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Spring 2018
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you make nasty noises. as a baby descends through the
birth
canal, air gets forced out the anus, so be prepared to pass gas. this is especially likely if you've had an epidural, which paralyzes the anal sphincter. another unpleasant side effect of
child
birth
: you may have a bowel movement right on the delivery table. ?gas and bowel movements are very common, expected, and natural. we o?en see passage of stools with effective pushing,? explains dr. lewis. your mind goes blank. in the heat of the moment, it can be easy to forget what they taught you in child
birth
class. ?i couldn't remember the various positions i was supposed to get into to ease
labor
pains,? says new mom elizabeth estes niven. ?instead, i stayed flat on my back, gripping the bed railing.? you?re also likely to forget many of the details of the
birth
. so be sure your partner takes plenty of photos or captures it all on video. it?s not always love at first sight. don?t feel bad if your first reaction to holding your newborn isn't overwhelming joy. you?ve just been through an exhausting experience and need time to recover. if you can, try breastfeeding?then try to get some rest while your baby sleeps.
labor
?s tough for dads, too! the nerve-racking beep of the fetal monitor. all those bodily fluids. your roller-coaster emotions. child
birth
can be difficult for dad, too. some dads have even been asked to leave the room due to them making their wives more nervous. if you suspect your partner might not have the stomach for
labor
, bring a second person along. your best bet: a female friend or family member who has given
birth
herself and knows just what to expect, or a
birth
doula. s p r i n g 2 018 | p i n k ? b l u e 3 7
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