What will it be like to give birth to a child (or to have your wife give birth)? Do you want to do it all naturally? Do you want to be in a hospital?

What will it be like to give birth to a child (or to have your wife give birth)?

Do you want to do it all naturally?

Do you want to be in a hospital?

What are some of your concerns?

Braxton Hicks contractions Braxton Hicks contractions are false labor are false labor pains that prepare the uterus for labor and pains that prepare the uterus for labor and help circulate maternal blood.help circulate maternal blood.

Passage of the mucous plug from the Passage of the mucous plug from the CervixCervix

• Sometimes referred to as “Sometimes referred to as “the showthe show”” Rupturing of the amniotic sac. Rupturing of the amniotic sac.

(“(“breaking your waterbreaking your water”)”)• Mio-chorionic membrane ruptures. Mio-chorionic membrane ruptures. • Could be a small trickle or a gush of fluid.Could be a small trickle or a gush of fluid.

For 9 months, the unborn child has been developing in the For 9 months, the unborn child has been developing in the womb. Now the baby is ready to make an exit. womb. Now the baby is ready to make an exit. Pre-labor is a period of irregular uterine contractions in which Pre-labor is a period of irregular uterine contractions in which

the cervix thins, softens, and may begin to dilate.the cervix thins, softens, and may begin to dilate. Labor is commonly divided into three stages wherein the Labor is commonly divided into three stages wherein the baby is expelled from the uterus through the birth baby is expelled from the uterus through the birth canal canal and into the world. and into the world. It begins with irregular contractions of the uterus that occur It begins with irregular contractions of the uterus that occur every 20 to 30 minutes. every 20 to 30 minutes. As labor progresses, the contractions increase in frequency As labor progresses, the contractions increase in frequency and severity. and severity. For women giving birth for the first time, labor will usually last For women giving birth for the first time, labor will usually last

between 12 to 24 hours. However, for women who between 12 to 24 hours. However, for women who have given birth before, labor usually averages only 6 have given birth before, labor usually averages only 6 hours. hours.

• Baby’s head is pushed against the Baby’s head is pushed against the cervix causing it to widen. This is cervix causing it to widen. This is effacementeffacement..

• At the end of this stage of labor, the At the end of this stage of labor, the cervix is approximately 4 inches in cervix is approximately 4 inches in diameter.diameter.

• CrowningCrowning is when the baby’s head is is when the baby’s head is first seen.first seen.

During the first stage, uterine contractions begin (left) and are usually spaced from 10 to 20 minutes apart.

Initially the contractions are gentle, but they tend to become more powerful and sometimes uncomfortable.

The cervix dilates with each contraction (right), and the baby’s head rotates to fit through the mother’s pelvis.

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Second Stage: Expulsion Second Stage: Expulsion StageStage

Forceps/vacuum: Extraction methods to help the baby Forceps/vacuum: Extraction methods to help the baby come out.come out.

FForcepsorceps –specialized tongs made of surgical steel –specialized tongs made of surgical steel that that are molded to fit the shape of the baby’s are molded to fit the shape of the baby’s head.head.

Vacuum Vacuum –a soft cap is put on top of the baby’s –a soft cap is put on top of the baby’s head and head and suction is applied to help pull the baby suction is applied to help pull the baby through the birth through the birth canal.canal.

The physician or midwife will decide whether or not to perform The physician or midwife will decide whether or not to perform an an episiotomyepisiotomy; ; a small incision from the vagina to the anus to a small incision from the vagina to the anus to prevent tearing. The incision will be stitched closedprevent tearing. The incision will be stitched closed

The second stage of labor usually lasts about 90 minutes. During this stage, the cervix opens sufficiently and the baby begins to move down the birth canal.

The mother pushes, or bears down, in response to pressure against her pelvic muscles. The crown of the

baby’s head becomes visible in the widened birth canal.

As the head emerges entirely (left) the physician turns the baby’s shoulders (right), which emerge one at a time with the next contractions.

The rest of the body then slides out relatively easily, and the umbilical cord is sealed and cut.

Possible Baby PositionsPossible Baby Positions Normal: Head first, face Normal: Head first, face

downdown Posterior: Head first, Posterior: Head first, face face

upup Breech: feet or buttocks Breech: feet or buttocks

are firstare first Transverse: fetus laying Transverse: fetus laying

sidewayssideways Fetus doesn’t drop into Fetus doesn’t drop into

positionposition

Following the exit of the infant, the third stage of labor occurs.

The uterus continues to contract, expelling the severed umbilical cord and placenta, called the afterbirth. The third stage occurs within ten minutes of the baby’s birth. lochia is the vaginal discharge for the first 14 days of puerperium (after birth)

Placenta & Umbilical

Cord

Ob/Gyn – Obstetrician (pregnancy doctor) and Ob/Gyn – Obstetrician (pregnancy doctor) and Gynecology (female doctor)Gynecology (female doctor)

Pediatrician – Children’s doctor.Pediatrician – Children’s doctor. Midwife – Woman with some training in delivering babies.Midwife – Woman with some training in delivering babies. Birthing chair – A chair that allows a woman to sit up to Birthing chair – A chair that allows a woman to sit up to

give birth instead of laying down so that gravity will help.give birth instead of laying down so that gravity will help. Lamaze – A technique to relax and breath and push at the Lamaze – A technique to relax and breath and push at the

proper times.proper times. Birthing Room – A single room used for both labor and Birthing Room – A single room used for both labor and

delivery.delivery.

Prolapsed cordProlapsed cord Poor presentationPoor presentation Mother too smallMother too small Baby too bigBaby too big Placenta praeviaPlacenta praevia Placenta abruptionPlacenta abruption Fetal distressFetal distress

Mother or child Mother or child cannot tolerate cannot tolerate laborlabor

STDsSTDs Previous C-sectionPrevious C-section ToxemiaToxemia

Most women prefer some kind of anesthesia. Natural (unmedicated) childbirth is becoming more popular

because the anesthesia can make the newborn baby less alert after birth.

An epidural is given in the spinal sheath and deadens the patient from the waist down.

A saddle block deadens the area where you ride a saddle. A paracervical block, also known as a cervical block deadens

the cervix. A pudendal block is given in the pudendal nerve and will

numb the whole bottom and legs.

The cervix must dilate to some degree before any anesthesia is given. For this reason, a mother needs to

learn some breathing and relaxation techniques.

The Apgar score is a score given at one, The Apgar score is a score given at one, five and ten minutes after the birth of a five and ten minutes after the birth of a child. A score of 7-9 is normal.child. A score of 7-9 is normal.

Bonding is the closeness (caring and Bonding is the closeness (caring and concern) for another.concern) for another.

Feeding, touching and playing are the Feeding, touching and playing are the three basic elements of bonding.three basic elements of bonding.

Factors that negatively affect bonding are: Factors that negatively affect bonding are: very expensive child, very cross or colicky very expensive child, very cross or colicky child, wife is sick, mother refuses sexual child, wife is sick, mother refuses sexual advances of father, if child looks like advances of father, if child looks like someone the parents do not like.someone the parents do not like.