What To Do If Labor Isn't Progressing? - The Pregnancy Nurse®
What can YOU do as a patient when labor isn't progressing? Take these seven tips from a labor nurse to make YOUR labor progress faster!| The Pregnancy Nurse®
What can YOU do as a patient when labor isn't progressing? Take these seven tips from a labor nurse to make YOUR labor progress faster!| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Are you wondering if you can get a “walking epidural” — the answer is that it DEPENDS. Some hospitals still do them, but I can give you some tips to still allow movement but also have your pain controlled. The idea is to allow a lot of movement, while also taking away a lot of …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
There are a few keys to a great labor that no one really talks about (or talks about them right). Today I want to share them, when you can most effectively use them and also how to go about using them (because a few are trickier than you think). As a labor nurse for 20 …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If you’re doing kick counts, or just feeling your baby move — what is the normal daily fetal movement count. This article will tell you what is normal for you and how you count them to make sure baby is doing well. But first, how do I know so much about fetal movements? Hi — …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Prepared, not scared,for your hospital birth. Let my 20 years of experience help you get and feel prepared for birth. Eliminate those pesky birth fears & finally feel ready! Take the ALL-IN-ONE Class for pregnancy, birth & postpartum Turn your partner into the TEAMMATE you’re looking for. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This class was great! I took it …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
There are a lot REASONS to be induced << and that post goes into it more — but today I want to talk about the signs you’re READY To be induced. They’re different, and I want to talk about why. All of this isn’t to say that there aren’t times that you NEED to be …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
There is a lot of talk about wireless monitors for labor. Today I want to talk about the differences, how they are used and what to expect from them in labor. I’m also going to give you some tips in case a wired monitor is how it works for you in labor. I actually recommend … The post What You Need to Know About Wired vs Wireless Monitors in Labor appeared first on The Pregnancy Nurse®.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Bringing new life into the world is an experience that can be filled with anticipation, excitement, and sometimes, anxiety. While much about labor and delivery is out of our control, there are some common, preventable mistakes that can greatly impact your experience in the labor room (and more especially how you feel about it afterwards). …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Has your provider mentioned your baby is seeming large? Maybe you’ve had an ultrasound or you’re measuring big. Let’s talk about 3 things to think if you hear this, and where your mind should go moving forward. This (or any article on The Pregnancy Nurse) should be taken as medical advice, this purely educational. Please …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Feeling nervous about your upcoming birth? It can feel like you don’t have a lot of control in this situation, but I’m here to share 3 things that CAN help you feel a bit more in control and how to get started removing that anxiety a little bit at a time. I have a bonus … The post Labor Anxiety? These 3 Things Help You Feel in Control appeared first on The Pregnancy Nurse®.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Honestly, pain is a part of pregnancy. I just don’t know how we could grow another entire human inside our body without some of it — but that doesn’t mean we have to just sit back and relax into parts that can be REALLY painful. Today I want talk about what you can do if … The post What to Do If You are in Pain During Pregnancy appeared first on The Pregnancy Nurse®.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
What is prodromal labor, how do you avoid it and what to expect in early labor at home. I think early labor is a part that a LOT of people over-think and possibly ruin — so I’m excited that you’re here to talk about prodromal (or early) labor. Before we get started, prodromal labor is … The post Prodromal Labor: What is it and how to avoid it? appeared first on The Pregnancy Nurse®.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Are you wishing that you felt more confident going into your upcoming hospital birth? Today I’m going to share 4 things that you can do, starting today (even if you’re early in pregnancy) to feel more confident in your upcoming birth! Before we get started, this is the #1 way to feel confident about birth. … The post How To Build Confidence For Your Birth Experience appeared first on The Pregnancy Nurse®.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Everyone feels labor pain differently. Today, a labor nurse walks you through why and how to feel less pain at your upcoming birth.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Yes, Hilary is a nurse since 1997 and has 20 years of labor and delivery experience (read more about her experience here). But, that is most certainly not the start The Pregnancy Nurse’s story. It started a long time ago…. in a valley near the mountains…. I was a junior in high school dreaming about …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Tearing at delivery isn’t anything anyone wants to think about. I get it. However, I wish I had taken a bit more time to realize that it was both highly likely, and a fairly painful recovery on my first baby. Today I have some bad news for you, but also some good news on what …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Are you hoping to have a “natural” delivery at the hospital. Today we’re going to talk about what your plans for “natural” mean (as that means something different for everyone) — and 5 SIMPLE (think: easy — this isn’t standing on your head for hours a day) tricks to make it happen for you! While …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Feeling allergies (seasonal or otherwise) come on during pregnancy? Today we’re going to share what is safe to do and what is NOT safe to use when it comes to allergies in pregnancy. There ARE some treatments you should try to avoid, so I’m glad you’re here. While we’re here, don’t forget to grab my …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Pain can be really scary — but birth pain is very different. Today, I’m going to tell you 4 things for you to understand about birth pain that will hopefully make it less scary! Before we get going, I’m talking about BIRTH pain. Not PREGNANCY PAIN. There’s a big difference, and if you’re having pains …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I want to share a few things you should be doing each month of your pregnancy to be ready for your delivery by month nine. This will probably take a “medical” slant (although I hope to offer some tips on a few other things as well) — since I am The Pregnancy Nurse® — …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I want to talk about a few things that you’re doing that makes labor longer than it has to be. Most of these have some pretty serious studies behind them, so it’s not just “The Pregnancy Nurse® THINKS it’s this way” — but truly evidence-based ways to make your labor faster. I’m excited to …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If you’re considering an induction, you may wonder if it’s more painful than “regular” labor (meaning labor that comes on naturally). Today we’re going to look at some of of the “why’s” this might be that way, along with what studies show. Plus, my own experience with going both induced labor and “natural” labor with …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If you think that birth class is mainly to get you through the pain of labor — do you really need it even if you’re planning on an epidural? Great question — today I’m going to explore exactly what a birth class can, and can’t do — and what your next steps should be. While …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Far too many people are going in for necessary (medically-indicated) inductions and finding that their cervix just isn’t ready to open — ultimately leading to a cesarean section. I’ve been thinking a lot about those types of births, and if there is anything we can do to help them. Today I want to give you …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Let’s talk about sex to induce labor — and then go a bit deeper {see what I did there} to ask if a certain position can be better than another. If you’re tired of being pregnant, this may be one of those things that finally gets that baby out — but what do the studies …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’ve maybe heard about preeclampsia, but you’re not sure why you should know about it, or why it might apply to you? Today I want to share 5 things that every pregnant person should know about preeclampsia. We’re going to talk about decreasing your risk from it, how to know if you have it and …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’re wanting to go into labor (or prep for a planned induction) will nipple stimulation, (or pumping) put you into labor? It’s a great question. I’ll tell you what I’ve seen as a nurse, and we’ll dive into a few studies and what they show. I will say you may be surprised at how long …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’re mulling over getting an epidural and you’d like more info? Well, I’m thrilled that you’re here. I’m excited to share some of the BEST tips on the internet about epidurals including some that no one talks about. As a labor nurse for 20 years I definitely saw epidurals used right, and WRONG. I think …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Are you wondering if primrose oil will put you into labor? I get asked this question a lot (along with what else might put you into labor) and I’m excited to dive into the studies, show you what I learned so you can either decide to drop it, or talk with your provider about it. …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
I am a huge fan of movement during birth. In fact, it’s one of my 3 proven secrets. However, you may feel, with an epidural, that you can’t use movement to your benefit — but that’s not true at all. Today I’m going to share 3 easy tips to using movement during labor even with …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
I often hear people wanting to know how to have a “natural” birth at the hospital. It’s important to know that “natural labor” or natural childbirth looks different for everyone. Some people prefer the terms holistic of physiologic birth. Either way, this article is going to help you clarify what that means for YOU and …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You know that labor involves contractions, but how exactly does that baby get from the inside of your body outside of you? This post is going to help you know what happens once you’re fully dilated — how to push your baby out, how your body manages it (along with some helpful studies)…. I hope …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Your choice of cesarean section anesthsia is not too broad. There are mainly two humane choices for a cesarean section. Today I’ll discuss both of them, along with some of the risks and the benefits of each. As always, if you are planning on a cesarean section, or your doctor has mentioned it could be …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Pitocin or Oxytocin is a hormone your body produces to start things like labor, breastfeeding, and more. Your body has been producing it for you for YEARS, so why is the internet so full of negativity about this hormone when used to start labor? Let’s talk about it, and how it is used in labor …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
What is latent labor, how long does it last and is there anything you can do to speed it up? How do I know all of this? Hi, I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience. After seeing thousands and thousands …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
This is a real fear for a lot of people (in my study on birth fears 61.2% of respondents were concerned about having a BM at delivery). Today we’re going to talk about what you can do to avoid pooping at delivery, and also if it ends-up being that big of a deal at birth. …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I want to share three things you can do it try to make for a faster labor. That isn’t to say that these are going to PUT you into labor, but they have been shown to better birth outcomes and possibly make birth quicker. As always, just because a study says XYZ works over …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
A Foley catheter is something that drains the urine out of your bladder into a bag. It can be used for a variety of reasons in healthcare, but why would it be used in labor and delivery and what do we use it for? Before we get started, who am I and why do I …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Today I want to share the WORST parts of pregnancy. Sometimes you just want to feel like “yeah, this really sucks” and be validated. I recently asked on my Facebook group what the WORST parts of pregnancy were for people, and I pulled out some of the top answers. We’ve got quite a few — …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Self-Care looks different during every phase of our lives. As you get later into your pregnancy & after you have your baby self care will become more important than it has been prior to now. Here are a few things you can consider as you get further along…. Let me first say that your mental …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Creating a postpartum plan during your pregnancy is SO smart. Preparing for life after baby, and how you’ll attempt some self care — is often forgotten, but fairly simple to do, especially in advance. Today I’m going to share my free template with you and share 5 things to start thinking about during your PREGNANCY …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Hilary Erickson, BSN-RN is The Pregnancy Nurse® She has been a nurse since 1997 (liscensed in Utah, California and now Arizona). She has 20 years of labor and delivery experience within diverse patient populations, often in trauma centers. In addition to her work in labor and delivery – Hilary has also worked in geriatrics, hospice …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’re sitting in an office chair quite a bit during pregnancy. What can you do to keep good posture, eliminate back pain and keep it ergonomic? ALL of your body is effected by your pregnancy so you’ll want to adjust most of the aspects of your body during pregnancy as well. Your sitting position can …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Communicating with providers can be hard. A lot of us feel like we need to just do what our doctor says, but we may want to make a different choice, or at least get more information from them. How can you say no to your doctor in labor? I just want to say yes — …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Prenatal check-ups can seem really useless. You’re likely hot, tired and you REALLY don’t want to go wait at the office and then have what seems like an entirely useless office visit with your provider. Today we’re going to chat about six very normal things they will do at your appointments to make sure you …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Countless studies show that a birth class can change everything in your first steps into parenthood. But, what does that actually mean for people? Tangible ways in which a birth class changed people’s birth. Let’s talk with some couples that felt they did a few things to make their birth better. Be sure to save …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You may think that the things that cause the most trauma are the kinds you see on TV or the news, but that truly isn’t the case. Today I’m going to talk about what people find traumatic in L&D and how to make changes. I am a big believer that while a lot of this …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Have you ever heard that if you go looking for trouble, you’ll find it? Studies show that is also true in fetal heart monitoring. Continuous fetal heart monitoring, while the standard of care most often in the US, has been shown to be problematic, especially in low-risk cases. In this article I’m going to share …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
The saline lock (formerly known as a hep lock) is an under-utilized tool in labor that can allow you the safety of having an IV with it’s less-restrictive nature. It’s something you may be able to consider! FYI — A saline lock might be something you put on your birth plan. BUT, make sure you’re …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
If your provider wants to break your water, should you let her? Today I’m going to talk about some of the things you should think about if this situation arises. Before we get going, this is a STICKY one for patients. Many don’t want it done, but then the provider comes in the room and …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You're past your due date and there are no signs of labor -- what should you be doing to get things going?| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Getting an epidural during labor is a very common form of pain mangement in the US. Today I want to talk to you about what it will do for you, how it is placed and what to expect throughout the process. Remember, the epidural is just ONE of the forms of pain management — I …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
The urinary catheter is given for a variety of reasons during labor. Can you refuse it though? What happens if you do? Today we’re going to talk about WHY you might need one, and why you might want to refuse it — or what other options you could have. Before we get going — do …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
Maybe you have a planned c-section or you’re just wondering what you might need to change into if you have a c-section? I’m here to give you the skinny on what you CAN and can NOT wear for a c-section — and what to consider about your own “outfit” choices. BUT before we get too …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You hear a lot of thoughts about birth class online. Some people think they’re helpful, some don’t — but today I want to dispel 5 myths about birth class that you need to stop believing it. And, how did I come to all these conclusions (frankly, I’d call them facts) — it comes from being …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
You’re hoping to get an epidural while you’re in labor — but how far “along” do you need to be to get one? Today I’m going to share the two MOST important things you need to get an epidural and how far along has proven to be the best! This is part of my Complete …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
How will you take care of your bottom and perineum (the area between your urethra and your rectum)? After you have a baby you're going to take care of this area in a whole new way. I can show you what to expect so it's not as foreign after the baby is born.| The Pregnancy Nurse®
There’s a lot of “dont’s” while you’re pregnant but there are some serious ones to not do AFTER baby is born too. Today I’m going to share things you should NOT do after you have a baby. Pro Tip: Ignoring what life will be like after baby is here is one of the BIGGEST mistakes …| The Pregnancy Nurse®
