Frequently Asked Questions as a Labor & Delivery Nurse

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Hey friends! I frequently do Q&As over on Instagram on my page @alifeinlabor. These Q&As come from question boxes in my stories and they range from anything including TTC, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and taking care of babies. Today I wanted to do a rapid fire version of my most frequently asked questions for the entire year of 2023! This is the result…

13. How to get baby to turn head down

Anything I can do to help baby get down into the head down position?

There are things that you can do the encourage baby to turn head down prior to birth. If your baby is breech in the third trimester, it might be a good idea to start doing things such as:

1. Spinning babies
2. The forward leaning inversion
3. Warm compress near the pelvis, cold compress at the top of the belly
4. Music at the pelvis
5. Sitting backwards on a toilet
6. PSOAS stretches
7. Chiropractic

Breech baby – what order of steps to turn to avoid C-section?

If you're looking for more of a quick and easy step-by-step guide to making sure your baby is head down for delivery, download the Free Breech Guide here.

33 weeks and baby is transverse/OP. Spinning babies seems to be doing nothing. 😭

If your baby is OP at 33 weeks, congratulations! It's no big deal. Literally the only time you should be concerned that your baby is OP is when labor has started. Any time before that, you're fine. No need to worry about baby being in the perfect birthing position until…you guessed it…birth.

Thoughts on versions? Breech baby #2 and considering this time…but scared. 

I think that doing a version is a valid option for someone who has exhausted all other methods of getting baby to turn head down and it just hasn't happened by around 37 weeks. Versions are not hugely successful and I believe that the average success rate is around 50%. They do come with some risk too. So it's definitely an option that you don't want to take lightly. Talk to your doctor about how confident they are doing versions, if they work with a colleague who specializes in them, and whether or not you're a good candidate to try one if your baby isn't budging on their own.

12. Help with morning sickness

I'm so morning sick, I can't eat. Any tips? I'm desperate. 

I'm so sorry for all the mamas feeling this way. It can be so miserable to feel this way and wonder if it will ever end. The good news is that in the vast majority of pregnancies, this terrible food aversion and nausea does end at or around the start of the second trimester.

Unfortunately, until then, there are only methods to try but nothing that is guaranteed to work for every mama. What works for one might be completely useless for another.

With that being said, things that you can try include:

1. Try not to let yourself get hungry. Wake up and immedately take a few bites of something tolerable like crackers, a clementine, or anything that you're not feeling aversions to. Have it on your nighstand before you go to bed so that you can wake up and take a few bites without even getting out of bed.
2. Try not to let yourself get too tired. Take napes, go to bed early, and try not to wait until you're exhausted to get into bed. Easier said than done, I know. But if you can try to make it happen, it can help immensely.
3. Magnesium spray on the bottoms of your feet.
4. Epsom salt baths
5. Ginger.
6. Unisom + B6

12 weeks with hyperemesis and a zofran pump. Doesn't seem to help – will this get better?!

I sure hope so! For most people, yes. Most of the time it does get better as the pregnancy goes on. But keep in mind that better doesn't always mean perfect. You may still feel occasionally sick but the first trimester is typically the worst of it. Of course, there are always exceptions that are severely ill their entire pregnancy. But I'll pray that that's not you!

Tips for dealing with HG? I am mentally and physically falling apart. 

Other than the tips listed above and the advice given in the episode, girl, pray. You're going through something so hard and so defeating. HG is nothing to scoff at. It can be absolutely debilitating and it come come with some really heavy feelings of anxiety, depression, among other things. Don't forget to lean on your support system, ask for help, and talk to your doctor about your options.

11. How to know when you’re ready to wean

How did you know you were ready to wean? My goal was 1 year but I don't think I feel ready. 😭

All three times, I knew I was ready to wean when I was literally thinking to myself “I don't want to do this anymore”. If you don't feel that way and baby still wants to latch, mama, you're not done.

When did you know it was time to stop breastafeeding?

I personally stopped breastfeeding my kids at 12 months, 18 months, and 18 months. Each experience was very different but I never forced the weaning process. It has to feel right to you!

When is it time to stop breastfeeding? I'm going on 18 months. NP said “WHHHYY??”

Do you, boo. The WHO recommends at least 2 years now. So you're doing great. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

10. TDAP during pregnancy?

TDAP recommended while pregnant and family members?

It is typically recommended by healthcare professionals that you get the TDAP every time you're pregnant and that your family members get it every 10 years.

Do you have any tips on TDAP during pregnancy? Wondering if I can just get it after birth? Can't you pass immunity to baby through breastmilk?

You pass many immunities onto your babies while breastfeeding! You absolutely have options. Make sure you're talking to your doctor about all of them so you can make informed decisions for yourself that feels good to you.

TDAP during pregnancy? I'm sooo conflicted on what to do!

I personally didn't get the TDAP during pregnancy. This is not medical advice. This is just me sharing what I personally did for my own pregnancies.

I fully understand the feeling of being conflicted and confused on what to do and what is ultimately best for you and your baby. Making decisions as a parent can be so difficult sometimes! Trust your gut, trust your decision-making skills as a parent. As long as you're considering all options and getting informed, I'm sure you'll make the right decision for your family.

9. First trimester spotting 

9 weeks spotting is this normal? Should I be worried?

I'll never tell a new mama to be worried. I'll also never tell her not to be worried if her instincts are telling her that something is wrong.

The thing is, spotting can be very normal in the first trimester. But it can also be an early sign of impending miscarriage.

Trust what your gut is telling you, talk to your doctor, and say a prayer. God has a plan for this pregnancy!

Bleeding/cramping at around 7 weeks, should I be worried? Not as heavy as a period. 

Bleeding and cramping together can be problematic. Not always, but those two signs together can be indicative of a miscarriage starting. Let your provider know about these symptoms right away.

4 weeks pregnant (+test 2 days ag) and I'm spotting. Is this normal?

Implantation spotting can happen at this time! If it is implantation spotting, this can be totally normal and nothing to worry about! To read more about bleeding in the first trimester, head here.

8. Trying again after miscarriage

Encouragement after miscarriage? Afraid to try again.

I feel this. I have had a total of 4 miscarriages and each time it can really take a toll on your mental health when it comes to trying again. Read this post I wrote about pregnancy after miscarriage for a little bit of encouragement.

I just had my second MC in a row. Should we get tested before trying again? How to not lose hope?

I'm so sorry for any of you here who have had any amount of loss. It can be gut wrenching. Testing for conditions or issues that can cause miscarriage is always a valid option, especially after recurrent miscarriage. But when it comes to not losing hope, lean on Jesus. Pray about His plan for your pregnancies and for your family. Each pregnancy (no matter how long) will change you as a mother and each of those babies has a purpose in your life. No matter how small it may seem at the time.

How do you find the strength to try again after miscarriage? I feel so vulnerable and not sure if I could put myself out there again. (2 miscarriages and 2 children) 

I don't know, honestly. Recurrent miscarriage is absolutely one of the things that sometimes holds me back from trying to get pregnant again for my fourth baby. You're not alone in this feeling.

Does the fear of loss after a miscarriage ever go away?

I think it gets smaller. Not sure it ever really goes away. But it becomes more in the back of my mind rather than in the forefront as it is in the first trimester.

7. Best breast pump?

You would not believe how many times this has been asked.

I personally use three breast pumps on the regular. With that being said, I work 12 hour shifts outside of the home occasionally so I need a good double electric pump. I am also a busy mom of three and feel like I don't want to be strapped down every time I need to pump so I enjoy using a wearable pump while at home. I also enjoy the convenience and ease of a silicone breast pump to catch any *extra* sometimes.

It's not necessary to have three different types of pumps. But this is what I do.

1. My tried and true double electric pump that I've used since I had my first baby in 2016.
2. My heaven-sent, game-changer, wearable pump that allows me to take care of the kids, cook dinner, and pump at the same time.
3. My handy dandy silicone pump that always does the heavy lifting of building my freezer stash in the beginning.

6. How to prevent preeclampsia

Are you likely to develop high blood pressure 2nd pregnancy if you did with your first? How can you stop it?

You are at a higher risk of developing preeclampsia when you've had it before in previous pregnancies. There are things that you can do to help lower your risk but preventing it completely may not be possible.

Any way to prevent Pre E with a second pregnancy?

Alongside taking any advice from your provider, you can also try:

1. Magnesium
2. Calcium
3. Vitamin C
4. Omega 3s
5. Vitamin D
6. Avoiding inflammatory foods like take-out, seed oils, and processed foods
7. Including anti-inflammatory foods into your diet like olive oil, ginger, and lots of veggies.

Read Part 2 here: Top 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions as A Labor & Delivery Nurse