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Labour and Birth

17 October 2010
Pre-Conception to Birth
Written by  Peter Walker
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GIVING BIRTH

The miracle of birth arouses deep feeling. Sharing that intimacy frees a woman to concentrate her energies within, and helps her coordinate breathing and remain relaxed. By encouraging and physically supporting her, her partner strengthens his attachment to the new family.

The choice of home or hospital birth depends on health, age, medical history and personal preference. Wherever birth takes place, the woman will feel more comfortable if she can be active and can assume positions intuitively.

To ensure this, cooperation of the midwife or hospital are needed well before birth. (For hospital births, this agreement should be recorded.) Also, national childbirth organisations and local classes help both partners better understand birth and obstetric practices.

THE BABY'S POSITION

In the last weeks of pregnancy, the baby's head descends into the lower womb, ready for birth. Various presentation are common, but most babies adopt "anterior presentation", considered the easiest for birth.

 


 Posterior presentation
Baby faces forward in early labour. Often the head turns in time for birth.

Breech position
Baby lies bottom-down. Normal labour most likely, but experienced assistance ensures safe delivery of baby's head, delivered after the umbilical cord.
Anterior presentation
Baby's head faces your back as it emerges, then turns immediately.
LABOUR
Every birth is unique, every woman's experience her own. But labour always follows three stages. In each, the woman needs to be able to follow her instincts and adopt any position, breathing into each contraction. Here are some safe and helpful positions for each stage, some for her alone, others with his support.
Stage One (usually 6-12 hrs, to 24 hrs)
Contractions begin Mild contractions (30 sec. each) push the baby down to the cervix. They grow more regular and intense (every 3-4 minutes, 90 sec. each), until the cervix is dilated to 4in (10cm). Breathing rhythmically and remaining upright and active help ease contractions, and help gravity encourage the baby's descent.

The effect of contractions
1. Womb contractions pull up the cervix's edges ­ softening, stretching and opening them.
2. The baby is pushed against the thinning cervix layer.
3. The cervix dilates and baby's head crowns.

 

Positions for stage one.
These help ease contractions. He supports her weight and massages her lower back while she blows gently on exhalation. Kneeling and squatting can relieve strain.

Transition - the waiting phase
Only a step away from birth, the urge to push is strong, but it is essential to wait until the cervix is fully dilated. Light breathing, emphasising the out-breath, and different positions can redirect that urge.


The cervix fully dilates
1. Baby's head has access to vaginal opening.
2. End of transition. Baby's head is in the vagina.

 

Positions for transition
She may be tired and irritable and prefer to be alone. He helps by responding equably to her requests.


Stage Two (usually 30-40 min., to 2 hrs.)
The baby is born. Now the woman's intuition, the midwife's experience, and the man's support combine to ensure a safe delivery. Powerful contractions (every 2-5 min.) push the baby until the urge to bear down engulfs the whole body. Deep breathing and pushing on the out-breath maximise efforts in this most rewarding and exhilarating time.
Baby's progress
1. Baby's head is in the birth canal. Descending, the head appears at the vaginal opening, stretching it.

2. The head squeezes through. It rotates immediately, so the body can turn for birth.

3. A single contraction and the shoulders slide through, followed by the body.


Positions for Stage Two
The birthing position should be a woman's choice. Most natural is upright or semi-upright (with his support), since the pelvic joints can open, the pelvic floor muscles stretch, and gravity can assist.

 

Stage Three ­ The placenta is delivered
Generally, baby's first breath should be with the umbilical cord intact. Suckling, eye and skin contact then stimulate the placenta's release. It is best to agree with your hospital or midwife well before birth that the cord won't be cut until it stops pulsating, and that hormones won't be injected to release the placenta artificially.


Release of the placenta
Sitting or squatting encourages placenta delivery. You may feel a soothing
sensation followed by shivering. Keep warm.




Last modified on Monday, 18 October 2010 02:08
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Peter Walker

Peter Walker

A pioneer of ‘Developmental Baby Massage’ and ‘YogaGym’ for babies and children from the eighties, Peter currently has some ten thousand teachers in over twenty different countries all taught and certificated by him.

Website: www.thebabieswebsite.com

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