Pregnancy

The early signs of labor are :

In this case, you must head to the maternity unit promptly. Upon arrival, you will be taken care of by a midwife on call, who proceeds to :

By the end of this examination, the midwife tells if you are actually in labor and contacts your attending physician.

The midwives of La Rose Clinic are there to assist you during this special time.

Natural childbirth is a way of giving birth without medical intervention, i.e., by letting the body go through labor spontaneously, while considering the advice of the midwife and the recommendations of your doctor.

Certain steps are taken immediately upon arrival at the labor room: hemodynamic and temperature monitoring, setting up an infusion and monitoring the baby’s heartbeat to make sure everything is fine.

Childbirth is an adventure to be planned ahead. To help you have a joyful experience, we have dedicated birth preparation courses.

Some women continue to give birth without taking epidurals. However, in case of severe pain, an epidural can be used.

An epidural is intended to suppress or relieve the pain of childbirth. Its main role is to block the transmission of painful sensations in the nerves coming from the uterus, by injecting a local anesthetic product near the spinal cord. This method ensures the good stability of vital functions, which is beneficial for both, mother and child.

If it is necessary to perform a cesarean section, the anesthesia may be supplemented by this procedure, not eliminating the use of general anesthesia.

Depending on your health condition or the result of additional tests, you may not be entitled to receive epidural analgesia. The final decision on whether or not to perform the procedure is to be made by the intensive care anesthetist, together with the patient.

Cesarean section is a surgical procedure that can be scheduled beforehand or decided on urgently at the time of childbirth. Today, it is estimated that about two in five women have a C-section.
Even when the mother has intended to have a natural childbirth, the cesarean section can be performed during labor in certain cases (for instance, when the baby is unwell, or when the cervical opening does not progress, etc.).

Under anesthesia, the obstetrician makes a 9-10 cm horizontal incision through the mother’s lower abdomen. S/he then pulls the muscle layers apart to reach the uterus and extract the baby.

The length of your stay in the clinic depends on the delivery method (natural childbirth or cesarean section) and progress. It varies from 2 to 3 days.

Eyes: Clean your child’s eyes with the saline solution and then wipe each eye with a serum-moistened dressing from the inner corner to the outer corner of the eye. Eye drops may be prescribed by your doctor.

Ears: When you are drying your baby’s skin after the bath, clean their ears with a towel, or with a “special infant" cotton swab with a large tip.

Nose: During your stay in the maternity ward, the nursing assistants taught you how to clean your child’s nose with saline solution. It is important for you and your child to know how to perform this procedure in case of nasal congestion because your child cannot yet breathe through their mouth. When you get home, this treatment is only necessary in case of nasal congestion.

The room:
The ambient room temperature should be between 22 and 24°C.
Avoid putting the crib next to the heater.
Air out your baby’s room on a daily basis no matter the season.
It is strongly recommended to avoid smoking in the house and especially in your baby’s room.

The crib:
The mattress must be firm and adapted to the crib dimensions.
It is advisable to avoid pillows, blankets and duvets (at least up to 2 years).
It is strongly recommended to favor the use of sleeping bags or nests.

Sleeping positions:
Place your baby on their back, with their head slightly turned to the side and their nose clear to facilitate breathing. Remember to alternately turn their head to avoid the flat head syndrome.
Avoid falling asleep with them in your bed.
It is not recommended to leave cuddly toys in your child’s crib.

You will be given advice on the choice of the type of food during the birth preparation courses.

Breastfeeding is particularly suitable for your child.
For a first baby, you can get prepared by massaging your breasts daily with an unscented cream.
Breastfeeding should be thought through and decided before birth. Our healthcare teams are at your disposal to advise and support you.
Ideally, the baby should be put to the breast in the delivery room within two hours of birth.
During the first few days, the feeding rhythm will be irregular. Note that the more often you breastfeed your child, the faster and easier the milk flow will be.
You need to be available to breastfeed your baby and adapt to their rhythm.

Some mothers choose to bottle-feed their child, which is totally acceptable. Every mother should figure out which option is best and most suitable for her.
Upon return home, you will need :

It is recommended that you sterilize bottles, rings and nipples before first use.