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