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Labour and Delivery The 3 stages of labor Inducing Labor Caeserian Section Breech Birth What to Carry to the Hospital

The Three Stages Of Labor First Stage Second Stage Third Stage THE FIRST STAGE During the first stage of labor the bottom of the uterus enough to give the baby room to get out. This part of the uterus, which seperates it from the vagina, is called the cervix. In the middle of the cervix there is a tiny opening which is normally about 2mm wide. During labor the muscles in the upper part of the body keep contracting and then relaxing again. The contractions gradually pull the cervix open. After each contraction the uterus remains slightly smaller than it was before, so the baby's head becomes firmly pressed against the opening of the cervix, helping to open it up. The opening has to open to about 10cm to let the baby's head through. At some point the bag of waters break from the pressure. The first stage ends when the cervix is opened completely. back to top

THE SECOND STAGE The second stage starts when the cervix is fully open and ends with the baby actually being born. This stage may take anything from a few minutes to about two hours. Between leaving the uterus and emerging from its mother's body, the baby travels through the vagina or "birth canal". The walls of the vagina have folds or pleats in them, so that when the baby passes through they can expand to make room. The uterus continues to contract at regular intervals and during the contractions you may feel an urge to push the baby out. Once the baby's head has passed through the vagina, the rest of the nody usually slips out fairly easily. back to top

THE THIRD STAGE When the baby is born, it is still attached to the placenta by its umbilical cord, and the placenta is still attached to the wall of the uterus. Shortly after birth, the placenta detaches itself from the uterus and passes through the vagina and out of your body. The empty amniotic sac, which is still attached to the placentam comes out with it. The placenta, the sac and the cord are sometimes called the "after birth". After this has happened labor is officially over.

Inducing Labor Sometimes it is necessary for the doctor to "induce" labor meaning to artificially start it. They usually do this by giving you hormones, either by tablet form, which dissolve when put in your vagina, or in a fluid form dripped into one of the veins in your arm via needle, (this method is called "the drip"). back to top

C-Section Sometimes the doctor has to perform what people like to call the "c-section". The doctors cut through the abdomen and uterus and pull the baby and placenta out and then repair the wound with stitches. The complete opperation takes about 40 minutes. You may have a general anesthetic so that you are asleep during it, but it is common to have an epidural block instead. This numbs the lower half of your body so that you can be awake after your baby is delivered without feeling any pain. back to top

Breech Birth A breech birth id when a baby is born legs first. It is dangerous for both the mother and the baby. Usually in a situation like this a c-section is performed, but some people deliver the baby through the vaginal canal anyway, once the doctor thinks its possible without harm to either baby or mother. back to top

What To Carry To The Hospital Here are just a few basics: a night gown or two if you want to, usually the hospital will give you them daily carry a suit or two for the baby as well, as soft baby shirt, body suit, socks etc. a car seat a pair of slippers or any comfortable pair of shoes a blanket, if the hospital doesn't give them to you for the baby Carry anything else you think you may want or need. back to top HOME