Questions to Ask Your Obstetrician About Labor and Delivery

Your OB/GYN (obstetrician/gynecologist) is the medical specialist you’ll work with before, during, and after your pregnancy for the health of yourself and your baby. Since this doctor deals with labor and delivery, it’s important to formulate a list of questions you have about your pregnancy.

Let us help you get started with a few key questions to ask your obstetrician at your next appointment:

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN I FIRST GO INTO LABOR?

In early labor, you’ll start to have contractions. Contractions happen when your uterine muscles tighten. You’ll notice that your abdomen feels hard when they occur. The muscles will then relax after a contraction, and your abdomen will feel soft once again.

While this process is occurring, you may experience pain or a cramping feeling in your abdomen or back during every contraction. The feeling tends to get worse as your cervix dilates more. However, contractions and labor are different from woman to woman and even from pregnancy to pregnancy.

HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN I GO INTO ACTIVE LABOR?

During the active labor phase, your cervix dilates up to 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) in diameter. At this point, you’ll notice that your contractions are becoming stronger. They become closer together and usually more regulated.

HOW LONG DO LABOR AND DELIVERY LAST?

The time varies from mother to mother and from pregnancy to pregnancy. First-time mothers usually have a relatively long labor, and the length of time tends to decrease with each subsequent pregnancy. In general, labor can last from hours to days.

Delivery also tends to last longer for first-time mothers – it may last from minutes to hours. At this point, your obstetrician will guide you on when to push and will give other helpful, real-time advice during these moments.

WHAT PAIN RELIEF WILL I BE GIVEN DURING LABOR AND DELIVERY?

The answer to this question depends on your specific desires and birthing plan. If you have a scheduled cesarean section (C-section), you may want to plan on receiving an epidural, which is a numbing medication that is given directly into an open area of your spine. You can also have an epidural for a vaginal delivery.

Even if you opt to have a natural childbirth, you can decide to receive a medication to ease the pain if needed during labor. If you need an emergency C-section, your obstetrician will likely give you general anesthesia.

WHY CHOOSE WOOSTER HOSPITAL FOR YOUR LABOR AND DELIVERY

If you’re looking for optimum healthcare excellence for your pregnancy, labor, and delivery, you will want to choose a hospital that has a compassionate and experienced medical staff. Here at Wooster Community Hospital, our Women’s Pavilion provides the full breadth of OB/GYN care for your pregnancy and delivery – and our hospital is here to care for your whole family.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our world-class physicians, contact our friendly staff at Wooster Community Hospital today by calling us at (330) 263-8100. We look forward to being your family’s partner in health!