A lot of media teach expectant mothers how to behave during childbirth for a happy outcome. Special courses are also organized that mothers and future fathers can attend.

However, when contractions begin, you can panic and forget everything, this happens to many women giving birth for the first time. And yet it is better to literally memorize the most important rules that will help not only you, but also the baby. After all, he, too, is undergoing changes that are inexplicable to him.

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The first stage, the first real contractions. How to behave correctly? What should I do, should I rush to the maternity hospital?

Childbirth can be divided into 3 stages, and they last up to 18 hours for women giving birth for the first time, and up to 12 hours for experienced women. The first stage can be felt the day before: weak contractions begin, which last no more than 30 seconds. They repeat approximately every half hour. This is not a reason to worry, this is how labor should begin.

Make sure you collect the necessary things, continue to be at home, and do light activities. Right now it is advisable to do an enema and not eat anymore.

How to understand the onset of the second stage of labor? When is it time to go to the maternity hospital?

The second stage differs in the nature of the contractions: they become longer (up to 3 minutes), and the interval between them is reduced to 2 minutes. If you went to the hospital in advance, for example, on the recommendation of a doctor, continue to behave calmly, but warn the medical staff about your condition. It is advisable not to lie down, but to walk or stand. If you are at home, the time has come to go to the maternity hospital. Now you must listen to the obstetricians and follow all their recommendations. At the same time, do not forget the rules on how to behave competently during childbirth so that it is less painful.

So, remember the main ones:

1 .Don't tense your body muscles. Relax them throughout labor.

2. Breathe slowly and deeply. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. Your correct breathing is important for the normal passage of the baby through the birth canal.

3. Set yourself up for good emotions and be positive. Don't be angry, don't be irritated, calm down and talk to your child. You will meet him soon!

The second stage can last 6-10 hours. Now is the right time to give yourself acupressure, which will partially relieve the pain. From the front, press with your thumbs on the anterosuperior edges of the iliac bones, and from behind, press on the lumbar rhombus. If the pain becomes unbearable and you are giving birth for the first time, you may be given a pain-relieving injection. It will not eliminate pain completely, but it will make you feel better.

Stage three: labor has begun. How should you behave when labor has already begun? How to breathe correctly, how to help the baby be born?

At stage 3, you will feel the urge to push. Now you will be taken to the delivery room, or you are already in the prenatal room. In the delivery room you will be offered lie down on the birthing table. How to lie on it correctly? You need to rest your feet on the table and hold on to the handrails with your hands.

When the doctor tells you to push, you will need to take a deep breath and hold your breath. Then strain your abdominal muscles and exhale air through your mouth. After this, you can relax and repeat everything as the midwife suggests.

The most important moment - the emergence of the baby's head - occurs not while pushing, but in a relaxed state. You are breathing through your mouth at this moment. Try not to forget this at the most important moment, since labor can really be made easier with proper breathing. You help the baby when the head comes out by being calm.

And when the hangers come out behind it one by one, you will have to push one more time. This will require effort, since reflexively you will want to push even at the moment the head comes out.

How to set yourself up for psychological positivity? Who will help you do everything right?

Don't worry if you forget everything. There will be a doctor and midwife nearby, and they will tell you how to do the right thing. The fear that literally shackles many women before childbirth can harm the process. Psychological discomfort can turn into physical, so it is important to behave correctly in this matter.

Try to communicate with positive people at home and in the maternity hospital, and believe in a successful birth yourself. U Loyalty is given by women who have already given birth and whose birth went well. It is their support that will be very useful to you.

The absence of fear is already a favorable birth, so wait for your baby in a joyful mood, and you just need to endure the pain for the sake of the baby. Many women worry about the attitude of doctors and midwives towards them on the day of birth. If you are afraid that they will be rude to you or raise their voice, it is better in advance, even during pregnancy, to find out the opinions of friends who have given birth about different maternity hospitals.

You have the right to choose where exactly you want to give birth. In any case, behave calmly, as you can make labor easier on your own. This is the main goal you are striving for: a calm psychological state will add many chances to a successful birth.

What happens in the first minutes after birth? What does the doctor do immediately after childbirth? How should a woman in labor behave?

Immediately after the baby is born, the placenta should come out. To do this, you may have to slightly strain yourself one more time, or it will be enough for the midwife to lightly press on your stomach. After this, the doctor will check the integrity of the tissues of the cervix and perineum. If there are tears, they will be sewn up immediately. At this time you do not need to do anything, you will not feel pain or discomfort. You will be happy and completely occupied with your newly born baby. Congratulations!

How to behave during childbirth, video

Many pregnant women with their first child are frightened by various “horror stories” about contractions. Yes, this is the most painful and lengthy stage of childbirth, but the greater the fear and the less psychological readiness, the more you will have to suffer. Forewarned is forearmed. Arm yourself with the knowledge of what awaits you before the long-awaited meeting with your child.

What you need to know about contractions

Labor begins with contractions. Contractions, unlike pushing, are an uncontrollable process; you cannot influence it in any way. You can only know what is happening and how to behave correctly so as not to harm either the baby or your health.

The first thing that distinguishes real contractions from precursors or training contractions is their regularity. Therefore, as soon as you feel nagging painful sensations in the area of ​​the sacrum, lower back, abdomen, notice the beginning and end of these sensations. Then note the time between two contractions. If spasms begin at regular intervals and are the same in duration, this is the beginning of contractions.

During the first pregnancy, provided that it is progressing well, you need to go to the maternity hospital when contractions begin to recur after 10 minutes. If your water breaks or there is bleeding, you should go to the maternity hospital immediately.

How to behave during contractions

The most important thing is a positive attitude. There is no need to panic or be afraid. Not a single pregnant woman escaped childbirth, everyone somehow survived it, and you will survive it.

During the onset of contractions, it is best not to lie down, but to walk. This promotes rapid dilatation of the cervix. Your baby and you need oxygen and strength, so breathe deeply and calmly, rest between contractions. You can even sleep. It takes a lot of strength to push, take care and save up your strength.

Any position of the body is not forbidden, as long as it relieves pain. You can stand on all fours, dance, rotate your hips, place your stomach under the running water, swing while lying on a huge inflatable ball. Read the forums of women who have given birth - you won’t find any weird poses there. A light massage of the sacrum, legs or feet helps a lot.

Contractions will intensify until your baby is born. During the next stages of labor, make it your goal to strictly follow the instructions of the midwife or doctor. They know what you should do and at what time. Breathe, tense and relax, following their instructions exactly. Even if it seems to you that you no longer have the strength to do this, do not doubt that you have the strength. Let them be given to you by the realization that by doing this you are helping your child, who is now going through a period no less difficult than you. And don’t forget that you are a mother and should think about the baby first. Who will help him if not you?

Is pain necessary during contractions?

In about 3% of women, contractions are almost painless, and some even experience pleasant physical sensations from the birth process. Who knows, maybe you are one of them?

God, who created man, also took care of the process of childbirth. The female body is designed in such a way that it produces painkillers during labor. And you are well prepared for childbirth: you have learned to relax, breathe correctly and be positive! As a last resort, you can use medications to relieve pain.

They are known to have an effect on the child; they can only be used in extreme cases.

You will definitely succeed, everything will work out! You and your baby will see each other soon!

Contractions are contractions of the uterus that are necessary to expel the baby from the womb. They are accompanied by severe pain in the back and abdomen. How to behave during contractions to alleviate the condition?

How to behave as an expectant mother during uterine contractions

A woman feels severe pain during contractions. To reduce it, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

1. Most expectant mothers find it easier in an upright position.
2. It is recommended to move to relieve the condition. Doctors advise walking, squatting, and taking a cat pose.
3. If you have a fitball at home, then you can lean on the ball while swinging. There are no specific guidelines. Every woman finds a position that is most comfortable for her. The main thing is to move, as movement is capable of. It also improves uterine contractions.
4. How to behave during childbirth? Having taken a comfortable position, it is recommended not to strain. You should rest between contractions of the uterus. You can even take a nap and save your energy for the birth process.
5. A woman shouldn't worry. Worry only makes the pain worse.
6. To avoid being so painful, it is recommended to think about the upcoming meeting with the baby and set yourself up for the positive. The expectant mother must drive away fear and worries. If the pain becomes stronger, it means that the long-awaited meeting is closer.
7. Doctors advise breathing deeply. You should inhale through your mouth and exhale through your nose.
8. It is better not to take a sitting position.

How does the fetus behave in the womb before birth?

Childbirth brings a woman a lot of new sensations, not always pleasant. But this is also a big test for the baby. After all, he also takes part in the birth process. How does the fetus behave during labor?

It is important that the baby behaves actively during the period of uterine contractions. This will speed up his birth. It becomes easier for a woman if the baby moves.

A child has a natural reflex - pushing off something with his feet. For this reason, during labor, he moves, pushes his limbs away from the walls of the uterus, and presses his head on the bottom of the pelvis. This helps his mother give birth faster.

Having a baby is a difficult process. A woman should prepare for pain and discomfort. But there are some ways to alleviate the condition of the expectant mother that are worth using. The child also helps her with this.

Although the birth of a child is a natural process and everything is provided for by nature itself, the question of how to behave during childbirth in order not only to successfully give birth to a baby, but also to help yourself, interests every expectant mother. That is why the site today will talk about how to get in the right mood for childbirth.

You will learn what you can do and what you shouldn’t do during contractions, how to breathe correctly in order to facilitate and speed up the process of the baby’s birth. When going to the maternity hospital, try to set yourself up for the best and prepare in advance for this important event. After all, knowledge of how to behave correctly during labor and childbirth will greatly help you do everything right and enjoy the fact that it was you who gave life to another person on Earth, the one dearest and most desired to you.

Positive mental attitude

It is very important to prepare yourself psychologically, because the expectant mother, if this is not her second birth, but her first, is frightened by the unknown: how everything will happen, how to pull herself together and how to behave during childbirth so as not to harm the baby with her panic and anxiety?

First, get yourself together. Remember that your attitude and mood are passed on to your child.

Only positive thoughts should visit you at this moment, then the birth of a child will become the most pleasant memory for you. As banal as it may sound, everyone gives birth: those who attended courses for future parents, read a lot and seem to know everything about how to behave correctly during childbirth, and our ancestors who gave birth in the field or at home with one midwife.

No one has remained pregnant yet. Remember that you have already come a long way towards your happiness.

Rejoice! Finally the day has come. Drop all your fears.

Having felt the first signs, tune in to the fact that the last and very important stage remains: the time has come for you and your baby to work hard. The further outcome of the whole process depends on how you react to this. Do not forget that it is difficult not only for you, but also for your child.

And his birth depends on how calmly and confidently you behave during childbirth. This is your first help in this life for your little one.

Try to call on all positive images for help. Remember what helps you take your mind off unpleasant moments.

For example, you can imagine how in a few hours you will tell your girlfriends, friends and relatives that you gave birth. Try to imagine who will react to this news.

You can remember what kind of nursery you prepared for your baby, and how you will soon be walking with the best stroller in the park. Anything to distract yourself and overcome fear.

After all, time moves forward and your meeting with your child is getting closer every minute. Keep yourself in control during unpleasant sensations.

What is happening to you now will not happen again. Even if you are planning a second birth and already know how to behave during childbirth, it will still all happen differently.

And for some mothers, childbirth only happens once. Therefore, focus on what is happening and gain invaluable experience. If you can, try to imagine that everything inside you is filled with sunlight, which will light the way for your baby into this world. Tune in to the fact that the happiness you will experience when a child is born will cover all the pain.

The main thing is to prepare correctly, remember how to behave during childbirth, then you will not panic during the first contractions.

Let us remind you that the entire process of childbirth is divided into certain periods. We will look at you in more detail about how to behave during childbirth, what happens at each stage, but remember one thing: try to relax after each contraction, do not tense up.

This way you will not delay the birth process and distribute your strength evenly. It is very important to breathe correctly and not hold your breath, this will ensure that oxygen enters your blood and avoid oxygen starvation of the fetus.

How to behave during childbirth at different stages

1. Contractions (latent and active phase of labor)

Let's consider the most important questions about how to behave at the very beginning of labor, during the first contractions that begin the process itself.

When you feel the first contraction, try to remember the time of its onset and duration - this will help you not to miss the onset of active labor. During the latent (hidden) phase of labor, contractions last 30 seconds and repeat at intervals of 20 minutes.

During this period you can stay at home, take a shower, bath. You can do a warm enema acidified with apple cider vinegar, drink tea and get ready for a trip to the maternity hospital.

This phase lasts about 6 hours during the first birth, and some women do not even pay attention to slight pain in the lower abdomen, so listen to yourself: remember or write down how long the pain lasts, even subtle ones, and after what time it repeats. During the second and subsequent births, this phase is shorter.

When the contraction lasts 1 minute and repeats regularly after 5 or 7 minutes, start getting ready for the maternity hospital. You can’t eat and need to drink less, it’s better to just rinse your mouth with water. It is also not recommended to lie or sit on a hard surface. You need to breathe deeply and slowly. Inhale deeply through your nose, exhale, which is about 2 seconds longer than your inhalation, through your mouth.

The cervix begins to open, and labor enters the active phase.

The duration of one contraction is 2 minutes, it is repeated every 2 or 3 - 4 minutes. This is the most unpleasant period of childbirth in terms of pain; during the first birth it lasts up to 5 hours, while the contractions intensify and increase.

It is during this period that support from loved ones is important.: husband, girlfriend or mother - those who came with you to the maternity hospital. You can take a player with your favorite music from home in advance, beautiful photographs - anything that can distract you. It is important during this period to try to relax, you can sing your favorite song, or anything, as long as it helps you. Deep breathing won't help you enough anymore.

When the pain becomes unbearably painful, at the peak of the contraction, switch to breathing like a dog - quickly, only exhale, the inhalation is almost inaudible. When the pain subsides, breathe deeply and slowly again. Your condition and what the birth of your baby will be like depends on how you breathe and behave during childbirth, what kind of support your loved ones will have.

2. Transitional phase of labor and period of fetal birth

We will try to figure out how to behave during the transitional phase of labor and during the birth (expulsion) of the fetus in order to help the baby be born healthy. The pain gradually increases and intensifies, the time between contractions is reduced to 1 minute, and there is an urge to push. This is absolutely impossible to do at this stage.

The transitional phase of labor begins (pre-latching efforts). The cervix is ​​not yet ready for labor and you may tear it.

In addition, untimely early attempts can have a bad effect not only on the cervix, but also on the fetus itself. The baby's head has unfused bones, which gradually come one after another during childbirth, allowing the fetus to move along the birth canal. If you start pushing without permission, before the head has shrunk, you will injure your baby and prolong his adaptation period.

You may breathe like a dog, or as if you are blowing out a candle, or you may sob frequently. To relieve pain, get on all fours and lift your pelvis. The baby's head will not press as hard.

The obstetrician may also advise you to squat in order to speed up the transition phase and move on to the next phase - fetal expulsion, which is considered the culmination of labor. It will take about 5 minutes. It is important to listen carefully to the midwife all this time so as not to harm the baby.

The baby's head is being born. At the beginning of the contraction, take in as much air as possible, close your eyes, press your chin to your chest, and exhale as hard as you can.

You should try to do all this three times during the fight. When the obstetrician lets you touch the head, which has already been born, you need to breathe differently: only through your mouth, like a dog. With the next push, if you do everything correctly, listen to the obstetrician, don’t scream, and don’t press your legs under any circumstances, your baby will be born.

3. Birth of the placenta

And the most painless stage of childbirth, as the site assures, is the birth of the placenta. It lasts a maximum of 30 minutes. The obstetrician may suggest that you push a little, drawing in air, so that the baby's place comes out.

You will feel something warm squelching out of you - this is the placenta, which has protected your baby for a long time.

Postures at different stages of labor

During the first contractions, any vertical position will do. Move around, you can hang from your partner or a rope, lean on the back of a chair or bed, sit on a large ball or toilet, but not on a hard surface. All vertical positions contribute to the advancement of the fetus.

During the first attempts, you can get on all fours, raising your pelvis, or continue walking.

Childbirth is a huge stress for the female body. As in all stressful situations, experts recommend not to panic and calm down so you can think straight. But not only these recommendations are the answer to the question: how to behave during childbirth. It is necessary to study the mechanism of the process itself, including all the nuances, in order to have an idea of ​​the changes occurring in a woman’s body at all stages of the birth process and not be afraid of them.

The process of childbirth

The entire birth process is divided into several stages, each of which requires certain behavior from the woman.

Due to her individual characteristics and beliefs, each woman approaches the birth process differently. Some people wait for this moment with reverence, while others feel fear. In the second case, most often, this happens due to the pregnant woman’s lack of awareness about the emergence of a new life. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to find out what stages the birth process goes through and what awaits the expectant mother at each of them. You need to familiarize yourself with this material in advance, because the beginning process will not allow the information to be absorbed, and the woman in labor will not perceive what is happening in a positive way.

First stage of labor

The first stage is characterized by the occurrence of contractions. This is the longest process. Painful sensations gradually increase, occupy even periods of time, which become shorter and shorter. At this time, the birth canal is smoothed out, the baby descends to the pelvic floor and prepares to pass through the prepared birth canal.

At this stage there are three stages:

• latent - characterized by slow dilatation of the cervix. During this period, it opens by an average of 4 centimeters, contractions have moderate pain intensity. As usual, the water breaks. There is still time to get to a medical facility;
• the active stage is designed to open the cervix up to 8 centimeters, pain intensifies, contractions have an interval of 5 minutes. At this time, the woman should already be under the supervision of doctors;
• The transient stage is characterized by frequent painful contractions, their duration is about a minute, and the interval is 2-3 minutes. At this time, the attention of the medical staff is focused on the condition of the woman in labor, the cervix is ​​maximally dilated (10-12 cm)

Second stage

The second stage is called the “pushing period.” The woman in labor is asked to move to the birthing chair, since the baby is already ready to be born. This applies to natural childbirth, since during a caesarean section the woman is taken to the operating room. The baby moves slowly through the birth canal and may turn over in the process. Then its head reaches the exit. By pushing, the woman helps the baby overcome this difficult path. After the head appears, the doctor helps it completely come out of the perineum, after which the shoulders and body are born. The birth of the head is the most difficult process of the second stage; the shoulders and body come out quickly. The newborn is placed on the mother's chest and the most difficult work for the mother is over.

Third final stage

The release of the placenta occurs in the third stage. At this time, the woman needs to push a little more so that the “baby spot” comes out completely. The contractions will no longer be so painful and there will be very few of them. This is an important point, since the remains of the placenta in the uterus threaten health problems (bleeding, inflammation).

The pushing stage is the most difficult for a woman in labor

How should a mother in labor behave during childbirth?

Only by understanding the sequence of stages and the characteristics of each of them can you get an idea of ​​how to behave correctly during childbirth. Each stage has its own nuances, so it is advisable to consider each of them separately.

Behavior during contractions

The first phase of the onset of contractions is the least painful, and the interval between them is quite large. Therefore, at this time, the mother can calmly get ready and decide what to do, how to get to the maternity hospital. If you have relatives or friends who can give you a ride, now is the time to call them. If not, call an ambulance. Those who are giving birth not for the first time should hurry up, since the process occurs faster than for first-time mothers.

During contractions, a woman chooses a position in which she is most comfortable

During the second phase, the expectant mother must arrive at a medical facility. The contractions are already more painful, their interval is gradually decreasing. At this time you need:

1. Choose the right pose. You can change them several times, focusing on your feelings. Most often, it is easier for women in labor to endure pain in the following positions:

• standing, holding hands for support;
• On knees;
• in an upright position, moving. Gently rocking the pelvis from side to side is especially helpful;
• lying on your side with your knees slightly bent;
• reclining on a fitball.

1. Breathe correctly. This ensures the flow of the required amount of oxygen into the body of mother and baby. If you exhale and inhale uncontrollably during contractions, you can increase pain and provide the baby with a temporary lack of oxygen. During contractions, two breathing techniques are used:

1. Do self-massage. Acupressure will help relieve pain. To do this, clench your hands into fists and gently massage your lower back. Using your fingertips, you can make light massage movements from the center of the lower abdomen, gradually moving to one side, then to the other.
2. Relax as much as possible after a fight. Remember that you will need strength to push. Therefore, after each contraction, try to normalize your breathing and try to relax for a while until the next one begins.
3. Monitor the interval of contractions. In some cases, doctors ask a woman in labor to count the minutes of rest and the duration of the contraction. The more often they occur and the longer they last, the sooner the birth canal and cervix will be ready to expel the fetus.

6.Calm down and don’t panic. This rule applies to all three stages of labor. The expectant mother’s body took care of natural pain relief in advance. For example, a few weeks before birth, the nerve endings of the uterus are partially destroyed, which reduces pain. In addition, during contractions, the female body produces the hormone of happiness (endorphin) and the painkiller - enkephalin. But there is a nuance: they work in full force only when the woman is calm. Fear and nervousness muffle their effect, and as a result, more pronounced pain. Therefore, various techniques of meditation and self-soothing in between contractions are encouraged, be it singing or concentration exercises from yoga practice.

Behavior during pushing

The second stage of the birth process takes place in the delivery room. Medical personnel will be nearby to monitor and assist the woman in labor.

Important!Listen to your doctor's instructions carefully. This is a prerequisite for the successful birth of a child, because a specialist knows better what is happening. Coordinated work with the obstetrician reduces the risk of injury to the birth canal, cervix and baby.

3. When pushing, it is better to slightly raise the upper part of the body.

1. In the intervals between attempts, as well as between contractions, try to rest for further effective actions.
2. It happens that a woman, after the pain experienced during contractions, can no longer determine by her condition whether there is now a contraction or not. In this case, be sure to tell your doctor about it. He will help and tell you when you need to push again.
3. Don't be distracted by unnecessary thoughts. Proper pushing is the key to a quick birth. Therefore, all thoughts aside. No nuances such as involuntary bowel movements, your appearance, etc. should bother you at this moment. This is a natural response of the body, in which there is nothing shameful.

Ideally, if you know how to behave correctly, the attempts will look like this: a contraction begins - take a deep breath. We find the support of the birthing chair and hold on, head slightly raised, chin pressed to the chest. We hold our breath and direct the force of pushing to the area of ​​the uterus and abs, while exhaling air.

At the pushing stage, a feeling of “bloating” is characteristic. This is fine. Correct behavior during labor and awareness of what is happening will give the woman in labor confidence and help her pull herself together.

Expectant mothers, if desired, can attend courses for young parents at a clinic or maternity hospital. They talk in detail and clearly, and sometimes show videos about how to behave during childbirth. A woman can ask questions and receive a detailed answer. Find out about this service at your antenatal clinic, you will probably be interested to hear.

During pregnancy, you should attend courses for young mothers, where they will tell you how to behave correctly during childbirth

Birth of the placenta. What do you need to know?

The two stages of childbirth listed above require effort, calmness and compliance with the instructions of the medical staff from the expectant mother. At the last stage, very little is required from the woman - to push several times, but this is incomparably easier than the main attempts. Some recommend coughing to help expel the placenta and membranes. The duration of this stage takes from 5 to 30 minutes.

What not to do?

There are mistakes that are most often made by women who do not know how to behave correctly during childbirth. As a result, they experience enormous fear and uncertainty, and experience injury and pain that could have been avoided. So, the main “don’ts”:

You should NOT scream too much during childbirth, so as not to waste the oxygen your body needs.

1. Do not believe horror stories told by acquaintances or friends that childbirth is very scary. Firstly, everyone's pain threshold is individual. Secondly, you don’t know how this or that person involved in scary stories behaved in a specific situation.
2. Do not refuse medical procedures. Specialists know what they are doing and they know better whether you or your baby need help.
3. Do not squeeze your pelvic muscles during labor, even if you really want to.
4. You can't scream for too long. It is clear that a short involuntary cry may escape, but try to control yourself. By screaming, you exhale oxygen, which, on the contrary, should enter the body.
5. You can no longer eat or drink when contractions begin. This is fraught with vomiting and complications of anesthesia (if it is required).
6. You cannot restrain the body’s natural urges (urination and defecation). If your body requires it, don’t resist. Excessive fullness of the rectum or bladder will only complicate the process of the baby passing through the birth canal.
7. Do not make your own decisions about taking pain medications. This requirement also applies to the postpartum period.

All of the above prohibitions are dictated solely by common sense, and their only goal is to preserve the health of mother and child.

Knowing how to behave during childbirth, a woman not only receives information awareness, but also prepares psychologically for what awaits her. The expression “aware is forearmed” perfectly suits the description of the actions of a woman in labor. In this case, the woman is not just a passive sufferer-observer, but an active assistant in difficult but joyful work. Only calmness, self-confidence, understanding of what is happening and coordinated work with an obstetrician-gynecologist will guarantee that your birth will go well.