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Postnatal & Parenting

While this is in no way a complete handbook (if only one existed), you can definitely find some tips and tricks here that will help you make the transition into parenthood.

Recovering from preterm delivery

One in eight babies is this country is born earlier than 37 weeks. Find out what you should do if you have symptoms of a preterm labor, what happens during a preterm delivery, how it might impact your baby, and when you can bring your baby home. Complications of premature birth may include low birth rate and lung problems such as neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. There is good news for women who have delivered a premature baby and are considering pregnancy again. In the last several years, research studies have found that treatment with the hormone progesterone reduces the rate of premature birth among some women. Find out if progesterone treatment might be a good choice for you.

New parent support groups

Being a new parent can be daunting. Take advantage of the free support groups offered by PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, including breastfeeding, multiples, Mothers Share (for parents with children 0–6 months) and Mommies & Movers (for parents with children 6 month+).

Premature birth

Sometimes it is not possible to delay premature labor and your baby must be delivered preterm. Any baby that is born before the 37th week is considered preterm. The closer you are to 37 weeks at the time of delivery, the more developed the baby will be and the less likely it will have serious problems.

Likewise, the earlier you are in your pregnancy when you deliver, the higher the likelihood for the baby to have more serious complications. If it is possible to delay your delivery, even for just 48 hours, your doctor may try to do so. You will usually receive an injection of corticosteroids, medications that help the baby's lungs mature before delivery.

The prognosis for a premature baby depends on the baby's age and size at the time of delivery. Statistically, the chance for a premature baby's survival is based on the baby's age, weight, ability to breathe, and how other factors present at the time of delivery.

Read the full article >

Ask the Expert

Q: What to do if you have symptoms of preterm labor?

A: Call your health care provider or go to the hospital right away if you think you are having preterm labor. Your provider may tell you to:

Come to the office or go to the hospital for evaluation.
Stop what you are doing and rest on your left side for one hour.
Drink 2–3 glasses of water or juice (not coffee or soda).

If the symptoms get worse, or don't go away after one hour, call your health care provider again or go to the hospital. If the symptoms go away, take it easy for the rest of the day. If the symptoms stop but come back, call your health care provider again or go to the hospital.

When you call your provider, be sure to tell the person on the phone that you are concerned about the possibility of preterm labor. The only way your provider can know if preterm labor is starting is by doing an internal examination of your cervix (the bottom of your uterus). If your cervix is opening up (dilating), preterm labor could be beginning.

You and your health care provider are a team, working together to have a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. Your team works best when both of you participate fully, so your knowledge about preterm labor can be essential in helping to prevent a preterm birth. Talk to your health care provider about all of this, and be sure to keep all of your prenatal care appointments. Preterm birth is one of the complications of pregnancy that health care providers are working hard to eliminate. Your participation in this effort is just as important as theirs!

Get more postnatal answers from our experts >

Ask the Expert is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read here.

Book Review:

Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies

By Dana Wechsler Linden and Emma Trenti Paroli

Linden and Paroli, mothers who met in the hospital when their preemies were born, and neonatologist Doron present a comprehensive guidebook for parents whose babies are born prematurely. One out of 10 babies in the U.S. is born early, but in half of these cases the mothers have no known risk of giving birth prematurely, so they can't prepare for the whirlwind of unexpected events and emotions they will experience in the neonatal unit. The authors fulfill the need for information with remarkable clarity, offering answers to a multitude of questions. Divided into four sections (Before Birth, In the Hospital, A Life Together and Other Considerations), the book covers risk factors, the first day, the first week, surgery, taking the baby home and many other topics. Each section contains personal observations from parents of preemies, insightful comments from "the doctor's perspective" and information on procedures, equipment, common problems and other issues. While medical information is presented in detail, the book maintains a personal, reassuring tone, explaining that, though their organs and body functions are immature, most preemies are basically healthy. Since parents can't always plan ahead for the possibility of a preemie, this book provides a valuable crash course and serves as a useful tool for communicating with medical staff. Includes a helpful resource guide and glossary. (From Publishers Weekly)

Buy from Powells.com
Buy from Amazon.com
Get it from the Multonomah County Library

More book reviews >

	Share your story
There’s a new life in your life, which translates into lots of stories. Funny stories, sad stories, uplifting stories. We want to hear them. Join the community today to share your stories. Or select one of the blog entries below to read what other parents have to say.

Work/Life Balance: What Decision Did You Make? (by Sarah on 27-Aug-10; 33 comments)

Working from home has its perks . . . and pitfalls (by nikkik on 27-Jul-10; 21 comments)

Stay at home or go to work? (by emmareaghansmommy on 27-Jul-10; 21 comments)

Healthy home for baby (by YBYWadmin on 6-May-10; 20 comments)

Adding organic foods to your family's diet (on a budget!) (by YBYWadmin on 6-May-10; 14 comments)

Daily Routines aren't Humdrum (by familybirthcenter on 2-Jan-10; 22 comments)

Breastfeeding article (by nikkik on 3-Dec-09; 44 comments)

Foster Parents: Thank you (by nikkik on 24-Sep-09; 33 comments)

How did I ever live without . . . (by nikkik on 20-Sep-09; 15 comments)

Choosing a daycare (by emmareaghansmommy on 8-Sep-09; 13 comments)

Birth Order (by nikkik on 5-Sep-09; 12 comments)

Existing Members

Featured Partner

Blessings of Birth Doula & Childbirth Services—“Where Moms are Pampered.” Tina Black, Certified Doula & Childbirth Educator. Offering childbirth classes, birth doula services, breastfeeding assistance and more. (Kelso | 360-431-8275)

Local Angle

Encouragement + An Assist = Success

Nine days past her due date, Sara Howe was awakened at 3:00AM when her water broke. Thrilled that the long wait was finally over, Sara and her husband David packed up and headed to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. By 5:00AM they were comfortably settled into one of PeaceHealth Southwest’s Labor Delivery Recovery and Postpartum rooms, ready for action. But four hours later, Sara contractions had still not progressed so her midwife started her on Pitocin. Soon the contractions kicked in and Sara was well on her way.

At around eight o’clock the next morning, it was time for Sara to start pushing. So she pushed. And she pushed, and she pushed, and she pushed. "The first few hours of pushing went by without me realizing the time," remarked Sara. "But around the fourth hour I started to wonder if I was still making progress. That is when the encouragement of my midwife, husband and the PeaceHealth Southwest nursing staff kept me going. It was like I had my own cheering section."

Unfortunately, even with all the support and encouragement, Sara’s labor was not progressing because her baby’s head was tilted in the birth canal. Neither Sara or her midwife wanted her to have a Cesarean section after all that work, so her midwife suggested an assisted delivery. Read more >

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