Birth
Childbirth (or labor or delivery) is the process of bringing one or more babies from a woman’s womb into the world.
Labour can start with the waters breaking (the fluid filled sack that the baby had been growing in) or by contractions. Labour is typically divided in 3 stages: in the first stage the cervix opens up until it is fully dilated (10cm) to help the baby come out. During the second stage, the contractions become stronger and the woman pushes the baby out of the womb and through the vagina into the outside world. In the third stage the placenta is delivered.
In a first labour, the time from the start of established labour (regular contractions, 3-4 every ten minutes, from 4cm dilated) to delivery is usually between 6 and 12 hours. It is often quicker if a woman has had a baby before. Especially with first labours, before labour is established, contractions that are irregular in strength and timing can go on for several hours or even days. These contractions help dilate the cervix from 0 to 4cm. This part of the first stage of labour is usually best managed at home in your own surroundings where you can get the best rest and feel at your most relaxed.
In the industrialized world, childbirth is “medicalised” and in most cases it happens in a hospital, but midwife-led units and homebirth are also good options if appropriate for you. You will have a chance to discuss this with your midwife during your antenatal check-ups.
During labor, with the help of a midwife or a doctor, the woman finds the position she prefers and feels less pain. The woman can stand, kneel, squat or stay in bed. Some women prefer to avoid medication for pain relief during childbirth. Other ways to help pain control are staying calm, breathing techniques, aromatherapy and massage, hypobirthing techniques and a supportive partner. Medication that helps with pain includes gas and air, and morphine-based painkillers such as pethidine or diamorphine. The most effective way of stopping pain in labour is with an epidural – an injection of local anaesthetic and morphine-based painkillers through a fine plastic tube into a space in the spinal column. It is possible to still move around with an epidural but you will be less mobile than without one.
After the birth the baby is usually given to the mother before the cord is cut. The baby is usually covered with blood and a white greasy substance, which protects it inside the womb. Most hospitals now offer ‘delayed cord clamping,’ where the person who delivers your baby waits until the cord stops pulsating before cutting the cord. This is thought to reduce the chance of the baby having low iron levels. You will have a chance to have ‘skin-to-skin’ time with your baby, to help bonding and to establish breastfeeding. You midwife or birth attendant will help you with breastfeeding and tell you the signs that your baby is hungry and ready to feed.
In some cases natural birth is not possible and it is achieved through either an instrumental delivery (forceps or ventouse, spoon-like or suction instruments to gently help deliver the baby vaginally) or a Caesarian section (delivery of the baby or babies through a cut on the lower part of the tummy). The doctor looking after you during labour will explain the best way of delivering your baby and why. If you need to go to the operating theatre to have your baby, your birth partner will usually be allowed to go with you for support.
Childbirth can be one of the most important times in the life of a couple. It can bring strong emotions, positive and negative. UNICEF estimates that an average of 353,000 babies are born each day around the world. This means 4.3 births every second globally.
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