A contraction may feel like a dull lower backache or menstrual cramps. The pain may start in the back and radiate around the front of the abdomen (belly), or it may only be felt in the abdomen. If you place your hand on top of your abdomen, you will feel a hardening of your uterus (womb). This is a contraction.
How will I know if my water breaks?
A gush or trickle of fluid from your vagina that you cannot control may mean the bag of waters has broken. Your water breaking does not by itself mean you are in labor. You should come to the hospital because the protective covering which surrounded your baby has broken. Bacteria (germs) may enter and cause infection in you and your baby.
What should I bring to the hospital?
The following items are usually necessary for your hospital stay:
For yourself:
- Lip balm
- Slippers/socks
- Lightweight bathrobe
- Going-home clothes (allow for extra size of bust and waist)
- Bras (2); nursing bras or support bras/spandex sports bras if not breastfeeding
- Panties (2-3)
- Lightweight nightgowns or pajamas (3-4); front-opening for breastfeeding
- Personal care items
- Two or more bed pillows and pillow cases
- Cell phone/charger
- Snacks (please note that Cafe Express and vending machines accept debit and credit cards only, no cash)
For baby:
- Undershirt or onesie
- Going home clothes
- Receiving blanket
- Sweater, cap and blanket (appropriate to weather)
- Infant car seat (installed properly in your vehicle)
Golden Hour
The Golden Hour is the first time parents and baby spend together as a family. It is the time for introductions; the first “oohs and aahs” and the counting of fingers and toes. This bonding time for you and your baby is a once-in-a-lifetime event and needs to be celebrated!
We want to give you and your baby time together, uninterrupted, so you can get to know each other. We know you want to introduce your family and friends to your baby and we encourage you to welcome them after you have had this time alone.
Studies show that the mother-child bond is critical for your baby’s ongoing growth and development. We are promoting skin-to-skin contact in the first hour of your baby’s life, as well as the hours and days to follow, to help the two of you get to know each other.
Benefits for Baby
- Stays warmer
- Becomes calmer, cries less
- Maintains more stable blood sugar
- Breastfeeds sooner, longer and more easily
Benefits for Mother
- Stays calmer, boosts confidence
- Increases mother/baby bond
- Increases milk production
Mothers who deliver by Cesarean section at NMMC Women's Hospital in Tupelo can enjoy the same special bonding experience with their baby in the operating room. Immediately after a C-section birth, your baby will be placed in a baby warmer room within the OR for a quick assessment. During the remainder of the surgery, the surgical drape will separate your baby from the surgical site, and the nurse will ensure your baby is always in a safe place. Once you are transferred to your hospital bed after surgery, the nurse will place your baby back on your chest.
We will gladly help facilitate your feeding choice for your newborn, as well as assist you in any way possible to ensure that you have a wonderful experience in the birth of your baby. After discussion with your doctor, please let us know if you do not wish to participate in the Golden Hour or “skin-to-skin.”
Well Baby Services
As part of our plan of family-centered care, pediatricians provide care for well newborns during their hospital stay. The physicians make daily rounds to assess each baby's health and to provide medical care as needed. Nurses provide reassurance and hands-on instruction in breastfeeding and infant care as moms make the transition from delivery to motherhood.
