The mother has to undergo lot of pain and stress during the birth of the child. Before she can recuperate, the onus of baby care falls on her. If she has no help, she gets no time for herself but is in constant motion. In addition she has to cook, wash and clean. The burden piles up and the effect is extremely negative. If no remedial measures are taken to ease the stress, some women are known to harm the baby.

In the beginning the depression is light and is referred to as baby blues. The symptoms are experienced by almost eighty percent of the women who have just had a baby and may last up to six weeks. This is the time needed by the woman to find her feet and get used to a new routine where her baby reigns supreme.

The intensity of depression is not too much. If her husband or some relative takes over the care of the child for some time, she is able to rest and sleep. When she is refreshed, she is once again ready to meet her obligations.

About fifteen percent of new mothers experience a severer and longer lasting form of depression. This is called postpartum depression and is regarded as a disorder. This may last for months – even up to an year. Those suffering from it are constantly in a state of depression and their mood does not lighten.

Even if someone is willing to help out by taking the duty of care of the baby on himself, the mother is unable to relax or sleep. Even if she listens to music or goes out she is unable to enjoy herself and get over her depression. She feels too burdened to do anything save think of how much work is pending.

Both types of depression may disappear without treatment. However, if the mother is very disturbed she will require treatment and a psychiatrist should be consulted. Those around her should understand her situation and be ready to help and sympathise with her. They should assist her in her daily chores and take up some of her duties so that she has time to rest and relax.

Prepare yourself for a natural delivery by doing appropriate exercises beginning a couple of weeks before the baby is due. The best exercise is to practice squatting. It can be done in a few easy steps:

1. Hold on to a low table or bed firmly
2. Take a deep breath and squat
3. Breathe out and stand
4. Repeat about ten times or as many times you are comfortable with

When contractions actually start try to relax in between the contractions. You can play soft soothing music to help you relax. Do not panic or worry. Banish any negative thoughts. Think that you are in the safe hands of doctors and nurses and all will go well. It will be of great help to have your husband with you in the hospital. He can comfort you and administer to your needs. He too will feel part of the delivery process and will be able to bond with the baby.

Breathe in and out slowly during contractions. You can walk around in the room if that helps. Walking will help to ease the pain and the delivery will also be quicker. Do not shout or scream. It will tire you out and you need to save your energy for the birthing process.

You can talk softly to your unborn child. He is your partner in the whole process and is being squeezed by the contractions. Focusing on your chid will fill your heart with joy. You have imagined holding him and made so many preparations for him and now the anticipated time is drawing closer. Don’t concentrate on the pain but think of happy times and beautiful memories.

An epidural can be injected once the cervix opens about two centimetres. An epidural is a local anaesthetic given in the spine to numb the lower area. Doctor is the best judge to decide the time the epidural should be injected. If you request it, the anaesthesiologist will study your medical history, do a blood test and make a note of allergies and diseases like high blood pressure.

If you tell the doctor in advance that you will want an epidural these tests can be carried out before hand. She will examine you, ask you to bend over and give you the injection. After five to ten minutes it will act and you will not feel pain any more. With a painless delivery you will not be worn out and will be able to look after your baby right away.

Hypnobirthing is a technique of relaxing and reprogramming the mind of pregnant woman in a manner that she develops a feeling that giving birth to a child is a process filled with happiness and comfort and is a smooth process without subsequent complications. This is a hypnotherapy by which the sub conscious mind is hypnotised and the mind and soul are relaxed to the fullest possible extent. This is not a magic treatment but is logical and can be explained scientifically.

During hypobirthing session, a pregnant woman is made to relax her mind, muscles and breath. A positive thought is introduced in her mind about the process of natural birth in such a way that the mind starts to believe that this is not a painful process. The subconscious mind records a major part of the message itself and always advises the conscious mind of what has been registered in it.

Hypnobirthing can be started as soon as the pregnancy is discovered. The longer the training the more effective it will be to train the mother of the positive suggestions and intentions regarding child birth. This needs to be done by trained teachers. The following steps are involved:

• Pregnant woman is made to be comfortable in a calm room.
• She is made to relax fully with the help of some soothing music.
• This is coupled with aromatherapy to make her fully relaxed both physically and mentally.
• Once the woman is fully relaxed and receptive, the trainer gives suggestions and positive intentions about the pleasure of giving birth to a child fully relaxed and being the mother of a new soul.

The first time mothers are benefited in the following manner:

• Fully relaxed and fearless mind helps the mother to have healthy and happy pregnancy, the foetus develops well and birth is given to a healthy child.
• There are instances to show that with relaxed mind the chances of nausea and dizziness are reduced.
• Being mentally satisfied and relaxed the chances of postpartum depression are eliminated to a great extent.
• Being mentally relaxed the desire to use drugs during the child birth are reduced to minimum.
• The woman does not develop hypertension, reducing the chances of damage to the foetus and reduces intake of medicines.

The developing child is also benefit to a great extent as the mother is relaxed.

Vaginal tear is quite a common injury suffered by the mother at the time of the birth of child. If the head of the child is large or it is a breach baby, the skin between the vagina and anus may get torn. To avoid this problem doctors often apply a cut to this portion of the skin. After the birth of the child it is sewed again. The cut may sometimes get infected due to incorrect stitching. The cut can be a cause of excessive bleeding or rectal problem may occur.

Due to pressure of the child on the intestines it is quite common for a woman to develop fissures in the skin around anus. Fissures are often confused with piles but the pain in case of fissures is more severe as compared to piles.

Caesarean section is carried out for giving birth to a child when there are complications and a normal birth is not possible. This is also done due to the choice of the women who do not want to undergo labour pains. A cut is made in the mother’s abdomen and wall of the uterus. This also carries the risk of excessive bleeding or infection may develop in some cases.

During pregnancy there are chances of rise of blood pressure level and also of protein in the urine of the mother. Swelling of various organs, weight gain and loss of vision are other symptoms. Failure to manage these may result in death or serious injury to the mother’s body. The mother is also likely to develop infection in the urinary track of in the cuts made to smoothen the birth of the child. In such a case the stay in hospital can be extended, resulting in excessive cost and discomfort to you and attendants. To avoid this, use clean linen and wash hands regularly with some antiseptic soap.

Some people are allergic to anaesthetic drugs. Anaesthesia is often given during making a cut to widen the vaginal tract when performing a caesarean. It is necessary to inform your doctor about the allergic effect of some medicines on you.

Many more procedures need to be carried out for the injuries sustained depending upon the condition of the patient and complications that arise or have arisen during the process of child birth. These need to be attended on case to case basis.

Now a horizontal cut is made which has lessened this risk. Also there is no ugly scar showing across the stomach. Unless there is a medical complication, like a breach baby, doctors are willing to advise a vaginal birth instead of another c-section. The width of the hips on the outside does not indicate the space the pelvic bones afford for the passage of the baby, so it has to be carefully evaluated.

It is much better to go in for a vaginal birth because a c-section means major abdominal surgery. There is always some danger present although surgery is much safer now. Even after the delivery the mother is not able to give quality care to the baby as there is bound to be pain in the cut.

A vaginal birth is the way nature intended babies to be born and is much safer. The mother is able to sit up after delivery and nurse her baby. After a c-section she is in much pain and has to lie straight on the bed with her feet propped up, unable to attend to her child’s needs.

Sometimes a c-section is scheduled without labour pains even having started. At times it may be necessary but then certain advantages are lost. During labour some hormones are released which are beneficial for both the mother and baby. These may partly be recouped if the mother is allowed to go through some labour pains and then the necessary surgery performed.

When the baby is being squeezed out through the birth canal he is cleansed of mucus and other membranes. There are no residual fluids and his airways are clear. When the baby is lifted from the uterus by a doctor he has to be cleaned manually and may have some difficulty in breathing.

With surgery, the mother has to undergo a longer recovery period as the wound has to heal before she can be up and about. She will need help with her chores and also her diet may be restricted. Sometimes the wound gets infected causing further problems.

All these factors must be weighed and only after a thorough discussion with a doctor, the decision of vaginal or caesarean birth be taken.

When a lady gets pregnant for the first time and does not have the assistance of some older members of family who can clear her doubts, various apprehensions surface about some existent or nonexistent issues. With vast resources of information available now in books and over the internet it has become easy to clear them. However where ever possible, for safe and happy pregnancy assistance of doula can be taken.

Before you decide to take her assistance it is essential that the matter should be properly discussed with your husband. He is the person who will bear the cost and will be faced the existence of a stranger in the home. Once decided you can start search in yellow pages or on the net. Certain doulas have formed associations at different places, and they can be contacted. Before finalising it may be necessary to interview more than one prospective candidate.

While interviewing or discussing with the postpartum doula, be clear of what you expect from her. When you want her to join you, and be very clear about the cost involved and the time she will spend with you. Once it is decided to hire her, try to be friendly with her and ask her about the minutest doubts you have about pregnancy and child birth. Due to her training and previous experience she will be able to clear your doubts and apprehensions. This way you will enjoy your pregnancy and child birth.

Once the child is born you can continue to employ her for another month or so. She will be able to teach you about breast feeding the child. She will also be able to provide training to you and your husband as to how to take care of the child, how to keep your child clean and give bath to the child and how to pick her up, and much more. By the time she is ready to part you will be trained to look after the child independently.

With time, to overcome certain medical complications and in case of emergency, birth by caesarean method came in being. In addition medical science devised certain other methods of child bird including birth in water. The aim of these new discoveries was to reduce discomfort caused due to labour pains.

Now a lady has a number of options for giving birth to the child. She can decide to stay at home for delivery and take the assistance of some qualified nurse. The advantage is that the she has slightly more freedom of movement. If allowed by the nurse she can complete labour moving around. The major disadvantage is that help may not be immediately available in case of emergency.

The next is admission in hospital for giving normal birth with the help of a gynaecologist. This is definitely a better option. In case of need full medical assistance is available. If need be another method of delivery can be adopted. The disadvantage is that you will have to follow the hospital rules regarding lying on bed immobile during labour pains.

To overcome the discomfort of labour pain these days many women are opting for cesarean delivery. When the pains just start and the child is ready to be born the patient is operated upon and child is taken out. Post operative care is needed for another seven to ten days after which the mother is normal and can move around.

To overcome the discomfort of labour pain a number of other methods of delivery are being devised and tried. The one method now quite often used is delivery in water. The lady is made to float in water. Due to gravitational upward push of water her body floats. This helps reduce pain undergone at the time of delivery.

Other methods used include suction of child by vacuum pump or pulling out the child with the help of tongs. These are risky to a great extent. The decision of the methods to be adopted is of the individual woman. It is necessary that the decision should be taken in advance so that there is no last minute confusion and you have happy delivery and give birth to a healthy child.