The wait between conception and birth might seem to take forever, but it can be a hurried time on the day a baby is born. While the parents might have gotten everything ready for birth, it is suddenly a time when they wonder if they have prepared enough. No matter what they have already done, it can be a day of emotional swings that will sweep them off their feet. If everything goes well, they will still experience feelings they might not have expected. There will be times when things do not go as planned, and their anxiety could also soar.
The Birthing Plan
Modern couples are encouraged to begin planning their child’s birth as early as possible, and many of them come up with the birthing plan they believe will get them through this momentous occasion. Some couples prefer to have just a doctor in attendance at the hospital, but others have opted to have a midwife at a birthing center. Their choices will be noted in the medical records, and everyone hopes their plan will become a reality. When emergencies arise, the couple will be going to the hospital no matter their plan in the hopes of having a healthy deliver for mother and child.
The Due Date
Babies have a way of making their own choices even as they are completely dependent on their mothers for shelter and sustenance, so it is little wonder that many babies are not born on their due date. This is an estimate date of arrival, and labor can begin before it has arrived. Some women need assistance to give birth, and they will often be induced into labor within one week after their date has passed. The baby might not arrive quite on the due date, but the parents will be filled with joy whenever it does make an appearance.
The Hospital Stay
In decades past, many women were kept in the hospital as long as a month before they were allowed to go home with their new baby. Modern medical professionals have found this unnecessary unless there are complications, so they send most mothers and children home within a few days. For those who need medical support, the hospital stay will last as long as it takes for them to be able to go home without medical concerns. It might not be the best scenario for new parents to have their time together in that type of environment, but many of them are more than willing to endure it for the health of their family.
Getting ready for birth today is not much more complex than it was a few years ago, and medical professionals have worked out many ways to make it easy for new parents to have their child. While the baby might be born before or after their due date, ensuring their health is the first goal of the doctors, nurses, and midwives in attendance. Bringing home a healthy baby is what parents prepare for, and many modern ones have found their dreams of a happy and healthy birth coming true.
