing
Postpartum bleeding is one of the big things nobody warns you about. It can be a shock when you’re bleeding for a few days or weeks after giving birth, though this is usually normal. Think about what’s just happened and it sort of makes sense.
That being said, it is still worth checking to see if your postpartum bleeding is in line with what’s expected. You’ll be surprised how many birth injury claims happen after medical negligence while you’re in labour. As natural as bleeding might be, there’s a chance you can make a legal claim if it’s caused by a doctor’s mistake.
You’ll be pushing for a very long time
Even in the most accurate of medical dramas you’ll only see someone pushing for a few minutes before the baby appears. Now this can happy - but it’s rare and you’ll be extremely lucky if you’re only pushing for a couple of minutes.
The reality of the situation is that most first-time mothers are pushing for a few hours at least. Some are there pushing away for 3 hours while it’s not unheard of to be there for 5 or more.
Your baby bump won’t necessarily disappear
There’s a common misconception that your baby bump will magically deflate as soon as your baby arrives. It’s probably because most people assume that the baby itself is the bumb - but it’s actually your uterus swelling to make room for the baby.
It can take a few weeks for the uterus to return to its “normal” size, which means you may still “look” pregnant after giving birth. The good news is that all the extra weight from carrying a baby goes away instantly, so you don’t have to worry too much about your spine or back pain anymore. It’s more of just a visual bump than anything else - bit it will go down eventually.
Every first-time mum wishes they knew these things before giving birth, and now you do! It won’t make the birthing process any easier but it can make it less stressful because you’ll have fewer things to worry about.