Childbirth.
Dr. Sayeed Ahmad D.
I. Hom. (London)Childbirth is the process by which a woman gives
birth to a baby. A pregnant woman carries a baby within her body inside
a hollow, muscular organ called the uterus. After about nine months, the
baby passes out of the uterus and through the vagina, also called the
birth canal. Childbirth can be painful, but the severity of the pain
varies among women.The birth process is called labor. The process begins
when the muscles of the uterus start to tighten and relax in a rhythmic
pattern. As labor progresses, these muscle contractions become stronger
and more frequent, causing the cervix (lower part of the uterus) to
open. After the cervix has opened about 4 inches (10 centimeters), the
contractions gradually force the baby through the cervix and out of the
woman’s body through the vagina. Many women assist the process by
“pushing” with their abdominal muscles in time with their
contractions. The amniotic sac, a membrane containing fluids that
surround the baby, breaks before or during labor. The fluids flow out
through the vagina.In most births, the head is the first part of the
baby that comes out of the mother’s body. But in some deliveries, called
breech births, the feet or buttocks come out first. After the baby has
come out of the mother’s body completely, the umbilical cord is cut, and
the infant starts to breathe. The umbilical cord is a tubelike structure
that connects the baby to the placenta, an organ attached to the wall of
the uterus. Food and oxygen from the mother’s blood pass through the
placenta to the baby during pregnancy.After the baby is born, the muscles of the uterus
continue to contract until the placenta separates from the uterus and is
expelled through the vagina. The discharged placenta is also called the
afterbirth.The length of labor varies greatly among women. It
averages 13 to 14 hours for women having their first babies and lasts 7
to 8 hours thereafter.Some woman need an operation called a cesarean
section to deliver a baby. In this operation, a surgeon removes the baby
and the placenta through an incision in the abdomen and uterus. Cesarean
sections are performed for a number of reasons, but chiefly because the
baby cannot pass through the birth canal. The woman’s pelvis may be too
small, or the baby may be too large.Methods of childbirth. Most women in developed
countries deliver their babies in hospitals, which have specially
equipped birth facilities. During childbirth, a woman may receive
medication to relieve her labor pains. In some cases, a physician will
administer a drug to induce (bring on) labor. Before delivery, the
physician may widen the woman’s vaginal opening by making a small
incision called an episiotomy.In many cases, physicians use an electronic fetal
monitor to record the baby’s heartbeat during labor. Disturbances in the
heartbeat may signal that the baby is in danger and that a cesarean
section may be necessary.During the 1960’s and the 1970’s, many hospitals
developed educational programs to prepare women for childbirth and
parenting. These programs instruct both mothers and fathers on
pregnancy, childbirth, and infant care. In addition, such programs as
natural childbirth and the Lamaze method teach relaxation exercises and
breathing techniques to lessen the discomfort of labor, thus reducing
the need for painkilling drugs. Many such drugs pass to the baby through
the placenta, so some women choose to avoid them. Some women also avoid
drugs so they can remain alert throughout labor.A type of anesthesia called an epidural is another
popular method for relieving labor pain. This form of pain relief does
not affect the baby or reduce the mother’s alertness, but it must be
given by a specially trained doctor. Epidural anesthesia is injected
through a small tube that is inserted into the back next to the spinal
cord. When the anesthesia is absorbed by nerves that go from the spine
to the uterus, it almost completely eliminates labor pains.At many hospitals, birthing rooms offer an
alternative to traditional labor and delivery rooms. Most birthing rooms
resemble a home bedroom and are used for labor, delivery, and sometimes
recovery. Birthing rooms provide a relaxed and intimate atmosphere where
the hospital’s facilities are still at hand if complications occur.For convenience, following is the Pregnancy Table for
expected date of delivery:
Pregnancy table for expected date of delivery
Find the date of the last menstrual period in the top
line (light-face type) of the pair of lines.The dark number (bold-face type) in the line below
will be the expected day of delivery.
Jan.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Jan.
Oct.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
(1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Nov.
Feb.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Feb.
Nov.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(1
2
3
4
5
Dec.
Mar.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Mar.
Dec.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
(1
2
3
4
5
Jan.
April
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
April
Jan.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21