Contents
Future young mothers are especially afraid of the day of delivery. Pregnancy is a wonderful moment for them, but despite everything, the day of delivery is often thought of as something unpleasant, full of pain, and finally simply something – unknown, shrouded in mystery. However, giving birth naturally doesn’t have to be something to be afraid of.
Giving birth – what method of childbirth can you choose?
- You can give birth naturally, by the forces of nature
- Water births are becoming more and more popular, as they give the mother more relaxation. A woman does not feel such severe pain. It is also beneficial for the child himself, who does not cross – also painful for himself – the barrier between the “water” world in which he lives and the outside world
- Cesarean section is also recently often a choice, not a compulsion. Young mothers decide on this form of childbirth to alleviate the pain that is supposed to occur during natural childbirth
When do we start giving birth?
A well-prepared expectant mother will immediately recognize the first signs of labour. First, there will be irregular contractions of the uterus. They can appear two days before the actual delivery. Subsequently, there is a departure of the amniotic waters, or their slight oozing. At this time, the mucous plug also breaks off, signaling the rapid onset of labour.
Hospital stay – what is it like?
After arriving at the delivery room, depending on the stage of labour, the woman giving birth must first fill out a questionnaire regarding the course of pregnancy (of course, if she is “already” giving birth, the doctors will not force her to do so). A CTG examination is also performed, which is used to measure the strength of contractions and the dilation of the cervix is determined. Then an enema is often performed, which the birthing woman does not have to agree to. On the one hand, it gives comfort that during childbirth you will not involuntarily pass stool, which also protects the baby from contact with bacteria. On the other hand, now the World Health Organization has issued a statement that there is no medical reason to perform an enema before childbirth. You can always do an enema yourself at home before going to the hospital, it is a great help for pregnant women. Then the intimate area is also depilated. There is pain associated with contractions during childbirth. After the birth of the baby, the placenta is also delivered, which, however, is completely painless. When mother and baby feel well, their first contact takes place.
How long does childbirth last?
It should be known that the labor of a woman who has already given birth is shorter, and the longest is probably the first childbirth. If labor is prolonged, nurses can give the mother an oxytocin drip, which should speed up labor. Childbirth can last from an hour to several hours.