The Birth Partner - Revised 4th Edition: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions

Cover
 Title
 Dedication
 Copyright
 Contents
 Preface
 Acknowledgments
 How to use this Book
 A Note to Doulas
 PART ONE Before the Birth
 1. The Last Weeks of Pregnancy
 What Kind of Birth Partner Will You Be
 Getting Ready for Labor
 Preparing for Life with the Baby
 On to the Next Step . .
 PART TWO Labor and Birth
 2. Getting into Labor
 The Difference Between Prelabor and Labor
 How Long Will Labor Last?
 Signs of Labor
 If the Bag of Waters Breaks Before Labor Begins
 \"False\" Labor, or Prelabor
 Labor Progresses in Six Ways
 Timing Contractions
 3. Moving Through the Stages of Labor. Compare Labor to Running a MarathonPrelabor
 The Dilation, First, Stage
 Early Labor
 Getting into Active Labor (3 to 5 Centimeters Dilation)
 Active Labor
 Transition
 The Birthing, Second, Stage
 The Resting Phase
 The Descent Phase
 The Crowning and Birth Phase
 The Placental, Third, Stage
 The Recovery and Bonding, Fourth, Stage
 Normal Labor-in a Nutshell
 4. Comfort Measures for Labor
 Pain versus Suffering
 The Three Rs: Relaxation, Rhythm, and Ritual
 Self-Help Comfort Measures
 Comfort Aids and Devices
 Comforting Techniques
 Taking Care of Yourself. Checklist of Comfort Measures for Labor5. Strategies for Challenging Variations in Normal Labor
 The Take-Charge Routine
 On-the-Spot Coaching (When You Have Had No Childbirth Classes)
 The Very Rapid Labor
 The Emergency Delivery
 When Labor Must Start (Labor-Stimulating Measures)
 The Slow-to-Start Labor
 Slow Progress in Active Labor and the Birthing Stage- with or without Back Pain
 When the Birthing Person Must Labor in Bed
 A Breech Baby
 A Previous Disappointing or Traumatic Birth Experience
 Incompatibility with the Nurse or Caregiver
 PART THREE The Medical Side of Childbirth. Key Questions for Informed Decision-Making6. Tests, Technologies, Interventions, and Procedures
 Late-Pregnancy Tests
 Essential Observations During Labor
 Conditions Influencing the Use of Intervention During Labor
 Common Obstetric Interventions
 7. Complications in Late Pregnancy, Labor, or Afterward
 Complications for the Pregnant Person
 Complications with Labor Progress
 Complications with the Fetus
 Complications in the Placental Stage
 Complications with the Newborn
 After It Is All Over
 8. Medications for Pain During Labor
 Management of Normal Labor without Pain Medications. What You Both Need to Know About Pain MedicationsKnow How the Birthing Person Feels About Using Pain Medications
 9. Cesarean Birth and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean
 Know the Nonmedical Reasons for Cesarean Birth and Factors to Consider
 Know the Medical Reasons for Cesarean Birth
 Know What to Expect During Cesarean Birth
 Your Role During and After a Cesarean Birth
 Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) and Trial of Labor after Cesarean (TOLAC)
 PART FOUR After the Birth
 10. The First Days Postpartum
 The First Few Hours
 The First Few Days for the Baby
 The First Few Days for the Birthing Parent.