Pregnancy Birth

Labor and delivery is the last stage of pregnancy and the first stage of pregnancy birth. In most cases, labor and delivery occur between the 37th and 42nd weeks of pregnancy. Preterm labor before the 37th week is potentially dangerous to the proper birth of the child, as the fetus is still not strong and fully developed. In other cases, a delayed delivery may require induced labor to help the birth process. Stages Of Pregnancy Birth Rhythmic contractions of the uterus become more frequent and intense as delivery nears. The baby moves down into the pelvis in preparation for pregnancy delivery. Labor begins with the first stage when the cervix thins and dilates, lasting 12 to 14 hours in the first pregnancy, but is shorter in subsequent deliveries. When the cervix is fully dilated, the second stage of labor begins, and ends in the birth. The final stage of labor is the delivery of the placenta.

Ways Of Delivery For Pregnancy Birth

The method of pregnancy birth will depend on your preference and medical history, and will be modified by hospital facilities according to the medical demands of your labor.

Vaginal Birth

It is the natural way of delivery. The vaginal opening thins and stretches for baby’s head to emerge. In some cases, episiotomy or a small cut is made in the vaginal tissue to ease pressure on baby’s head and to prevent severe tearing of mother’s skin and muscles during the delivery.

Caesarean Birth

When a baby cannot be delivered through the vagina, an incision is made in the abdomen and uterus for the delivery. This procedure is known as Caesarean or C-section. Situations that necessitate this procedure are a marked reduction in the baby’s movements, delivery of the baby being overdue by 10 to 12 days, the baby being bottom down into the pelvis instead of head (breech), if the placenta blocks the neck of the uterus, baby is too large for the pelvis or if the mother is suffering from venereal disease, herpes or any other medical condition like hypertension, etc.

Painkillers

During labor and pregnancy birth, painkillers might make you feel better to overcome the pain. Mixture of gas and air breathed through a facemask can make you feel lightheaded to get over the worst contractions. Epidural or an anesthetic injection into the spinal cord numbs all sensation in lower abdomen and the birth canal during the pregnancy birth. Acupuncture and hypnosis are other means of drugless pain relief during labor.

As long as there are no complications, a pregnancy birth can take place at home, at a birth centre, or in a hospital. You can opt for a water birth or an active birth, with or without pain relief under the guidance of expert medical staff.