© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.. 6 Childbirth © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Key Terms labor...


6Childbirth


Key Terms

• labor• certified nurse-

midwives (CNMs)• natural childbirth• Lamaze method• lightening• breech birth

position• dilation• episiotomy

• forceps• vacuum extraction• cesarean section• bonding• postpartum care• baby blues• postpartum

depression (PPD)• postpartum

psychosis (PPP)


Objective

• List ways family members can be involved during pregnancy.


The Role of the Family

• Father-to-be– tend to take an active role during

pregnancy• education about pregnancy and childrearing• prepare for baby

– help during labor• ease anxiety of mother

• Children– help with preparation may ease jealousy


Family Decisions Concerning Childbirth

• Choosing a birth place– hospital

• most common

– birth center• certified nurse-midwives

(CNMs)

– home birth• higher infant death rate

continued



• Using drugs for labor and delivery– sedatives reduce anxiety, used in early

stages of labor– analgesics reduce pain, not take it away– anesthetics block pain

• general anesthesia has the most side effects

continued



• Choosing a method of delivery– natural childbirth uses breathing and

relaxation techniques instead of drugs– Lamaze method uses breathing patterns

to help mother-to-be keep her mind off pain, medication is used when necessary


Objective

• Describe the birth process and some of the possible complications of delivery.


Time to Be Born

• Muscle contractions at regular intervals push baby out of mother’s body

• Lightening is a change in the baby’s position– settles downward– body rotates into position

• breech birth position

• Irregular contractions, or false labor


Other Signs of Labor

• Contractions at regular intervals• Burst of energy, increased adrenaline• Loss of cervical mucus plug• Breaking of amniotic sac, leaking fluid


Stages of Labor


Stage One—Dilation of Cervix

• Contractions are regular– early labor, every 15–20 minutes, last

about 30 seconds– late labor, very close together, last

about 90 seconds• called the transition

• Cervix flattens and opens (dilation)– 4 inches (10 centimeters)

• Averages eight hours for first baby


Stage Two—Delivery of Baby

• Baby’s head enters birth canal• Episiotomy is an incision to widen

birth canal and prevent tearing– often performed

• Baby changes position– faces downward as head emerges– rotates as shoulders and body emerge

• Averages 30–90 minutes


Stage Three—Delivery of Placenta

• Averages 5–30 minutes• Irregular contractions• Placenta detaches from uterus and

is delivered– afterbirth


Complications of Delivery

Premature delivery

Premature rupture of

membranes (PROM)

Prolonged delivery

Abnormal position for

delivery

Cephalopelvic

disproportion

Umbilical cord

compression or prolapse

AsphyxiaMeconium aspiration

Postpartum bleeding

continued


Complications of Delivery

• Delivery-aid techniques– version, manually rotating the unborn

baby into correct position– picotin, a drug, can speed up labor by

causing contractions– forceps, curved instrument that fits

around the baby’s head to help ease down the birth canal during contraction

– vacuum extraction, suction instrument


Cesarean Births

• In the cesarean section, the mother’s abdomen and uterus are surgically opened to remove baby– mother’s pelvis is small or misshapen– baby or mother is at medical risk– baby’s head is large– contractions are weak or absent– baby in incorrect position for birth

continued


Cesarean Births

– multiple birth– previous uterine scar(s) could rupture

• Risks for mother and baby– procedure is major surgery– increasing need for hysterectomy– low, but increased risk of stillbirth next

pregnancy– increased risk in vaginal birth after

cesarean


Objective

• Describe physical and emotional changes in the mother during the postpartum period.


Hospital Care

• Mother and baby generally remain in hospital for 24–60 hours– longer for C-section

• Nurseries care for babies– may room-in with mother

• Nurses available to help mothers• Visitors limited

– siblings can sometimes visit


Bonding

• Bonding is important for parents and baby

• First hour after birth crucial

• Especially important for preterm or ill infants


Postpartum Care

• Postpartum care is the care the mother receives during the six to eight weeks after childbirth

• First hour critical to restoring body stability– pulse, respiration, other body functions

• Nursing mothers should not diet

continued


Postpartum Care

• Rest is crucial• Return to

employment only under doctor’s care


Postpartum Mood Disorders

• Possible causes– inherited tendency for mood disorders– dramatic changes in body chemistry

after giving birth that affects the brain– stress of caring for a new baby while

recovering from pregnancy and delivery

continued



• Some women are at an increased risk– over 40 years of age– family history of mood disorders and

thyroid problems– mood swings during menstrual cycle– migraines when taking hormones– fertility problems– family stress and lack of support– previous mood disorders

continued



• Baby blues is a mild disorder that goes away on its own

• Postpartum depression (PPT) is a serious form of depression

• Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a severe mental illness


What Do You Think?

• Do you believe that postpartum mood disorders receive enough attention?

• How could the media highlight postpartum mood disorders in order to bring attention to those that suffer?


• baby blues. Mild postpartum mood disorder that goes away on its own.

• bonding. Developing a feeling of affection.

• breech birth position. Buttocks-first position in which some babies enter the birth canal.

Glossary of Key Terms


• certified nurse-midwives (CNMs). Nurses who have special training in delivering babies during normal pregnancies.

• cesarean section. Delivery method in which the mother’s abdomen and uterus are surgically opened and the baby is removed.



• dilation. First stage of labor during which the cervix opens.

• episiotomy. Incision made to widen the birth canal and prevent tearing.

• forceps. Curved instrument that fits around the sides of a baby’s head and is used to help the doctor ease the baby down the birth canal during a contraction.



• labor. Process that moves the baby out of the mother’s body.

• Lamaze method. Delivery method in which the pregnant woman is trained to use breathing patterns to keep her mind off pain.



• lightening. Change in the baby’s position in which the uterus settles downward and forward, and the baby descends lower into the pelvis.

• natural childbirth. Delivery method in which the pregnant woman learns about the birth process and uses breathing and relaxation techniques to reduce fear and pain.



• postpartum care. Care the mother receives during the six to eight weeks following the birth of her baby.

• postpartum depression (PPD). Less frequent, but serious form of depression that may occur after giving birth.



• postpartum psychosis (PPP). Rare and extremely severe mental illness that may result after giving birth.

• vacuum extraction. Technique that uses suction to help the doctor move the baby down the birth canal as the mother pushes.


© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.. 6 Childbirth © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Key Terms labor...

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