Labor First Aid: What you can do if wife suddenly goes into labor

If you’re expecting a baby, you’re definitely excited and slowly counting the days until the big day. As the dad, it is your job to ensure that your wife makes it to hospital immediately when she starts to go into labor. But do you know what to do when does experience contractions and you’re nowhere near the hospital?

Here are some important first aid tips that you need to know!

What signs should you look out for?

Here’s a list of signs that let you know if your wife is going into labor:

1. Your wife feels contractions that happen in regular intervals, and increase in intensity each time.
2. Her water breaks.
3. Pink or bloody mucus starts to come from the vagina.
4. Frequent urination along with other symptoms.

It’s important to immediately contact your doctor if any of these symptoms happen especially if they happen well before your wife’s due date. It will also be wise to ensure her maternity bag is within reach should you need to rush to the hospital.

What can you do?

What can you do if your wife is about to give birth? In those cases, here are some important tips to remember as well as some first aid steps:

1. As always, keep calm, and keep your wife calm.
2. Immediately call your doctor or the hospital and inform them that your wife is about to give birth.
3. If your wife feels an urge to push or has the feeling of fullness in her vagina and bowels, that means that she’s about to give birth.
4. Make sure that your hands are clean and wash them with soap in order to prevent infection.
5. Prepare some clean cloth or towels as well as warm water.
6. Make sure that your wife is in a comfortable position, and remove any restricting clothing that your wife might be wearing.
7. If you see your baby’s head coming out, or crowning, don’t apply any pressure on it. Simply let your child’s head move with each contraction.
8. Check to make sure the umbilical cord isn’t wrapped around your baby’s head. If it is, loop it over your baby’s head to prevent choking.
9. As soon as the baby comes out, dry your baby thoroughly using the towels and make sure their head, trunk, armpits, and groin are dry. Once dry, replace the wet towel and wrap your baby in a clean towel or blanket.
10. Bring your newborn to your wife and encourage her to breastfeed. This process will also help your wife to deliver her placenta and to reduce bleeding.
11. After a few minutes or several hours, the placenta should come out. Make sure not to pull on the umbilical cord before the placenta comes out as it could cause bleeding and complications.
12. Make sure to stay with your wife until the ambulance arrives.

Sources: firstaidforfree.com, webmd.com, health.harvard.edu

READ: 10 Most important things to put in your maternity bag before giving birth