What Are My Birthing Options?

At Morton Plant, we strive to provide personalized, patient-centered care to support your wishes and goals for your labor and birth experience.  To do this, we have many options available, which you can view below.  Also, please let your provider and nurse know your plans and feel free to discuss any ideas you have that are not listed here. Contact us to learn more. 

Labor Options

Walking/Rocking/Dancing

• Takes advantage of gravity
• Decreases contraction pain
• Increases power of contractions
• May relieve back pain
• Encourages baby’s movement through pelvis

Hydrotherapy

• Reduces pain and anxiety
• Speeds up labor
• Decreases use of vacuum and forceps
• Decreases tearing

Music Therapy

• Lessens anxiety due to pain
• Creates a peaceful environment for both mom and birthing team

Yoga

• May shorten duration of labor
• Minimizes pain by increasing ability to cope with labor

Aromatherapy

• Promotes relaxation and decreases pain
• Lavender
• Peppermint
• Orange

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide is a great option for patients who prefer a non-medicated delivery, prior to receiving an epidural or those who are unable to get an epidural due to a medical condition or a very rapid labor. Other benefits include:

• Safe for you and your baby
• Works quickly
• Decreases anxiety

IV Medications

IV Medications may help to decrease pain (but will not totally relieve pain) and provide an opportunity to rest between contractions. Check out some of our IV Medication options:

• Stadol (butorphanol)
  Side Effects: sedation, floating feeling
• Nubain (nalbuphine hydrochloride)
  Side Effects: nausea, dizziness, clammy skin
• Vistaril (hydroxyzine)
  Side Effects: drowsiness, dry mouth

Epidurals

An anesthesia staff is available in the hospital around the clock for patients desiring an epidural. Benefits include:

• Provide superior pain relief
• Pain coverage for repair of tears
• Provide sufficient anesthesia should a cesarean become necessary

Gentle C-Sections

We encourage immediate bonding with baby for all of our patients, and we feel that mothers requiring a cesarean should be no different.  To facilitate bonding following a cesarean delivery, we:

• Provide a clear drape that allows mothers to witness birth
• Keep the baby in view of the mother at all times
• Encourage skin to skin following birth while in operating room
• Allow father to trim umbilical cord at the baby warmer

*Remember to always discuss birthing options with your provider

Position Changes

Maternal movement during labor has been shown to decrease:

• Cesarean births
• Pain
• Tearing and episiotomies
• Length of labor

Even if you have an epidural some of these positions can be very helpful. Here are a few of our favorites, but talk to your nurse and get creative:

    

Important Phone Numbers

Family Admission Nurse- (727) 461-8445

Preregistration- (727) 462-3333

Car Seat Inspection- (855) 269-4777

Lactation- (727) 462-7749

Prenatal Classes- (727) 953-6870