Labor terms

It’s important to know what may happen when you go into labor. You deserve and need to understand your care.

Talk to your doctor or midwife about these terms so you feel confident going into your birth:

• Electronic Monitoring: Instruments used to record the heartbeat of the baby and your contractions.
  • Option: Monitoring only when needed instead of all the time, so I can walk around during my labor. Please note that it’s necessary to be monitored all the time if you have Pitocin or an epidural.
• IV-Intravenous Line: Delivers fluids and medications directly into a vein.
  • Option: Eating and drinking during labor instead of getting fluids in an IV. Asking for a Heplock just in case an IV is needed. A Heplock means an IV is started, but no fluids are given and you can walk around without an IV pole.
• Breaking my water: Breaking the bag of water by a doctor or midwife. The bag of water provides a cushion that may lessen the pain of labor. Sometimes breaking the bag of water can help labor to move forward.
  • Option: Allowing my bag of water to break by itself, if possible.
• Induction: Forcing labor to begin. There are times when induction is necessary. It’s very important to talk to your doctor or midwife about these situations. March of Dimes recommends that labor should not be induced before 39 weeks unless there is a medical reason.
  • Induction may be needed if:
    • Your water has broken and labor has not begun within 24 hours.
    • Your pregnancy lasts longer than 42 weeks.
    • You have high blood pressure or diabetes.
    • You have an infection in your uterus.
    • Your baby is growing too slowly.
  • Option: Trying natural measures first to start labor when pregnancy is healthy and has reached 40 weeks or longer. Allowing my labor to begin on its own, if possible.
• Pitocin: Medication given in a vein to help start labor or make labor stronger. Please note that Pitocin contractions are stronger and more painful than natural contractions. It’s important to talk to your doctor or midwife about your options if you need to be induced.
  • Ask your healthcare provider:
    • Is my cervix soft and ready to open?
    • What can be done to help soften my cervix before Pitocin is given?
  • Option: Allowing my labor to start or get stronger by itself. Trying non-drug methods like walking, changing positions, acupressure, nipple stimulation or sex, if possible.
• Epidural: Medication given around the spinal cord which may lessen the pain of contractions. A labor epidural partially blocks feeling from the belly down to the legs.
  • Some important things to know are:
    • Gives the most effective pain relief.
    • Can allow you to rest and finish dilating, so you have enough energy to push your baby out.
    • Can cause your blood pressure and the baby’s heart rate to drop.
    • Can cause labor to slow down and increase the need for Pitocin.
    • Makes it more difficult to move and change positions, or feel the urge to push.
    • May increase the chance of c-section.
  • Option: Waiting until active labor to get an epidural. Asking for a lighter dose epidural so I can feel the urge to push, my legs are not numb and I can move around while I push my baby out. Using IV pain medication, nitrous oxide or non-drug methods like music, dimmed lights, walking, changing positions, breathing/relaxation, visualization/hypnosis, massage, acupressure, birthing ball, hot/cold pack or shower/bath to help deal with labor pain.
• IV pain medication: Opioids given in an IV that may take the edge off labor pain. IV pain medication does not take away labor pain or block feeling.
  • Some important things to know are:
    • Can help you relax.
    • Only lasts a short time.
    • Makes some people feel dizzy or high.
    • Can make it more difficult for the baby to breathe if given right before birth.
  • Option: Using an epidural, nitrous oxide or non-drug methods to help deal with labor pain.
• Inhaled analgesia (Nitrous oxide): Pain management option in some hospitals and birth centers. The same as laughing gas that dentists use. May take the edge off labor pain. Nitrous oxide is self-administered through a mask.
  •  Some important things to know are:
    • Can help you relax.
    • Must be used during each contraction for pain relief.
    • Makes some people feel dizzy or nauseous.
  • Option: Using an epidural, IV pain medication or non-drug methods to help deal with labor pain.
• Episiotomy: Cut made to enlarge the vaginal opening for baby to pass through. Research suggests that a natural tear heals better than an episiotomy. Many tears are preventable. Talk to your doctor or midwife about using good positioning (not on your back), perineal support (warm compresses) and slow delivery of the baby’s head, if possible.
  • Episiotomy may be needed if:
    • You are having trouble pushing your baby out.
    • Your baby is in distress or there is an emergency.
    • Vacuum or forceps are needed.
  • Option: Working with my healthcare provider to help prevent a tear. Allowing my tissues to tear naturally instead of having an episiotomy, if possible. Good nutrition helps you to have healthy tissues and faster healing. Using perineal massage may help prevent tearing. Try pushing in an upright, side-lying or all-fours position instead of on your back. Ask your doctor or midwife to try warm compresses and to help you breathe your baby out slowly.
• Vacuum or Forceps: Instruments to help the baby come out if you have trouble pushing right before birth or if the baby is in distress.
  • Option: Doing things to help prevent the need for vacuum or forceps. Pushing in an upright, side-lying or all-fours position instead of on my back. Asking for a lighter dose epidural so I can feel the urge to push, my legs are not numb and I can move around while I push my baby out. Allowing my body to rest and labor down after I am fully dilated before I start pushing. Following my body’s urge to push instead of being coached or told to hold my breath and push for a count of 10.
• C-Section: Baby is born by surgery. A doctor makes an incision in the abdomen and uterus. Most of the time epidural or spinal analgesia is used to completely block feeling from the belly down to the legs. This allows you to be awake for the baby’s birth, but not feel any pain.
  • C-section may be needed if:
    • Labor is not progressing normally.
    • Your baby is in distress or there is an emergency.
    • Your baby is not in a head-down position (breech).
    • You are carrying more than one baby (twins).
    • There is a problem with the placenta or umbilical cord.
    • You have or develop certain health conditions.
    • You have already had a c-section.
  • Option: Talking to my doctor or midwife about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Asking my doctor if the baby can be turned. Avoiding induction, if possible. Waiting until active labor to get an epidural.