How to Go About The Child Birth Process

The child birth process is a delicate series of events in giving birth. Each stage has to be given adequate attention and care in order to ensure a successful and healthy baby during labor and even after it as well. Below are the three main stages that are undergone by a mother upon child birth.

1. The labor stage. This is known to be the longest stage of the entire child birth process. For mothers who are undergoing labor for the first time, this stage would usually last from 12 to 18 hours. This stage would become shorter depending on the frequency of labor or how many times a specific mother has already experienced giving birth.

This stage is initiated by the rupturing of the bag of water. Then a series of uterine contractions will occur accompanied with the dilation of the cervix of up to 10 centimeters. The combination of uterine contractions and cervical dilation will facilitate the exit of the baby. This is the normal and the natural occurrence of the reproductive system of a woman during this stage. However, if uterine contractions and cervical dilation is not that strong and frequent and wide enough, labor-inducing drugs are then prescribed and given to the mother.

2 The pushing stage. This stage would usually last for 1.5 hours and may reach up to 4 hours especially for firs-time mothers. Just like the labor stage, this stage’s duration will decrease during the second time in the future. Uterine contractions during this stage are more intense and closely monitored. This is where the head of the baby shows, an event called as crowning. This stage ends once the baby has entirely exited the birth canal.

3 The afterbirth stage. Right after successful delivery of the baby, this stage would be the delivery of the placenta. This is the stage where the mother gets relieved and mellows down. Most mothers do not even remember this stage after normal delivery. The baby here is then measured for weight, height, and circumferences of head, shoulder, and abdomen. Vital signs are monitored until stable. The mother is then wheeled out of the delivery room and sent for further care into the recovery room, while the baby is then sent to the nursery room.