5 Biggest Misconceptions About Labour

We’ve all seen it in movies. The ocean of fluid when the water breaks, the mad rush to the hospital, the stress and panic followed by the beautiful  moment when the baby is born perfectly clean, the music swells and mother and baby bond instantly. Not to be a buzzkill but any parent will tell you the reality is quite different.

Hollywood don’t get much right but here are just a few of the most common misconceptions many of us have about the labour period and postpartum.

1. Your Water Breaking Won’t Be So Dramatic
From Sex and The City to Baby Mama, water breaking has often been shown as a sudden explosion of fluid. It might be for some women but for most it will be more of a slow trickle so don’t expect any waterfalls.

2. It Will Be A Mad Rush
We’ve all seen the mad dash to the hospital on TV; the car speeding through the city and the couple sprinting into the emergency department because they’re not going to make it in time. Every now and then we hear the stories of women who have their children in cars on the way to hospital, but for most women it will be a looooong process. There will be action but between those moments there will be a lot of waiting around for something to happen. Believe it or not, you may even get bored.

3. Babies are Born Perfectly Clean
We blame hollywood for this one. It may seem obvious but labour is messy, and we mean REALLY messy. There will be blood, fluid and you don’t want to know what else all over the place, so if you’re expecting a clean baby to come out from inside your body, you may be in for a rude shock.

4. You Will Still Look Pregnant
Between gossip magazines and celebrities, many women assume they will be walking out of hospital looking exactly the way they did pre-pregnancy. While that would be amazing, remember it took 9 months for your bump to develop and your body needs time to recover. You will still be retaining a lot of fluid and your belly will still be pronounced. It may take a few weeks or even months for the swelling to subside, and it’s important to be gentle with yourself. Light exercise, belly wraps and lots of water are great ways to reduce the bloat naturally.

5. You Will Feel a Bond Immediately
This one might be the most common misconception. When we talk about labour we often think of this crazy time followed by a perfect, romantic moment where mother and baby bond immediately. While it’s a beautiful image, this isn’t the case for many women. The postpartum period features a lot of emotions, changes and hormones and many mothers don’t feel that immediate bond. Becoming a parent is a massive change and it may take days or even weeks to feel comfortable in your new role, so be patient with yourself.

So tell us, which of these misconceptions did you have before giving birth? Let us know in the comments below!