The genus is giving birth. How does childbirth take place? Pregnancy and childbirth
According to the time of the onset of labor, childbirth is divided into timely, premature and late. Timely delivery is delivery at a period of 38 to 42 weeks. Like all physiological processes, childbirth is largely instinctive and controlled on a hormonal and neurological level. However, you should not expect the appearance of a “little miracle” without effort.
Pregnancy and childbirth is a painstaking work that only the woman herself can do. While obstetricians and pediatricians will ensure the health of the mother and child and help in unforeseen situations.
Psychological attitude
Proper attitude towards childbirth and confidence in own forces A woman should educate herself throughout her pregnancy. Courses and trainings for expectant mothers, as well as reading additional literature, will greatly help you with this. From the very beginning, you need to set yourself up that giving birth is not scary.
You should not convince yourself that the process of childbirth is absolutely painless. This is not true at all and everyone knows it. Try to think about what will happen after you see your baby, you can kiss and hug him. Gather all your strength and will into a fist and try to give birth to your child so that it is as easy as possible for him to survive this serious transitional moment.
In fact, the process of childbirth for a child is much more difficult and dangerous. Imagine: the baby lived inside your warm and soft body, received ready-made split nutrients and oxygen through the placenta directly into the blood, and only sometimes slightly moved his arm or leg, and now he needs some 5-10 hours through unusual movements and efforts to be born, start breathing, screaming, seeing, hearing, eating and drinking... Try to help, not hinder him!
Natural childbirth or caesarean section?
Childbirth is divided into spontaneous, that is, through the natural birth canal, and operational - C-section. A caesarean section can be planned, i.e. the date of delivery in this case is determined in advance and urgent, when indications for caesarean section occur suddenly. A caesarean section is a surgical operation in which the fetus is removed through an incision in the anterior abdominal wall and uterus.
The risk to life and health of a woman during a caesarean section is many times higher than during spontaneous childbirth. Therefore, like any other surgical operation, caesarean section is performed strictly according to the indications, when spontaneous childbirth is impossible or contraindicated. Therefore, the motivation “I don’t want to give birth, it will hurt, the figure will deteriorate is better than a cesarean section” is fundamentally false. Both for the fetus and for the woman in labor, childbirth through the birth canal is the most healthy and natural.
Where to give birth?
"Where to give birth"? - this is the next serious issue that a woman needs to solve before giving birth.
The most common and safest option is to give birth in a hospital, i.e. in the maternity hospital. Here, constant and continuous monitoring of the condition of the woman in labor and the main vital functions of the fetus will be carried out. There is a child at the hospital who assesses the condition of the child after birth and immediately provides assistance in case of any deviations. We should also not forget about the possibility of unforeseen complications in childbirth, which, as a rule, happen suddenly and require emergency medical care.
When choosing a maternity hospital, you should clarify the availability of the following services: anesthesia department, pediatric intensive care unit (even with a normal birth, the child may need intensive care immediately after birth), blood transfusion unit. Pay attention to the statistics: the number of births per year, maternal and perinatal mortality rates. The comfort of staying in the maternity hospital is of great importance: attentive staff, comfortable rooms, the possibility of visiting relatives, etc.
Home births attract people because the woman in labor is in familiar conditions, feels freer and more confident. However, it has been statistically proven that the number of complications and poor outcomes of such childbirth is many times higher than inpatient ones. This is due to the lack of dynamic monitoring of the condition of the woman in labor and the fetus and the extremely low qualifications of the staff (compare a midwife or doctor who performs 20 births daily in a hospital with those who perform 1-2 births per month at home).
However, if you decide to give birth at home, you should consider transporting to the nearest hospital or maternity hospital in case complications arise. Otherwise, you risk not only your life, but also the life of your child.
Childbirth is most often taken on a special bed in the position of a woman on her back with her legs bent and spread apart. In the countries of the Middle East, India, women often give birth on their haunches or on special beds that provide an upright position. In our country, vertical births have also gained popularity, and in modern maternity hospitals there is the possibility of delivering in a vertical position. Check with your midwife to see if this option is right for you.
Water births have also become popular in our country. This reduces the duration of the first stage of labor and achieves a high analgesic effect. For childbirth in water, a special pool is used. It should be understood that the process of giving birth to a child does not take place in water, but on a chair. After all, man is a land animal and nature has laid down that a child should not be born in an aquatic environment.
Pain during childbirth
Childbirth is accompanied by pain sensations of varying severity. Each woman perceives this pain differently, depending on the psychological mood for childbirth and the threshold of pain sensitivity.
In some cases, a woman in labor may need anesthesia. There are two common misconceptions about anesthesia in people: it is dangerous for the child; childbirth should be natural, I should be in pain.
In fact, a woman in labor is sometimes unprepared for the pain that accompanies childbirth. The problem is that the body can react radically to such uncomfortable childbirth: for example, by stopping labor. Pain relief in such a situation not only helps the expectant mother, but also contributes to the smooth movement of the fetus through the birth canal. Moreover, now anesthesiologists have at their disposal not one, but many safe options for relieving labor pain. It can be various sedatives, or epidural anesthesia. The drugs used to anesthetize childbirth do not inhibit labor activity and do not have a negative effect on the baby.
stipulate possible options anesthesia with your doctor beforehand. Of course, without your permission, you will not be subjected to any manipulations, including anesthesia. Only in exceptional cases, if the life of the patient or her child is in danger, the doctor has the right to independently decide on the urgent conduct of a particular procedure or operation.
childbirth process
Childbirth consists of three periods: The first stage of labor is the period of contractions, in which the cervix dilates. The second stage of labor is the period of exile, or the pushing period, during which the child is born. The third period is the birth of the placenta. Contractions are regular contractions of the uterus, accompanied by pulling pains in the lower abdomen and (or) in the lower back. At first, the contractions are weak, last a few seconds, and the interval between them is 10-12 minutes. Sometimes contractions immediately begin every 5-6 minutes, but not very strong. Gradually contractions become more frequent, strong, prolonged, painful. Usually in primiparous contractions last 10-12 hours, in multiparous 6-8 hours.
Sometimes childbirth begins with an outpouring amniotic fluid. In this case, you should immediately go to the hospital.
After you get to the maternity hospital, follow all the instructions of the medical staff. Rely on doctors. These people have had hundreds of births and will not recommend anything that could harm you or your baby. If a future mom ready for childbirth, positive, feels her body and her baby, and trusts doctors and listens to their tips, her birth is likely to be easy, painless and smooth, leaving behind the most beautiful memories.
The question of how childbirth occurs is of concern to absolutely everyone: pregnant women, women who plan to become mothers, and even those women who do not want children yet, as well as men. And all because childbirth is not only a miracle of birth, but also a huge work. About how childbirth occurs, what needs to be done during labor and what you should or should not be afraid of, we will try to explain to you in as much detail as possible. After all, knowing what will happen to a woman during childbirth can greatly facilitate her work, there will be no surprises or incomprehensible situations.
What is childbirth
It is worth starting with the fact that the process of childbirth is the process of the child leaving the uterus through the mother's genital tract. Contractions play one of the most important roles in this process. They are the main driving force that first opens the cervix, and then helps the child overcome his difficult path formed by the ring of pelvic bones, soft tissues, perineum and external genitalia.
What is a uterus? The uterus, in fact, is an ordinary muscle, only it has one distinctive feature - it is hollow. This is a kind of case, inside which the child is placed. Like any other muscle, the uterus has the ability to contract. But unlike other muscles, uterine contractions occur independently of the will of the woman giving birth, she can neither weaken them nor strengthen them. How then does this process take place?
Well, firstly, with the course of pregnancy, and, to be more precise, towards its end, the uterus begins to open itself, due to the tension that appears due to the already large size of the fetus. There is an effect on the cervix, so by the end of pregnancy, it is usually already open by 1-3 cm.
Secondly, it is worth remembering about hormones. Towards the end of pregnancy, the pituitary gland begins to secrete the hormone oxytocin, which actually causes and maintains uterine contractions. Its synthetic analogue is used in maternity hospitals and during childbirth, introducing it to women with weak or insufficient labor activity to cause more intense uterine contractions.
These two factors are not self-sufficient, that is, the presence of one of them cannot in itself cause the onset of labor. But when their one-time "assistance" occurs, the process of childbirth begins. Regular and strong uterine contractions are necessary for the normal course of childbirth, otherwise doctors will definitely correct this process.
Periods of childbirth
Childbirth consists of three obligatory consecutive periods, which for each woman have completely different durations.
- Opening of the cervix under the influence of contractions. This period is the longest and often the most painful.
- Fetal expulsion. This is the very miracle of birth, the birth of a baby.
- Birth of the placenta, children's place.
At the first birth, their normal duration is on average 8-18 hours. With repeated births, their length is usually much less - 5-6 hours, on average. This can be explained by the fact that the cervix and the genital slit have already opened, so they have acquired the necessary elasticity, so this process is faster than the first time.
But we hasten to clarify that the duration of labor is influenced by many different factors that can contribute to both speeding up the process and slowing it down.
Factors that affect the duration of labor:
- The body weight of the child. According to statistics, the greater the weight of the baby, the longer the birth lasts. It is more difficult for a large baby to overcome its path;
- Presentation of the fetus. With a breech presentation, childbirth lasts longer than with a normal, head;
- contractions. Different intensity and frequency of contractions directly affects both the course of labor in general and their length.
As soon as any symptoms occur that can be used to judge the onset of the birth process (this may be an outpouring of amniotic fluid or regular contractions), the woman is transferred to the maternity ward. There, the midwife measures the blood pressure and body temperature of the woman giving birth, the size of the small pelvis, some hygiene procedures are carried out - shaving off excess pubic hair, a cleansing enema. Some maternity hospitals don't do enemas, but common practice is that bowel cleansing increases the space for the birth of a child, so it is easier for him to be born. After all this, the woman is sent to the birth unit, from that moment until the birth of the child she is called a woman in labor.
How labor happens - First stage of labor: dilation of the cervix
This period has three phases:
- Latent phase. This phase begins from the moment regular contractions begin until the neck opens by about 3-4 cm. The duration of this phase in the first birth is 6.4 hours, in the next - 4.8 hours. The rate of cervical dilatation is approximately 0.35 cm per hour.
- active phase. This phase is characterized by a much more active opening of the cervix from 3-4 cm to 8 cm, now the cervix opens at a speed of approximately 1.5-2 cm per hour during the first birth, 2-2.5 cm per hour during repeated.
- Deceleration phase. In the last phase, the opening is a little slower, from 8 to 10 cm, at a rate of about 1-1.5 cm per hour.
This period of labor begins with the onset of strong contractions, which give you a signal that it's time to go to the hospital.
Many women face such a problem as the so-called "false contractions". So how can you tell "false" or "training" contractions from real contractions?
False, training bouts are characterized by the following parameters:
- Irregularity;
- The fight "disappears" when changing the position of the body, taking warm shower, taking an antispasmodic;
- The frequency of contractions is not reduced;
- The interval between contractions is not reduced.
The contractions of the uterus are directed from top to bottom, that is, from the bottom of the uterus to its cervix. With each contraction of the uterine wall, as it were, the cervix is pulled up. As a result of these contractions, the cervix opens. Its disclosure also facilitates the fact that during pregnancy the neck becomes softer. The opening of the cervix is necessary so that the baby can exit the uterus. A fully opened neck corresponds to a diameter of 10-12 cm.
By contractions, the uterus affects not only the cervix, but also the fetus, pushing it forward a little. These actions happen at the same time. After the cervix is fully dilated, the fetal bladder usually ruptures. And after that, the fetus will be able to leave the uterus. But if the bubble does not burst, a doctor or midwife can artificially violate its integrity.
During each contraction, the volume of the uterus decreases, intrauterine pressure increases, the force of which is transmitted to the amniotic fluid. As a result of this, the fetal bladder is wedged into the cervical canal and thereby contributes to the smoothing and opening of the cervix. When it is fully opened at the height of the contraction at maximum tension, the fetal bladder bursts, and amniotic fluid is poured out - such an outpouring of amniotic fluid is called timely. If the waters poured out with an incomplete opening of the cervix, then the outflow is called early. If the waters poured out before the start of contractions, then such an outpouring is called premature (prenatal). Sometimes a baby is born "in a shirt." This means that the fetal bladder did not burst. Such children are called lucky ones, because in such a situation there is a danger of acute oxygen starvation (asphyxia), which poses a danger to the life of the baby.
An overfilled bladder has a weakening effect on the labor activity of the uterus, prevents the normal course of childbirth, so every 2-3 hours you need to go to the toilet.
It is impossible to say with accuracy how long this period will last, but it is the longest in the process of childbirth, it takes 90% of the time. So, during the first pregnancy, the opening of the cervix lasts about 7-8 hours, and during subsequent births - 4-5 hours.
During the period of cervical dilatation, the midwife or doctor will observe the intensity of uterine contractions, the nature of cervical dilatation, the degree of advancement of the baby's head in the pelvic tunnel, the condition of the child. Once your uterus has fully opened, you will be transferred to the delivery room, where the next phase of labor will begin, during which your baby will be born. By this time, that is, at the height of labor activity, contractions are repeated every 5-7 minutes and last 40-60 seconds.
Although contractions occur involuntarily, they cannot be weakened, their rhythm cannot be changed, but this does not mean that you should remain passive. At this stage, you can walk around the room, sit or stand. When you are standing or walking around, contractions are less painful, lower back pain decreases, and the baby adjusts to the size of the pelvis.
The calmer and more relaxed you are, the faster the birth will go. Therefore, during the first phase of childbirth, you are faced with two tasks: to breathe correctly and to relax as much as possible.
Why breathe correctly during a fight
The uterus performs hard, hard work, during contractions, the muscles absorb oxygen. Our body is so arranged that the lack of oxygen causes pain. Therefore, the uterus must be constantly saturated with oxygen, as well as supply oxygen to the child. And this is possible only with deep and full breathing.
Proper breathing in the second phase of labor provides pressure from the diaphragm on the uterus, which makes the efforts effective and helps the baby to be born gently without injuring the mother's birth canal.
Relaxation leads to the release of tension in the muscles, and in weakened muscles less oxygen is consumed, that is, both the uterus and the child will use the saved oxygen.
In addition, your overall tension leads to more tension in the cervix during dilation, which leads to severe pain. Therefore, at the first stage of childbirth, you need to strive to completely relax and not make any attempts: now you will not be able to intensify labor activity, but will only make it painful. Do not try to overcome or somehow distance yourself from what is happening during the fight, but completely accept, open up and surrender to what is happening. Relax when pain occurs, both physically and psychologically, perceive pain as a natural sensation.
How to breathe during a fight
- The fight is coming. The woman at this moment begins to feel the growing tension of the uterus.
You need to breathe deeply, taking full breaths and exhalations. - The fight has begun. At this moment, the woman feels a growing pain.
Begin to take quick and rhythmic breaths in and out. Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth. - The fight ends. The woman felt the peak of the contraction and its decline.
Start breathing more deeply, gradually calming down. Between contractions, we recommend that you rest with your eyes closed, it is quite possible that you will even be able to fall asleep. It is necessary to save energy for the most important event, the next period of childbirth.
During childbirth, pain during contractions always increases slowly, so there is time to get used to them and adapt, and between contractions there is time to rest. In addition, childbirth does not last forever, which means that this pain will not last forever either. This banal thought in the delivery room can give you very real support. And don't forget that each contraction helps the baby move forward and eventually leads to his birth.
What is the best position to choose during the opening of the cervix? The one that is most convenient and comfortable for you. Some women prefer to walk and massage their back during contractions, while others prefer to lie down, in some maternity hospitals women are allowed to use a fitball. Try it and you will definitely find "your" pose.
It was noticed that a woman during childbirth, as it were, is immersed in herself. She forgets her social position, loses control over herself. But in this state, a woman is far from being helpless and lost, but on the contrary, she acts slowly, spontaneously finding a position that suits her in the best way, on which the physiology of childbirth depends.
Most women in the early stages of labor instinctively bend over, hold on to something, or kneel or squat. These postures are very effective in reducing pain, especially in the lower back, and also allow you to ignore external stimuli. Outwardly, they resemble the pose of a praying person and, probably, in some way help to move into other states of consciousness.
During the opening of the cervix, as the baby's head moves through the birth canal, you may want to somehow help the baby and push him, as well as the desire to push. But this should not be done without the advice of a midwife, since attempts to fully dilate the cervix will only interfere with the process and thereby increase the duration of labor. In addition, you better not waste energy on unnecessary early attempts, but save them until the second stage of labor, when all your muscle efforts will be required from you. Therefore, try to relax, giving the body a comfortable position.
The decisive factors for the normal course of labor in the first stage are warmth, peace, free choice of positions, emancipation and the help of a midwife.
How childbirth happens - First period: dilatation of the cervix in pictures
In this picture we see the cervix before it begins to dilate:
And on this, the cervix is already almost completely open:
How childbirth happens - Second stage of labor: the birth of a child
During this period, the moment that you and your family have been waiting for 9 months with trepidation and impatience occurs. A child is born in the second stage of labor. This period lasts an average of 20-30 minutes. in the first birth and even less in the next.
After the cervix is fully dilated, the woman, who until now has been a fairly passive participant in childbirth, as they say, “comes into play”. It will take a lot of strength from her to help the fetus pass through the birth canal and be born.
Most of all, this stage is distinguished from others by a strong urge to empty the intestines, someone may experience a feeling of insane fatigue, and other women in labor suddenly have a “second wind”. The second stage of labor can last up to 50 minutes for those who become mothers not for the first time, and up to 2.5 hours for “newbies”. Its duration depends on many factors: the intensity of labor, the strength of the mother's efforts, the size of the fetus and the mother's pelvis, the location of the head in relation to the pelvis of the woman in labor.
Contractions in this stage are very different from the previous ones, since at this stage there is an active contraction of the muscles of the chest, abdominals and uterus. The urge to stool is felt several times during the contraction, and it is thanks to them that the child moves "to the exit." Now, as, indeed, at all stages of childbirth, it is very important to follow the instructions of the midwife and doctor.
The exile ends with the appearance of the baby's head from the birth canal. At this point, there may be pain in the perineum, "burning". Then the whole body is born quite quickly. So be patient and trust your doctor.
By the end of pregnancy, the fetus takes the position of "coming into the world" - vertical head presentation
Types of fetal presentation:
The presenting is that part of the child that first enters the pelvic region.
- Occipital.
The most common, approximately 95% of cases. At the same time, the head enters the pelvic region somewhat bent, the chin is pressed to the chest, the back of the head is turned forward; - Facial
The head is thrown back. Childbirth in this case can be difficult, a caesarean section is indicated; - Frontal presentation.
Intermediate position between facial and occipital presentation. The head is turned so that it does not fit into the pelvis, its diameter is too large, so natural childbirth is impossible and a caesarean section is necessary; - Transverse presentation(or shoulder presentation).
The fetus is located horizontally up or down with its back. A caesarean section is also necessary. - Gluteal(breech) presentation.
The fetus is located with the buttocks down, and the head is in the depths of the uterus. With a breech presentation, the doctor will take maximum precautions, carefully determine the size of the pelvis. You also need to find out in advance whether the maternity hospital where you will give birth has the equipment necessary for such cases.
Fetal presentation in pictures
HEAD PRESENTATION
BELT PRESENTATION
Breech options:
TRANSVERSAL PRESENTATION
How does the second stage of childbirth begin for a woman? She has a great desire to push. It's called pushing. Also, a woman has an irresistible desire to sit down, she has a need to grab onto someone or something. The position when a woman gives birth with support under the armpits from her partner is very effective: gravity is used to the maximum with minimal muscular effort - the muscles in this position relax as much as possible.
But no matter what position a woman chooses, it is equally important for her at this moment to understand from others. Experienced and responsive assistants are able to make a woman feel warmth and joy. The midwife uses during childbirth only in simple terms, but this does not exclude her firmness in certain situations when you need to support the activity of a woman in labor.
During this period, attempts are added to contractions - contractions of the muscles of the abdominal wall and diaphragm. The main difference between attempts and contractions is that these are arbitrary contractions, that is, they depend on your will: you can delay or intensify them.
In order to be born, the child must pass through the birth canal, overcoming various obstacles. During labor, the baby must enter the pelvis, cross it, and exit. And in order to overcome all the obstacles encountered, he needs to adapt to the shapes and sizes of the tunnel. The entry of the baby's head into the pelvic cavity (especially at the birth of the first child) can occur at the end of pregnancy, while the expectant mother may experience pain and a feeling that the fetus is descending. When entering the upper hole, the child turns his head to the right or left - this way it is easier for him to overcome the first obstacle. Then the child descends into the pelvic area, while turning in a different way. Having overcome the exit, the child meets a new obstacle - the muscles of the perineum, in which he will rest his head for some time. Under the pressure of the head, the perineum and vagina gradually expand, and the birth of the child begins directly.
During childbirth, it is the head of the baby that is most important to pass, since this is the largest part of the fetus. If the head has overcome the obstacle, then the body will pass without difficulty.
Some circumstances can make it easier for a baby to pass through the birth canal:
- the bones of the pelvis are interconnected by joints, which by the end of pregnancy slightly relax, causing the pelvis to expand by several millimeters;
- the bones of the child's skull will finally grow together only a few months after birth. Therefore, the skull is malleable and can change shape in a narrow passage;
- the elasticity of the soft tissues of the perineum and vagina facilitates the passage of the fetus through the birth canal.
In the second stage of labor, contractions become more frequent and longer. The pressure of the child's head on the perineal area causes a desire to push. While pushing, listen to the advice of an experienced midwife. You must actively participate in the birth process, helping the uterus to push the baby forward.
What to do during a contraction in the second stage of labor
- The fight is coming.
Assume the position in which you will give birth, relax your perineum and breathe deeply. - The start of the fight.
Inhale deeply through the nose, this will lower the diaphragm as much as possible, as a result of which the pressure of the uterus on the fetus will increase. When you have finished inhaling, hold your breath, and then strongly tighten the abdominal muscles, starting from the stomach area, to press as hard as possible on the fetus and push it forward. If you cannot hold your breath for the duration of the contraction, exhale through your mouth (but not abruptly), inhale again and hold your breath. Continue pushing until the end of the contraction, leaving the perineum relaxed. For one attempt, you need to push three times. - The fight is over.
Breathe deeply, inhaling and exhaling fully.
Between contractions, do not push, restore strength and breathing. Your doctor or midwife can help you determine when to push. With each contraction, the baby's head appears more and more, and at some point you will be asked not to push, but to breathe quickly and shallowly, since one extra attempt now can sharply push the baby's head out and cause a perineal tear. After the head comes out of the genital slit, the midwife releases the child's shoulders one by one, and the rest of the body comes out without difficulty.
A newly born child lets out a cry, possibly from pain, as air rushes into his lungs for the first time and expands them dramatically. Your baby is breathing for the first time. His nostrils flare, his face wrinkles, his chest rises, and his mouth opens. Not so long ago, the absence of a baby's cry at birth was a cause for concern: it was believed that the cry indicates the viability of the child, and the medical staff did everything to cause this cry. But in fact, the first cry is completely unrelated to the health of the child. In this case, it is important that after the first breaths the skin color of the child becomes pink. Therefore, do not worry or worry if your baby does not cry at birth.
How childbirth happens - The second stage of childbirth: the birth of a child in pictures
The cervix is fully open, under the influence of contractions and the efforts of the woman in labor, the head appeared:
The head is almost completely out:
After its release, the rest of the body comes out without problems and effort:
What does the baby feel immediately after birth
According to many psychologists, the first cry of a child is a cry of horror that he experiences when he is born.
For a child, life in the mother's stomach was a paradise: he did not experience any discomfort - it was always warm, calm, comfortable, satisfying, all needs were satisfied by themselves, no effort was needed. But suddenly everything changes: it becomes somewhat cramped, stuffy and hungry. To cope with the situation, the child goes on a journey, not imagining how it will end. After all the hardships of this dangerous path, a child from a cozy, perfect world finds himself in a cold and indifferent world, where everything has to be done by oneself. Such impressions can be easily compared with a real life catastrophe. Therefore, psychologists call the birth of the "trauma of birth." The horror that a child experiences at the time of birth is not stored in his mind, since it has not yet formed. But everything that happens around him, he experiences with his whole being - body and soul.
Birth is a natural process, and man is well equipped to endure it. Just as a physiologically healthy child can be born without harm to bodily health, he is able to survive the psychological trauma associated with birth without any harm to mental health.
Compared to the enormous shock that childbirth is, some medical difficulties are experienced by the child quite easily. Therefore, the physiological consequences of difficult childbirth are compensated by proper care. It is almost impossible to describe the feeling that a mother experiences when her baby appears. Probably, this is the simultaneous experience of several feelings and sensations at once: the satisfaction of pride and the fatigue that has suddenly piled on. It's great if in the hospital where you give birth, the baby will immediately be placed on your chest. Then you will feel a connection with the child, realize the reality of his existence.
The first hour after childbirth is one of important points in the life of mother and newborn. This moment can become decisive in how the child will relate to the mother and through her to other people.
For some time after the birth of the baby, you can take a break from the hard work done and prepare for the final stage of labor - the birth of the afterbirth.
Mother and child are still connected by the umbilical cord, and the correct behavior of the mother makes this connection rich and perfect, from this moment a dialogue begins between them. This is the first meeting of mother and child, getting to know each other, so try not to miss it.
Continued skin-to-skin contact (when the baby lies on the mother's stomach) between mother and baby stimulates female hormone secretion, which is necessary to induce contractions for spontaneous expulsion of the placenta. The less haste at this point, the less risk for subsequent bleeding. Use this moment to breastfeed your baby for the first time and squeeze colostrum into his mouth, which is an excellent immune defense.
At this time, the doctor bandages the umbilical cord and cuts it. This procedure is completely painless as there are no nerves in the umbilical cord. In a healthy child, at the time of birth, the width of the umbilical cord is 1.5 - 2 cm, and the length is approximately 55 cm. From this moment, your baby begins a new independent life: the baby establishes independent blood circulation, and with the first independent breath, oxygen begins to enter the body. Therefore, we can assume that the umbilical cord, which becomes flat and pale after childbirth, has fulfilled its function. The remaining root will fall off in a week, and a wound will form in its place, healing within a few days. After one or two weeks, it will tighten, forming a fold, which we all call the "navel".
After birth, the midwife or doctor conducts the first examination of the child. His airways are cleaned, since during childbirth he could swallow mucus, and the skin with which he is covered is also cleaned of mucus. Then it is washed, weighed, measured. A bracelet with a surname is put on the child’s hand so as not to be confused. The doctor also pays attention to the color of the child's skin, the rhythm of the heartbeat, breathing, the patency of the nose, esophagus, anus, and the general mobility of the child.
In the following days, a more thorough and detailed examination is carried out, including a neurological examination of the unconditioned reflexes of the newborn: automatic walking reflex, grasping and sucking reflexes. The presence of these reflexes indicates a good condition nervous system newborn.
How childbirth occurs - Third stage of labor: expulsion of the placenta
With the birth of a child, childbirth is not over for you. After a few minutes, you will feel the contractions of the uterus again, but already less strong than before. As a result of these contractions, the placenta will separate from the uterus and come out. This process is called separation of the placenta. Sometimes, after the completion of childbirth, an injection is given so that the uterus contracts better. The contraction of the muscles of the uterus provides compression of the vessels that connected the uterus to the placenta and remained open after the placenta came out, thereby eliminating bleeding. When the separation of the placenta begins, you should lie on your left side so as not to squeeze the vein.
Contractions intensify with a slight pinching of the nipples of the mammary glands or applying to the baby’s chest, which contributes to the release of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for uterine contractions. Subsequent contractions cause separation of the placenta from the walls of the uterus, the connection of the placenta with the wall of the uterus is broken, and under the influence of attempts, the placenta is born.
After the birth of the placenta, the uterus is greatly reduced, as a result of which the bleeding stops.
After the birth of the placenta, the woman is already called the puerperal.
After the birth of the placenta, the doctor carefully examines it, then the birth canal is examined in a small operating room, if tears are found, they are sewn up.
The first two hours after childbirth, the woman remains in the maternity ward under the close supervision of the doctor on duty, then, in the absence of fears and pathologies on both sides, she and the newborn are transferred to the postpartum ward.
Childbirth is not only a physical test, but also a strong emotional shake-up. That is why it is impossible to convey in the words "what is what" - it is impossible. Literally everything affects the course of childbirth. And how they go depends on a lot of factors: the degree of pain threshold, physical and psychological preparation, and even your desire to have this child.
In this article:
A woman who is preparing to become a mother is interested in everything related to the birth of a child. Is it possible to prepare for childbirth, how long will it last, is it really that painful? How not to miss the time when it's time to go to the hospital? Is the process of giving birth to the first child different from how the second birth goes? Let's look for answers together.
The unknown is frightening, therefore, the more a woman knows about the process of the birth of a baby, the calmer and more confident she feels. After all, the inept actions of the future mother, strong unrest or loss of control over herself during contractions can have adverse consequences for her own health and, especially, the health of the baby. The correct behavior of a woman at the birth of a child is very important.
Childbirth is a changeable process that takes place in every expectant mother in different ways. Nevertheless, events develop according to one scenario.
prenatal period
Many pregnant women feel the approach of childbirth in advance. After 38 weeks, the so-called prenatal period begins. At this time, the expectant mother can feel how the fetus has moved lower, feel a slight pulling pain in the lower back and get acquainted with the first irregular contractions. So the female body prepares for childbirth. It happens that false contractions make a pregnant woman, especially those who are expecting their first child, worry - because they can seem very tangible. But you should not immediately go to the hospital, it is better to observe: irregular contractions have their own characteristics. If the contractions in the abdomen do not become more intense and frequent after a while, then they are false. Often the condition of a pregnant woman experiencing improves after a change in body position.
How to recognize regular contractions?
Real contractions indicate the onset of labor. Contrary to the fears of pregnant women, it is almost impossible to miss or oversleep them. Real contractions will not disappear with a change in body position or after rest. On the contrary, over time they will become stronger and more frequent. How do you know when it's time to go to the hospital? It is necessary to calculate and record the duration of contractions and the time periods between them. If the breaks are about 5 minutes, you can go to the hospital and prepare for a quick meeting with the baby.
First stage of labor: contractions and dilation
So, the first stage of labor begins with regular contractions, leading to the opening of the uterus or from the outflow of amniotic fluid. If the waters have receded, you need to go to the hospital immediately, without waiting for regular contractions. A long waterless period can harm the baby. In addition, the expectant mother should pay attention to the color of the amniotic fluid (they can be transparent or green) and the absence of smell and report this information to the obstetrician.
Contractions can last for several hours. Causing only abdominal tension at first, by the time the uterus opens, they can become really painful. But even at this time, a woman should not be afraid and lose control of herself. Childbirth is a natural process and the body does its job. Contractions can affect the expectant mother in different ways, causing not only pain, but also dizziness, nausea, and weakness. At these moments, you can imagine a baby, for whom each new contraction is a small step towards birth. Remember, even if the pain is severe, in between contractions, you should try to relax, rest and remember to breathe properly.
Oxygen is necessary not only for the child, but also for the expectant mother. A woman should not hold her breath during contractions - this will not relieve discomfort. When the pain starts to come on, it is especially important to try to take full breaths in and out. And, moreover, do not shout. Rhythmic breathing during contractions has been proven to help relieve pain. And for some women, singing helps.
The second effective method designed to relieve pain is massage. sacral department spine. Light strokes of this area or strong pressure will make the pulling sensations that occur in the lower back slightly recede. By the way, dads who are waiting for the baby to appear next to the expectant mother do an excellent job with such a massage.
Opening is faster, and contractions are a little easier when the woman is not lying, but walking or standing. But here she needs to listen to her well-being and move only if she really wants to.
At a certain moment, a woman feels an irresistible desire to push - this is a signal that the cervix is \u200b\u200balmost or completely opened and the baby will be born soon. With the onset of attempts, the woman in labor is transferred to the obstetric bed.
Childbirth on an obstetric bed is convenient for the doctor's work. good review what is happening allows him to act according to the situation and make the necessary decisions in time. Therefore, the overwhelming number of births in our time is carried out on the obstetric bed.
The second option is childbirth in a squatting or kneeling position, when a woman leans her hands on the headboard. In this case, mother and child are assisted by gravity. Vertical childbirth is considered more physiological, but at the slightest sign of complications, the woman is still placed on the obstetric bed.
Second period: the process of expulsion of the fetus
The expulsion of the fetus may seem almost painless compared to contractions, but it can be the other way around - everything is individual. The main rule is that a woman in labor must actively participate in the process: listen carefully to the doctor, breathe properly and push.
Despite the fact that attempts occur reflexively, a woman can and should control the process of expelling the fetus. To avoid ruptures and birth injuries of the fetus, you should strictly follow the instructions of the obstetrician! Frequent shallow breathing (according to the "dog" principle) helps to restrain the attempt, pushing correctly and strongly ("in the stomach") means acting in the same way as with the urge to defecate, which is well known to every person.
The moment of eruption of the head may seem the most difficult and unpleasant. But a woman needs to help a child be born. When the head is born, the baby itself is shown very quickly.
The second stage of labor can take up to an hour, but much more often a child is born in 20-30 minutes - it all depends on the efforts of the woman in labor.
Having been born, the child begins to breathe, makes the first cry. If his condition does not cause concern to the doctor, the baby is placed on the mother's stomach and after a while the umbilical cord is cut. This moment can be considered the end of the active part of childbirth, although there is still an important third period.
Third period: postpartum, during which the placenta is born.
The postpartum period usually does not take more than half an hour. The uterus continues to contract, and the afterbirth is born painlessly.
If the placenta does not separate, the doctor may gently separate it by hand or give the woman a drug that increases uterine contractions.
The born placenta is carefully examined, checking the integrity. It is extremely important that no afterbirth particles remain in the uterus - this can lead to inflammation of the uterine mucosa or internal bleeding.
The doctor carefully examines the young mother: checks for bleeding, ruptures, treats with a disinfectant solution. If damage occurs during labor, suturing is done under local anesthesia. This procedure does not cause discomfort in a woman.
Usually the first birth lasts from 12 to 18 hours, the second is faster - from 8 to 12 hours. Prolonged labor is said if the time of birth of a child exceeds these figures.
What can I do to make childbirth easy?
Waiting for childbirth, especially the first, understandably causes anxiety in the expectant mother. How to reduce feelings of anxiety? First of all, realize that childbirth is a natural test for the body, which it will cope with. If something goes wrong, the medical staff of the maternity hospital will help. Therefore, nothing irreparable during childbirth, most likely, will not happen.
If the expectant mother regularly visits an obstetrician-gynecologist, fulfills all medical prescriptions, leads healthy lifestyle life - it means that she does everything necessary for herself and the baby.
Many pregnant women are helped to overcome uncertainty by special courses for expectant mothers. In such classes, they talk about childbirth, the features of caring for a baby, they teach breathing techniques during contractions and attempts. Often, young mothers, having met at the courses, continue to communicate even after the birth of their babies.
A woman needs to choose in advance a suitable maternity hospital and, if possible, a doctor. It is better to use the reviews of familiar young parents. It can be useful to arrive in advance at the maternity hospital you like and look around on the spot. As a last resort, you can look at the forums for moms, sometimes there are also useful reviews there.
Some women, expecting a child, begin to read a lot about pregnancy and childbirth. Knowledge, in this case, is good in moderation. Try to avoid negative information! It is enough to understand in general terms what happens to the body of the mother and child. This knowledge is usually enough to gain peace of mind and have no doubt that 9 months will go well, childbirth will be easy and a healthy baby will be born!
The obstetrician's story about how the birth goes
The question “how is childbirth going” worries not only expectant mothers, but also their husbands: both those who decided to support their spouse in a difficult process, and those who are waiting for the appearance of heirs outside the maternity hospital.
Doctors divide the complex process of the birth of a baby into several periods, each of which has its own tasks, coordinated actions of the woman in labor, the child, the midwife and the doctor are aimed at solving them. In some cases, the intervention of an anesthesiologist, surgeon, neonatologist, resuscitation team is required.
Mothers who are not going through childbirth for the first time are often interested in this issue, and most importantly, they want to make the birth easy, because they are well acquainted with the sensations. Let's talk about how a child is born, what a woman in labor feels and how to make the process easier and painless.
Pregnancy is a natural state for women of childbearing age, during this period the body is aimed at bearing a child, therefore, the work of all organs and systems is activated, hormonal and physiological loads are sometimes too high.
Often, pregnant women during this important period get tired of the “burden” of a new life developing in them and dream of childbirth, as of getting rid of it.
But childbirth, like any natural process, does not occur spontaneously. Some time before their onset, a woman begins to feel a complex of symptoms, according to which it can be assumed that delivery is close.
It is related to the change hormonal background, after all, progesterone, the hormone that preserves pregnancy, gives way to estrogen, the hormone that prepares the body for childbirth. It is he who is “responsible” for the process of “setting up” a woman for the successful birth of a baby. Future mothers rejoice at these moments, as these are harbingers of an early acquaintance with the long-awaited baby.
It is conditionally possible to divide the signs into those that can be determined independently and those that can only be seen by an obstetrician-gynecologist during examination.
Here are the signs that a woman can feel on her own:
- short-term uterine contractions, the so-called. Their task is to train the smooth muscles of the uterus, as athletes train muscles, in order to minimize stress on the body and prepare a woman's body for the birth of a child. That is why these fights are called "training."
- reduction in the size of the abdomen. This sign is due to the fact that the baby's head, with the correct presentation, descends into the small pelvis, preparing for childbirth. At the same time, the uterus descends, freeing the diaphragm and lungs, breathing is facilitated, and heartburn is less likely to torment.
- secretions from the genital tract. This sign is often confused with the leakage of amniotic fluid in which the baby develops, and this worries expectant mothers. In order not to worry in vain, you can buy special tests at the pharmacy, similar to those that detect pregnancy, and at home determine if there is amniotic fluid in the discharge.
- weight loss by 1-2 kg and a decrease in visible swelling of the extremities. If before the gum from the socks left a visible mark, now it becomes almost invisible.
- change in posture and gait of a pregnant woman: this symptom is associated with a shift in the center of gravity and fatigue from a long state of pregnancy. The head is slightly thrown back, and it is more convenient for a woman to walk in small steps, slightly springy: such a gait is called a “duck”.
- an increase in the frequency of the urge to visit the toilet, loosening of the stool (associated with the release of the birth canal so that the baby's head can freely squeeze in there).
- drawing pain in the lumbar region and abdomen. Ligaments are stretched, and this is a natural process during childbirth. Many women, when asked how the second birth went, miss this sign because they did not feel it: their ligaments were already prepared by the birth of their first child.
There are only two symptoms by which only a doctor can determine the proximity of childbirth: this is a decrease in the volume of the abdomen during the next measurement (performed in the supine position), as well as softening and partial opening of the cervix, changing its structure from elastic to looser.
Harbingers of childbirth are not of the same type: for each woman, this process can take place in its own way, depending on the hormonal background, physical fitness, moral and psychological state, and other points. It is also important whether the woman is giving birth for the first time or she already has children.
In primiparas, the process of preparing for childbirth goes smoothly, gradually, and takes from two to three weeks. In addition, in most cases, the harbingers of childbirth generally go unnoticed.
In multiparous Braxton-Hicks contractions come earlier, and the time after the mucosal plug leaves before delivery is reduced, so it is especially important to listen to yourself and your feelings if you are not heading to the hospital for the first time.
How is childbirth going? step by step process
The harbingers of childbirth are becoming more tangible, training contractions are more disturbing, the time is rapidly approaching the 40th obstetric week of pregnancy. All this suggests that childbirth will begin soon.
If a woman in labor arrives at the maternity hospital by ambulance or on her own, as she feels that delivery has begun, then the birth is called urgent. True, in some cases it is required to go to the hospital in advance, so as not to miss their onset and avoid complications.
Doctors conditionally divide the whole process into three periods:
- contractions;
- attempts;
- birth of the placenta.
For the first time, the whole process can take even more than 12 hours, the second, third and subsequent ones take much less time. Often, future dads wonder how women give birth in order to decide whether to take the opportunity to attend the first birthday of a son or daughter. Many of them are afraid of pain and blood, they are afraid not to endure the suffering of their wife and faint if they see some kind of medical manipulation.
In this case, it is important to determine the purpose of your stay for childbirth. No one asks her husband to intervene or observe the process itself "from the side of doctors." The main goal of a man should be the moral and physical support of his wife, as well as the willingness to solve some bureaucratic or technical issues (call a doctor or midwife, help fill out paperwork and make important decisions).
Let's talk about each period of childbirth separately.
Contractions
The first contractions occur quite rarely, with large and unequal intervals of time, but gradually they become more pronounced and painful. During this period, the mucous plug may come off, blocking the entrance to the uterus, if it has not separated earlier. Most often, contractions become regular after the outflow of amniotic fluid.
In a hospital setting, in order to stimulate or speed up labor, doctors resort to puncturing the fetal bladder. But, wherever the waters are poured out, at home or in the hospital, pay attention to their quantity and quality.
If there are few of them, it is possible that the discharge is incomplete, and their greenish color with flakes and dark inclusions may mean that the baby is experiencing oxygen starvation, he is already uncomfortable in the womb and it is time to get out with the help of professionals.
During the contraction, the woman in labor is required to endure the pain, not to panic and breathe properly. Frequent, rapid breathing will saturate the blood with oxygen, which means it will provide a comfortable state for both the mother and the baby.
The contractions are getting stronger, and after a few hours, the doctor or midwife, during examination, diagnoses a strong opening of the cervix: 4 fingers, approximately 8-10 cm. This indicates the approaching period of attempts.
attempts
Attempts are actually the expulsion of the fetus, in the language of official medicine. It is difficult to find a woman who would not know how the first birth goes: most often, expectant mothers read a lot on this topic, attend courses or practical classes for pregnant women. But even the most theoretically trained can be confused before the start of the period of attempts.
In this case, midwives or a doctor come to the rescue. They will show and tell you how to push to have a baby quickly and with the least problems. If everything goes well, the process of pushing the baby out will take about 25-30 minutes. It is important to direct muscle movements to the small pelvis, follow the prompts of specialists and not panic.
If an impressionable husband of a woman in labor is present at the birth, at the moment of attempts he can leave the birth room, because at this moment his presence is not so necessary.
expulsion of the placenta
The placenta is a muscular sac, an organ that arises and develops during pregnancy and dies with its end. For a long 40 weeks, the placenta nourished the baby with oxygen, carried out its connection with the expectant mother, and after a period determined by nature, the "children's place" is rejected from the woman's body.
Usually, the expulsion of the placenta occurs with the next contraction after the birth of the child, but there are times when the organ does not separate on its own. In this case, the doctor can help the woman in labor get rid of it: usually the placenta is removed manually under general anesthesia, and this entails additional days of sick leave.
How is the first birth going?
If a woman is pregnant for the first time, she is more attentive to her body, to the changes taking place inside it. But, in the absence of experience, some processes are noticed by her later.
So, the first movement can be detected after 20 weeks. By the way, those who know firsthand how 3 births go sometimes assure doctors that they felt the first movements of the fetus between 12 and 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Most often, the first birth lasts longer than the next, so you can take your time to the hospital, because there you will have to tirelessly walk around the prenatal ward in anticipation of more frequent contractions.
Important! If you are giving birth for the first time, but have previously had miscarriages in the later stages or premature births for medical reasons, then your body is already ready for the delivery process, which will take much less time.
Otherwise, the first birth is the same as for those women who have already given birth several times, if everything goes without complications.
How to make the process easier?
Mostly women, telling how the second or subsequent births go, note that the longest and most painful period is the first: contractions. That is why those who survived the birth of a child, getting to the hospital for the second and third time, are asked to anesthetize the period of contractions.
But the process can be facilitated without resorting to medical anesthesia. Let's talk about several ways.
- Massaging your lower back during contractions can help relieve pain. On your own or with the help of your husband, massage the sacrum with soft, wide movements of the palms. This helps to relax the muscles, distracts and therefore reduces discomfort.
- Singing, reciting poems or even dancing will help to distract from pain. It relaxes the body, sets the mother in labor positive, helps the baby go through a difficult process. By the way, in India, women traditionally dance during childbirth a ritual dance called "belly dance".
- Leaning a little forward on the couch, wall or back of the husband is very useful, it greatly facilitates contractions.
- Do not panic, feel the pain as a natural part of childbirth and experience it as some positive experience in your life: this is wise and will lead to less problems in childbirth.
The last and most important advice: you need to listen to your body and the baby inside, do not forget to pay attention to the words and tips of experienced professionals accompanying your birth, trust yourself, your feelings and sensations.
The presence of the father of the child at the birth will also help a lot: like the process of pregnancy, this is an important stage in life together, you can also live it together.
We must not forget that childbirth is a natural process, and the woman's body is prepared for it by nature itself, so there is nothing terrible or incomprehensible, it is enough to get the necessary information in advance.
For a successful delivery, it is also important to regularly visit a gynecologist during pregnancy, follow the recommendations of doctors and take care of your health. And in this case, when asked how the third birth went, you will answer: “Easy and with pleasure!”
We wish you a successful birth and healthy children!
Useful video about childbirth
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The main life task of every woman is to endure and give birth to a healthy baby. In this article, I would like to tell expectant mothers how childbirth occurs. What to expect from the process of labor, what difficulties may arise here - this is what I want to talk about now.
Training
Pregnancy and childbirth is the most important period in the life of every woman. And I must say that even the birth itself depends on how the future mother's pregnancy proceeded. What is worth remembering when carrying a baby?
- Proper nutrition. Expectant mother throughout the entire period of pregnancy should eat right. You should try to exclude fried and fatty foods to the maximum, giving preference to cereals, vegetables and fruits. It is also important not to eat junk food, such as fast food, chips, crackers, soda. After all, everything that the mother eats, the baby also receives.
- Bad habits. During pregnancy, the mother should completely give up bad habits, such as drinking alcohol (even in small doses), smoking.
- Daily regime. The expectant mother should walk a lot, often be in the fresh air. It must be remembered: pregnant does not mean sick. Moderate physical activity never hurt anyone.
- Useful emotions. It is good if a pregnant woman experiences as many positive emotions as possible. This will have a great effect not only on her health, but also on the condition of her unborn child.
- Visit doctor. Every pregnant woman should register on time and periodically undergo scheduled examinations. So you can prevent a lot of unpleasant situations related to the health of the crumbs.
- Courses. Every expectant mother should remember that she must take courses. And although this is not yet a mandatory procedure, it is better to find out in advance how childbirth occurs, what to expect and what to fear during labor.
And this is not a complete list of the most important things for a future mother. However, by observing at least these rules during pregnancy, you can help yourself and your child very well.
What happens to the body before childbirth?
Studying the topic "Pregnancy and childbirth", I would like to talk a little about what happens to the female body in the last weeks of bearing a baby. So, the level of progesterone, the hormone active throughout pregnancy, begins to fall. At this time, a hormone such as oxytocin begins to be gradually produced. It is he who is responsible for the onset of labor and the labor activity of a woman. Endocrine glands come into play, which increase the sensitivity of the uterus to oxytocin. The time comes, and the lady begins to feel the first harbingers of childbirth - contractions.
Harbingers
Understanding how childbirth occurs, it must also be said that there are also harbingers of labor activity. These are well-known fights. It is worth saying that they can also be false or, as they are also called, training. Their main differences: short duration, as well as mild pain. However, even a woman who has never given birth can recognize real grips. The first contractions will not last long, about 10 seconds each, the interval will also be quite large - from 5 to 10 minutes. This is still the time when a woman can be at home, she does not need to go to the hospital yet.
Period one. Disclosure
Understanding how childbirth occurs, it must be said that they are divided into three main stages. The first of them - the opening of the cervix - is the longest.
- For primiparas, it can stretch for 10-13 hours.
- In multiparous - most often for 6-8 hours.
At this time, the contractions gradually increase, pain increases, the duration between contractions decreases. It is worth saying that with each time the cervix is opening more and more. This will happen until the uterus, its cervix and the vagina itself form a single corridor along which the baby will move.
Difficulties of the first period
What difficulties may arise in this period? So, the most common case is a weak labor activity of a woman. This can be expressed in the following terms:
- The amniotic sac burst, and contractions do not start for a long time (this threatens the child with oxygen starvation).
- Attenuation of fights - their intensity falls, the intervals between them decrease. However, if the amniotic sac has not yet burst - it's okay, then nature gives the woman a break.
If a woman's amniotic sac bursts, and contractions do not begin, artificial stimulation of labor will be needed.
Second period. attempts
The fact that labor activity passes into its second stage - attempts, will be evidenced by contractions. If they last quite a long time, up to 1 minute, and the break between them is also about 1 minute, this means that the woman will see her baby very soon. The attempts themselves arise involuntarily, regardless of the desire of the woman. However, the expectant mother can manage them (if necessary - help, strengthen, if necessary - hold). It is definitely worth saying that during attempts, a woman in labor should carefully listen to doctors. After all, only they can competently manage labor activity, advising a woman to act in a certain way.
Pose selection
If a woman is having a normal birth, she can try to choose a position on her own in which it will be easiest for her to give birth. Many doctors say that giving birth lying down is unnatural. Therefore, during labor, the expectant mother should carefully listen to her body and choose the right position.
- Squatting, leaning on the hands (this is how they give birth in Mexico and Tibet).
- Holding on to the crossbar while standing (practiced by some African tribes).
- Sitting on her husband's lap (European countries).
- Leaning on the back of an assistant, sitting (practiced in Russia and some European countries).
- Leaning on your knees and holding on to special levers (Asian countries).
In any case, most clinics today offer a woman to choose her own position for childbirth, and this is a huge breakthrough in domestic medicine.
Dangers of the second period
What is a difficult birth? So, it is worth saying that the labor activity that occurs with certain complications is called severe, which include:
- Entwining the baby with the umbilical cord (there is a danger that during childbirth it will tighten around the baby's neck).
- Helping the mother during the passage of the head (often, doctors cut the perineum when the baby cannot go through the last stage of the birth canal on its own).
- Incorrect position of the baby. Proper birth is when the baby goes head first. However, there is a child. In this case, the maximum participation of doctors in the labor activity of a woman is important.
- Behavior of the baby after childbirth. Everyone knows that a baby should scream as soon as it is born. This will mean that his lungs have opened and he is breathing. However, sometimes the child needs help. It is very important competent actions of doctors.
Period three: placenta exit
If a woman has a correct birth, she should know that after the baby is born, the birth does not end. There is another important stage - this is the birth of the placenta or child's place. It is worth saying that this should happen soon after the birth of the baby. To do this, the mother may be asked to push again. An excellent stimulation of the birth of the placenta is the stimulation of the nipples. To do this, it is enough to attach a newborn baby to the breast. It is important to say that during the birth of the placenta, some blood may stand out. You shouldn't be afraid of it, it should be so. And only after the birth of a child's place, the uterus will shrink sharply, the vessels will shrink, the bleeding will stop.
Dangers of the third period
The main danger of the last stage of childbirth: placental failure. The maximum time that can be given to the body of a lady: 40 minutes. After that, the woman will need to provide medical assistance. Indeed, after this period, the uterus may begin to close. However, at this time it is strictly forbidden to pull the umbilical cord, such behavior can cause bleeding. It is necessary to try to stimulate the appearance of a child's place by attaching the child to the breast. If this does not help, doctors will come to work, who, with the help of various medications, will do everything that is necessary.
Difficult delivery
Often, women may be interested in the question: "What is it, a difficult birth?" So, it is worth mentioning that even normal childbirth, which was somewhat delayed, or during which the lady experienced too painful sensations, is often called this term. However, it is not. According to medicine, a difficult birth is:
- i.e., artificial induction of labor. This is necessary if the mother is longer than the 41st week, if the mother and baby have an Rhesus conflict, if the amniotic sac has ruptured ahead of time, etc.
- Accelerated childbirth, when the baby comes out quickly, and the woman's body simply does not have time to prepare for attempts.
- Complications. That is, when some problems are found during labor. This can be an entanglement of the umbilical cord of the baby's neck, detachment, suffocation of the fetus, significant blood loss, ruptures of various degrees.
- Early childbirth, when a woman's labor activity occurs much earlier than the due date. It is also fraught with various kinds of complications.
- Incorrect position of the baby. This is also a difficult birth, when the baby does not go head first, but somewhat differently (sideways, legs forward).
Childbirth at home
It is worth saying that today they are actively practicing childbirth at home. Reviews about this, of course, are mixed (especially from doctors). A huge plus is that a woman will give birth in her usual environment, she will not have the stress associated with changing her place of residence. However, there are many more downsides to this scenario. First of all, it must be said that in this case it is imperative to call not only a midwife, but also a doctor who can help if necessary. It is also important to say that a huge disadvantage of such childbirth is that often the doctor does not have the necessary equipment at hand, which can only be located within the walls. medical institution(resuscitation room for both mother and baby). However, if everything is in order with the woman, the pregnancy proceeded without complications, and there is a qualified doctor nearby, you can safely try to give birth in your own walls.
childbirth in water
If a woman is not having her first pregnancy (second birth), she may want to try to somehow alleviate the pain that she experiences during labor (after all, she already knows what she has to go through, unlike primiparas). In this case, you can try to give birth to a baby in the water. It is worth saying that water itself perfectly relieves pain and helps mom relax even in the most difficult periods of labor. Doctors recommend that women, if possible, stay in the water during contractions. However, at the same time, it should be equal to the woman's body temperature - 37 °. If the water is warmer, there is a risk that the contractions will subside (this is harmful to labor in general), but if it is cooler, the woman may simply freeze. As for the process of attempts, it is worth saying that ladies who give birth in water go through this stage much faster. However, during such childbirth, a doctor (not just a midwife) must also be present. After giving birth, the woman should lie down, attach the baby to her breast and rest.
postpartum period
Having considered, in primiparous and all other women in childbirth, it is also necessary to say a few words about the fact that it is also equally important that approximately two hours after labor, a woman must be under the close attention of doctors (because at this time there may be dangerous life bleeding and other problems). After giving birth, the baby must be immediately attached to the breast, this is very important. After that, the baby is weighed and measured for its height, then placed near the mother. After that, the work of the doctors who delivered the woman's birth ends. Two hours later, the lady is transferred to the postpartum ward, where she is under observation for some time (along with the newborn). If everything is fine, the mother and child will be discharged in three days. Otherwise, their stay in the walls of a medical institution may be delayed. During this period, a woman is taught the main rules for caring for a baby.