Birth!

• Signs of Labor• Methods of Childbirth• Childbirth Medications• Stages of Labor• Neonatal Care• The Effects of Birth• Postpartum Period

Final Preparations

• Mother will have weekly checkups as she nears her due date.

• Ultra sounds will be done to check that the baby is in position

• Pack a bag!

Signs of Labor

• Approaching Labor• Labor Begins

Signs of Labor

• Approaching Labor– Pre-labor contractions – False labor• Braxton-Hicks Contractions may begin as early as week

20

– Lightening• Baby moves position and relieves pressure

– Passage of Mucus Plug• Gel substance that seals the cervix

Signs of Labor

• Labor Begins– Water Breaks – Passage of Fluid– True Contractions• Contractions are pains felt during labor when the

muscles of the uterus tense.

Methods of Childbirth

• Traditional Childbirth• Family-Centered Childbirth• Lamaze Method – mother in control• Leboyer Method – minimize trauma for infant• Cesarean Delivery

Childbirth Medications

• General Anesthetics• Regional Anesthetics– Epidural

• Local Anesthetics– Episiotomy

Stages of Labor

• Dilation Stage• Delivery Stage• Afterbirth Stage

Stages of Labor

• Dilation Stage– Expand the cervix

• Normally less than a centimeter wide• During labor cervix will dilate to 10

– Each contraction cause the cervix to dilate more– Once mother reaches 7-8 cm, transition phase

• Most painful part of pregnancy

– Water should be broken at this point– Longest stage of labor, 8-20 hours– Shortens with additional children

Stages of Labor

• Delivery Stage– Cervix has reached full dilation– Lasts typically 30 minutes – 2 hours

– Time to Push!– Crowning, first view of baby’s head• Episiotomy?

– After head appears, doctor will rotate baby– Routine care or skin-skin contact

Stages of Labor

• Afterbirth Stage– Final Stage of Labor– Lasts 10-20 minutes– Expels the afterbirth, placenta• Doctor checks to ensure its whole

– Apgar Test• Newborn evaluation

Neonatal Care

• Neonate = newborn, birth to one month• Umbilical cord cut• Vernix is washed off• Id band

Neonatal Care

• Newborn Screening Tests– The Brazelton Score• Movement, reflexes, responses, and general state

– Blood tests• Anemia, PKU (phenylketonuria)

– Eye drops• Prevent any STI-related eye infections

Neonatal Care

• Emergency Care– Premature Birth, before week 35– Low Birth weight– Drug Addiction– Low Apgar Test– Serious Health Condition

Neonatal Care

• Circumcision– Removal of male’s foreskin• Religious reasons• Health reasons

– Uncircumcised males: smegma– Reduces likelihood of cancer

The Effects of Birth

• Bonding – A Critical Experience– What promotes bonding– Delays in Bonding

• Handling Negative Feelings– Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy– Medical problems– Depressions– stress

Postpartum Period

• Lasts about six weeks after birth– Moving around helps speed recovery– Shrinking of uterus• Heavy bleeding, similar to menstrual period will last for

a week or more

• Going Home– Normal birth, a day– C-Section, 3 days