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The stages of childbirth
The birth of a child is a special and unique experience, as no two births can match, and there is no way to predict how the birth process will proceed, but it is possible to know the stages of the birth process and what the pregnant woman can expect in general, and the birth process is divided into three main stages; It is the first stage that extends from the beginning of real labor until the cervix has fully expanded to 10 cm, then the second stage, which extends from after the expansion of the cervix to 10 cm until the baby comes out, and the third stage is the stage of the exit of the placenta. [1]
The first stage of childbirth
The first stage of labor is the longest of the three stages and includes three stages; The early stage that starts from the beginning of labor until the cervix dilates to 3 cm, the active phase that starts from the time of the dilation of the uterus from 3 cm until it expands to 7 cm, and finally the transitional stage and starts from the time of the expansion of the cervix to 7 cm until it reaches full expansion i.e. To 10 cm, and it is worth noting that each stage is characterized by different feelings and physical challenges. The following are some details of the three stages: [1]
- The early stage: This stage extends from approximately 8-12 hours, and the contractions continue in it, and the duration of each is between 30-45 seconds, and the rest period between successive contractions is 5-30 minutes, and it is worth noting that contractions or contractions are usually light and non To a certain extent, but they become stronger and more frequent, and these contractions may be accompanied by pain in the lower back, menstrual cramps, and head water may come down as a result of what is known as a rupture of the amniotic sac, and it can happen at any time during the first stage of labor , and accordingly During this stage, pregnant women are advised to try to relax, not rush to the hospital or birthing center, drink a lot of water, and eat small and light meals, and she is advised to occupy herself with something specific such as cleaning the closet, preparing the bag for childbirth, or preparing lunches for the next day.
- Active phase: The active phase lasts for 3-5 hours, and contractions occur during this phase every 45-60 seconds with 3-5 minutes of rest between them, and the pregnant woman feels stronger and longer contractions, and here the pregnant woman should go to the hospital or birthing center, and it is advised. The pregnant woman at this stage to start with specific techniques for breathing, and try some relaxation exercises between contractions, and it is also recommended to change her position during this time, and try to walk, take a warm bath, as well as continue to drink a lot of water, and urinate periodically.
- The transition phase: This phase lasts from 30 minutes to approximately two hours, as the cervix dilates from 8 to 10 cm, and contractions occur during this phase every 60-90 seconds with a rest of 30 seconds to two minutes between them, and contractions in this phase are characterized by being long, And strong, severe, and can overlap, and this is the most difficult but shortest stage, and a pregnant woman may suffer from hot flashes, chills, nausea , vomiting, or gases, and the pregnant woman at this stage needs a lot of external support.
The second stage of childbirth
This stage is called the push-to-exit stage of the fetus, and it starts from labor when the cervix is fully stretched to 10 cm, and this stage continues until the child passes through the birth canal and vagina, and may extend to two hours or more, and it is worth noting that contractions differ from the first stage, as It slows down to occur every 2 to 5 minutes and lasts about 60 to 90 seconds, and during this stage the woman feels a strong desire to push the fetus during contractions, and the woman is advised to rest as much as possible between pushing periods, and to pay when the doctor asks her to do so, and it is possible for the woman to try some Positions that help push such as squatting, or lying on one side with the leg raised up, or lying on the hands and knees, in addition to taking a deep breath before and after contractions, and the woman may receive some medications to relieve painAnd you may experience what is known as an episiotomy, which is done by making a small incision between the anus and the vagina to expand the vaginal opening, and it may be used to help the child get out faster or to prevent large and irregular cracks in the vaginal wall, and when the child is born , The doctor holds it head down to prevent amniotic fluid, mucus, and blood from entering his lungs . [2]
The third stage of childbirth
The third stage of labor begins after the birth of the child and ends when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and passes through the vagina, and this stage is the shortest stage in childbirth, and it may last from a few minutes to 20 minutes, during which the woman feels contractions, but it is less painful, and the vagina may be sutured in If you have a vaginotomy or a small tear during childbirth. [2]
Postpartum
After the placenta comes out, the uterus should contract and become taut, so that the woman can feel it in the upper part of the abdomen around the level of the navel, and during this stage the doctor and nurse verify that the uterus has returned to its place naturally, and it is massaged if it does not return to its place, as the contractions of the uterus It helps to cut off the bleeding of the open blood vessels that remained after the placenta, and if the uterus does not contract properly, the bleeding will continue profusely from those vessels, and at this stage a woman who wants to breastfeed is advised to place the baby's lips near her breast for some time, as most babies start By breastfeeding in the first hour after birth if given the opportunity, it is worth noting that breastfeedingIt helps to secrete the hormone oxytocin, which is the same hormone that causes contractions, which helps the uterus to contract and return to normal, and in fact a woman who gives birth for the first time may feel few contractions after the placenta comes out, while a woman who has given birth to several children continues to have occasional contractions For a day or two in a row, her pain resembles strong menstrual cramps, and a woman may also feel a chills, which is normal and does not last long. [3]
References
- ^ A b "Stages Of Childbirth: the Stage the I" , Www.americanpregnancy.org , Retrieved 13-3-2018. Edited.
- ^ A b "Pregnancy And The Stages Of Labor And Childbirth" , the www.webmd.com , Retrieved 13-3-2018. Edited.
- ↑ "The stages of labor" , www.babycenter.com , Retrieved 13-3-2018. Edited.