Labour Tips for Daddies

From Daddy Chan:

1. Pack for Mummy and you...

Since the jump pack Mummy would have already prepared to bring into labour usually consists of items primarily for baby, Daddies would do well to pack a smaller bag of items for the adults. Here are some of the items to consider (assuming they are not already in the one Mummy packed...

• Toiletries - Toothpaste, Toothbrush, shaving blade, etc etc... Feli even brought in her skincare regime set..-__-'
  
  
• Chargers - For your phone, your camera, your laptop... whatever power supply you need to be able to ensure that your gadgets don't fail you when you need them the most
  
  
• Extra batteries - As above
  
  
• Slippers - Unless you are planning on wearing them to the hospital itself (which I recommend not to as labour rooms can be colder than you think... I wore slippers and regretted), slippers are much more convenient, especially if you are staying over with your wife and baby after delivery
  
  
• Socks - Both for you and your lady... as mentioned before, labour rooms are cold and socks are nice to have to keep your feet warm
  
  
• Reading materials - Or anything that can help you pass your time while waiting... Do take note that the wait may be up to hours... On my experience, we went into the labour ward at about 0515 and baby was born after 1800... that's more than 12 hours of waiting time.. though true that Daddy's role there is to talk to Mummy and to make Mummy comfy... but there are times when you and/or her need rest...
  
  
• Extra clothes - Since you'll be there with Mummy most of the time, you might not have the luxury of going back home to bathe and change... Most single bedded wards have a toilet with standing shower
  
  
• Medication - If you or Mummy is on medication, don't forget them... And do take precautionary measures and ask the doctors and nurses if it the consumption on Mummy's part will affect labour
  
  
• Coins and small change - When the going gets tough, the tough hunts down the closest vending machine for refreshments... Milo and sandwiches are Daddy's best friends...

2. Keep an eye on the CTG readings~!

The Cardiotogograph (or CTG in short) measures the contractions of Mummy and the heartbeat of baby and is done by strapping two belts onto Mummy's belly. Read the ratings to Mummy when her contraction comes and she'll get a rough idea on how much pain she can endure.

3. Be sensitive to the time

Take note of the time whenever something occurs, e.g Mummy's strongest contraction, nurses change the drip, introduction of oxygen/laughing gas, routine checks... Bring a pen and paper and write them down if need be... those timings will prove useful

4. Have it her way

Having labour pains is no joke. It is a pain that it supposedly unlike any other and I guess there is no way that Daddy will ever experience it. But still, Mummy has to release that tension one way or another... If she rants and raves, let her... If she yells and screams, let her... but highlight to her that it doesn't help ease the pain... If she needs to bite onto your forearm, well, good luck... =P

5. Set up your contact list in advance

Though not really as important, but you'll save a lot of time if you prepare the list of people you want/need to contact, both for emergency and for updating on Mummy's progress... I created 3 sms groups in preparation for baby Renzo's birth... 2 lists of closest friends and 1 list of family members... and of course I had Dr Lim Teck Chye's (our Gynae) name card in my wallet

Labour Tips for Mummies

From Mummy Chan:

1. Get a male gynae!!!

Okay I understand that for some reason, a lot of women prefer female gynae. But speaking from my own expereience (I have not tried female gynae of course, but I have been checked by at least 6 female nurses, very experienced and totally in experienced), for all of them I can say they are trying to be gentle sometimes but it causes more pain eventually. Dr Lim Teck Chye is a perfect example, not just that he has 41 years of experience, he's just fast and for serious situation like my case, he is calm and confident in handling it. I am sure that if I am with other gynae, especially a famale one, I would have ended up in the operations room for emergency c-section already.

2. Wear a pair of socks..

Not sure if it is just TMC, the labour ward is extremely cold, Win has to turn off the aircon completely for me, a pair of socks really helps but remember to take them off after delivery, or else it will cause water retention on your legs.

3. Count your breath during contraction

It it true that when contraction comes, there's nothing you can do about it at all, but slowly breathe through your nose really helps, and remember to count your breath, so that you know exactly when the contraction will go off, it's like after a few rounds of counting, you know that when you count till 7 maybe the contraction starts to go off and when you count till 9 it completely disappear, at least you got something to look forward to when you start counting from 1, 2. 3.... That's how you switch your concentration from the contraction to your breath and it really helps to ease the pain..

4. Let your hubby monitor the CTG graph

It is absolutely true that CTG machine is not accurate somehow. At one time it can show that your contraction level is over 100 but you feel it bearable, but next minute it shows it is at 50 only but you just feel many times more painful. So do not trust the figures but still you can use it to gauge your tolerance level. If it shows 60 when you feel that it is your threshold, at least you can be sure that 50 is definitely bearable.

5. No shouting and screaming

You are just wasting your energy by doing that, and I am sure it is not going to ease the pain but making it even worse, because you are just too focus on the pain itself and you can feel that it is never ending. Plus if you are doing that during the pushing process, you will be "scolded" by all nurses and doctors, not really scolding of course by they will definitely tell you that it is not the right way to do it.

6. Talk to your hubby before hand

Get him mentally prepared that you might not give him a good face during labour, in fact if you are not showing a black face to him, you are nice enough already.. haha.. I've heard a lot of stories about hubby being "physically attacked" by wife during labour, even for me and Win who have been always so loving and sticky to each other, I told him to stay away from me and not talk to me even after 5cm of dilation. So guys, forgive your wife for whatever they do because the pain is really something you can never imagine..

7. Let your hubby sleep through the first stage of labour if possible

With him being there and doing nothing, you rather let him reserve the energy for the final push. He's not going to help you with the contraction pain and you are only worrying him plus you can get agitated easily if he is not doing the right thing, so rather just let him rest peacefully and you suffer "peacefully" also..

8. Laughing gas is not for easing the pain

Let's face the fact, although I've been given laughing gas for just one hour, I fully know its effect. It makes your body numb a bit, especially your mouth and face, and you feel this giddiness immediately. Mentally yes maybe you will feel a lot better with it on, but physically, it really does nothing on your contraction pain. So if you have low tolerance level of pain, ask for epidural although I am strongly against it. After all, all mummies are as great no matter what way they choose to have their delivery done..