Pregnancy, especially for first-time moms, can be both wonderful and anxiety-inducing. Luckily, there are a lot of great resources for women who have questions or need advice. Other women, midwives, nurses, mothers, and tons of online and print pieces are out there. On the other end of the spectrum, almost every mom-to-be will end up receiving unsolicited pregnancy advice as well.
While typically well-intentioned, unsolicited advice often ventures away from facts and into tall tales and myths. Some myths become so popular that they actually become accepted as fact. Labor and delivery, like pregnancy, is littered with common myths that sound just plausible enough to be true.
In this blog, our providers at Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery separate common myths and facts about labor.
Myth: Perhaps we can blame movies and TV shows for this one. They need a dramatic start to labor. In real life, only about 20% of women experience water that breaks as soon as labor begins. Additionally, you don’t need to worry about ruining your shoes or the floor as amniotic fluid splashes all around you. While you certainly may be aware that your water has broken, most women experience a leak or trickle.
Myth: This myth is too good to be true, and you can leave the hot sauce where it belongs — in your fridge. Spicy food may irritate your intestines enough to cause cramping, but buffalo wings are more likely to cause heartburn than induce labor. Multiple studies have looked at this connection, and only one was able to find plausible evidence.
Mixed: More than 60-80% of women are able to give birth vaginally after having their first baby delivered via C-section. However, there are some factors that influence this chance, such as the incision site of the first C-section, the health of the mother and baby, and the point in the pregnancy in which labor begins. At Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery, we’ll work with your OB/GYN to determine if a gentle C-section, which mimics natural birth, is possible.
True: Every labor experience is different, but the averages win out with this one. Labor with a first child typically takes 12-24 hours. With subsequent children, most women average 8-10 hours.
Myth: When both mother and baby are healthy and the pregnancy has gone full-term, you can safely give birth at a birthing center. Women with high-risk pregnancies should plan on a hospital delivery, however. If you choose to work with a midwife and utilize a birthing center, make sure that they have a relationship with an OB/GYN and/or hospital in case of an emergency. Otherwise, you can feel comfortable and safe delivering at a birthing center.
To learn more about pregnancy and labor, book an appointment online or over the phone with Holistic OB/GYN & Midwifery today.
