7 Things That No One Tells You About Giving Birth

Giving birth is both the most astonishing and dreaded part of pregnancy, and it is experienced differently by every woman. That is why it is such a special moment. It’s a blind date, where you know you’ll end up totally in love with the person that’s about to come into the world. Childbirth, so necessary and at times, so feared, remains largely unknown.

It doesn’t matter if the birth is by C-section, in a bathtub, in your bed, or in the hospital bed… the reality is that the moment of seeing their baby for the first time is the most tender and the most beautiful thing that some parents can experience in their lives.

Giving birth is an unforgettable and special moment. But there are a few things you might not know about childbirth that may surprise you.

Due dates are not accurate.

It is true that sometimes they do get it right but usually this is a rare occurrence. As women, we like to know that pregnancy is not forever and that the due date will be the end, but this is not always the case and sometimes pregnancy lasts longer than we expect.

Only 5% of women give birth on their due date, so don’t worry if your child comes into the world before or after that date. What matters is that they are healthy!

An epidural doesn’t always work.

All pregnant women in the world should know that an epidural is not a miracle cure and does not always function. An epidural helps women to not feel pain during childbirth in the lower part of her body. It is injected with a needle in the back.

But having the epidural doesn’t mean you don’t feel anything. Some women have some numbness in their legs, others feel some sensitivity, others have stomach pain, and others are not affected at all or not as much as they should be. If you are at all unsure, you should always consult your doctor.

You cannot eat or drink once you have an epidural.

It is a good idea to eat before going to the hospital and then have the epidural administered since with or without it, giving birth requires effort. But while you have an epidural, you won’t be able to eat or drink anything which can cause you to feel a little weak when going through labor.

You could have a bowel movement while you are giving birth.

You wouldn’t be the first or the last woman in the world who has a bowel movement while clenching during contractions. It’s kind of unpleasant, but it happens a lot more often than women like to admit. If it happens to you, don’t feel ashamed, the nurses are more than accustomed to this.

Childbirth is not over when the baby is born.

When your baby is already out, you will probably have to make one more final effort and push in order to deliver the placenta that harbored your baby. But don’t worry because it’s usually pretty fast and the pain is nothing compared to contractions.

Your baby will be born covered by a white substance.

When your baby is born, you will notice that their skin is covered by a white, sticky substance that looks like cheese. This is called the vernix caseosa and protects the baby’s skin inside the uterus. But after you wash the baby, that will fall off by itself and the baby won’t notice it. Then you’ll see how soft and delicate their skin is.

Your baby’s head will change shape.

If you have had a vaginal birth, the bones in your baby’s head are likely to have been compressed in order for it to be able to exit through the birth canal. But don’t worry, because it will gradually start to take on a round shape. For a few days it can appear to be cone-shaped, but that will be temporary.

These were 7 things that no one tells you about giving birth, but that are very important to know in order to be prepared for when the big moment arrives.