Pregnancy, labor, and childbirth

Meg Mullane

Overview• Pregnancy Overview• Truths about pregnancy• Complications of pregnancy• Stages of labor• The Miracle of Birth?• Strategies to Cope with labor• Things NOT to do during labor• Afterwards

Pregnancy: You’re practically glowing!

• Remember: Pregnancy is not all physical– Emotions will run wild along with your hormones

• Trimester 1– Weeks 1-12; extreme tiredness, morning sickness,

mood swings, constipation• Trimester 2– Weeks 13-28; body aches, stretch marks, swelling or

ankles, fingers, and face, itchiness• Trimester 3– Weeks 29-40; shortness of breath, heartburn, intense

swelling, hemorrhoids, trouble sleeping, tender breasts

Truths about pregnancy

• It is perfectly safe to have a home birth– Complicated/high risk pregnancies are an exception

• Being labeled as a “high risk” pregnancy patient does not necessarily mean you are high risk

• Pregnant teens do not have to drop out of school• Pregnant women experience no more depression

than non-pregnant women

Pregnancy complications

• Late pregnancies: Women older than 35 are more at risk for diabetes and high blood pressure

• Overweight: At risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, larger babies, and cesarean sections

• Abuse: At risk for losing baby, depression, fear

• Disability: Is it genetic?• Addiction: Babies will be affected by

drug use• Previous cesarean section: infection,

excess bleeding, longer recovery time

Stages of Labor: Contractions

• Warm-up labor (false contractions)– On and off for days or weeks!– 0-3cm dilation

• Stage 1: Latent Phase– A few hours, to a day or more– 0-5cm dilation

• Stage 1: Active Phase– Between 2-10 hours– 4-8cm dilation

• Stage 1:Transistion Phase– A few contractions 1-2 hours– 7-8cm dilation

Final Stages of Labor

• Stage 2: Pushing, giving birth– Few contractions over 3 hours– 10cm dilation– Contractions every 3 minutes– Woman will feel urge to push

• Stage 3: Delivery of Placenta– 10 minutes of less– No contractions, but strong cramps

• Stage 4: Recovery– 1-2 hours without complications– Mild to moderate cramps while uterus contracts

The Miracle of Birth?• Movies portray the birthing

process as clean and marvelous

• Although your baby is being born, it is far from a clean process– Feces, urine, and blood will

discharge from a laboring mother’s body

– It is painful; no other way to say it!

– Not every woman yells; some women stay very quiet to deal with pain

Strategies to Cope with Labor

• My sister used hypno-breathing (hypnosis)– It really worked for her!

• Freedom to move during labor• Don’t lay flat during labor– Let gravity help you out a little bit

• Water is soothing during labor• Human touch– Have someone hold your hand

• Hot or cold packs• It’s completely up to the laboring mother as to what

makes her comfortable!

Things NOT to do during labor

• Laboring on your back– As stated previously, let gravity do it’s share of the

work!• Episiotomy– A surgical cut to enlarge vaginal opening– Can lead to tearing through to the anal sphincter• Can lead to incontinence after birth, and prolonged bleeding

• Immediate clamping of umbilical cord– Deprives babies of up to one-third of their blood

volume• Can lead to anemia for several months up to birth

Congratulations! It’s a--• After labor, hold your baby while

waiting for placenta• Start breastfeeding as soon as

possible– Relaxes the woman’s body– Relieves pain– You deserve to hold your child after

that labor process!• Although childbirth is a gruesome

process, staying positive and looking towards your goal is the best method for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Just look at what you madeHave you ever known someone that has had a high risk pregnancy? What was their mindset during pregnancy?

Citation• "Pregnancy." Stages of Pregnancy. 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 4 Aug. 2014.

<http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.html#a>.