Product: Laugh and Learn About Childbirth - Lamaze and Beyond (2003)
Rating: 5.0
Excellent. Highly Recommended!
This DVD set far exceeded my expectations. My husband and I live overseas, and childbirth class options are limited (and in another language), leading us to seek additional avenues of learning about the process and our options. We are aiming for a natural childbirth, but are using a common-sense approach, so we also want to be informed about all our options related to pain relief. This DVD set provided exactly that. Sheri (the host) does not conceal the fact that in low-risk pregnancies, she favors unmedicated childbirth, but nor does she try to shove it down your throat. She addresses the epidural and its potential risks / side effects, and then advises that for those who do choose to get the epidural, there is a "right time" to get it. She presents the information in an organized, list-like fashion, which allowed me to boil down all the salient points to a few 3x5 index cards, which I plan to take with me to the hospital, and have referred to constantly in the final months of my pregnancy. For example, here's how a couple of my index cards read:PRE-LABOR:1. Pelvic Station: baby's descent (at 37 weeks, ask doc about baby's station)2. Effacement: thinning of cervix, measured by % (the thinner it is, the faster it opens). First-timers efface, then dilate; second-timers dilate then efface.3. Dilation: how wide cervix is open.6 Preliminary Signs of Labor:1. Braxton-Hicks Contractions2. Weight Stabilization - 2 weeks before labor3. Burst of energy for 48 hours - 2 weeks before labor4. Baby drops - pee all the time, breathe again (after 36 weeks)5. Increased discharge.6. Diarrhea - night before going into labor.3 Actual Signs of Labor (must have TWO of THREE for it to be labor):1. Loss of mucous plug.2. Breaking water. (When this happens, sit down, note time, call doctor, green means go to the hospital right away.)3. Contractions. (Measured from start to start.)CONTRACTIONS:Call doc: when 5 minutes apart for one hour (for first-timers). Every 5 minutes = cervix dilated 1-3 cm.Go to hospital: when can't talk through contractions. ENJOY down time.She also reviews in detail the three stages of labor, the three phases of stage one labor, the progression of contractions, breathing and pushing techniques, comfort measures for mom, pain medication options, emergency delivery, and much more. I highly recommend this DVD set, particularly for those who are unable to or opt not to attend a childbirth class. From what we've found, this DVD set really is the next best thing.