Giving BirthBefore giving birth, it is very unlikely that a woman has had a chance to become comfortable with the surroundings of a birth room. If you've been a birthing partner for a friend or family member, you may have an idea of what to expect. However, you may not know what all of the objects in a birth room are for. To help you to concentrate on the important aspect of giving birth, we've taken the time to provide you with a breakdown of what to expect to see in a typical birth room: Clock - A clock is used to time the important stages of labor. A mid wife will also have their own clock they use should one fail. The clock is also used for the very important event, timing the exact time of birth. The resuscitation trolley - This trolley doubles up as a place where the baby will spend their first evening, wrapped up snugly in warm blankets. After giving birth the baby will be cleaned and have mucus removed from their body on the resuscitation trolley. Curtains and screens - All delivery rooms have curtains and screens, it is obviously important to protect a mother giving birth from preying eyes, privacy is very important. Also, they are used to control the light in the room, many women prefer to have the room a little darker than normal immediate after giving birth and whilst holding the baby. Additional Chair - In most hospitals there will be a comfortable chair for a partner or loved one to use. Bed - The bed is obviously a crucial element to giving birth. It must be an adjustable bed that can be raised, lowered and amended so that the woman is as comfortable as possible. Most modern hospital beds used for giving birth have been designed to support different ways of giving birth, such as squatting bars. Gas and oxygen - Some women say that they are not sure they would ever have got through childbirth if it was not for gas and oxygen. Pole for drip - This is only used if the doctor thinks that it is appropriate, in most cases it is in the birth room just in case. Monitors - The midwife will constantly be checking your blood pressure and heart rate. They may also decide to hook you up to special apparatus if they think you could do with additional support. As you can see, there is not an awful lot to worry about in the birthing room. The main point to think about in the weeks leading up to giving birth is that all of the people involved are professional and they have done it many times before. If you are worried about anything prior to giving birth, it is crucial that you raise this with the midwife during your regular sessions together. A successful birth is usually one where the mother is relaxed and prepared for the occasion, not one where the mother is anxious and unsure. Also, you should consider giving birth as a team affair, if you want your partner there as well, make sure he knows about it. Read more of our articles on giving birth Giving Birth and How Aging Effects Your Chances |