What a woman feels during childbirth, you will know for sure only when the baby arrives in the world. But we will try to describe at least approximately what it is like when this moment arrives.

It's obvious that no two births are alike. Each woman experiences it in her own way, and these experiences cannot be compared. However, everychildbirthhas a certain course and we want to write it down just so you know what to expect. Of course, bearing in mind that there are many variations and variants, midwives divide labor into threelabor phases . During the first stage, uterine contractions open the cervix to the full extent, the second stage is the birth stage, and the third stage is the birth of the placenta. What will happen to you during each of these stages?

labor begins

Having a baby is possible thanks to uterine contractions. A contraction is the involuntary tension and then relaxation of muscle fibers that run along the uterine body. These muscles contract as they contract, pulling the muscles at the bottom of the womb and around the cervix, making the cervix increasingly shorten and widen, making room for your baby.

The earliest contractions may not be felt at all or felt as the baby pushing in the stomach - this is called latent phase. However, the intensity of the contractions is still increasing and you will soon feel them clearly - the abdomen tightens, and after a few seconds the tension disappears. At first the contractions are unlikely to be painful or the soreness will be minimal - they can be compared to very mild period pains. You can easily control them and even sleep. In the early stages, contractions are usually short and infrequent, lasting 20 to 60 seconds and occurring every 15 or even 20 minutes.

If this is your first labor, you don't need to rush to the hospital, as it will probably be at least a few more hours for your labor to accelerate - the cervix opens at an average rate of 0.5 to 1 cm per hour. In this phase, there may also be (if it has not happened before) the departure and falling out ofof the mucus plug . It is a mucous "plug" that closes the cervix throughout pregnancy, protecting the fetus from external factors. The plug may appear to the outside as a compact mass of mucus, slightly stained with blood. And when it goes away in stages - you will just feel itmore discharge from the genital tract. You may also not notice the pin at all.

You will probably notice increased urination and loose stools - defecation at the beginning of labor often takes the form of diarrhea. The body can be shaken by chills caused by stress. The fear that labor has just begun will mix with the excitement of the surge in adrenaline. Many women feel a sudden burst of energy at this point.

How to survive the first phase of production?

Childbirth - when to go to the hospital?

Women who give birth for the first time tend to get very nervous and arrive too early. Midwives advise to come when your contractions are regular every 4-5 minutes for at least one hour and last for 45 to 60 seconds. The advice that you should go to the hospital when your contractions become so strong that you won't be able to talk during them can be a hint. When you are not sure if it is labor or predictive contractions - you can do a simple test: take a warm bath. If the contractions weaken after such a bath, it means that it is not yet labor, but if they intensify - everything will become clear. The cramps feel like pain in the abdomen and lower abdomen. There may also be back ailments in the sacral area, which will probably worsen as labor progresses. Surely a signal that it is time to go to the delivery room is the loss of amniotic fluid at this time. You will feel it as a sudden discharge of warm, watery fluid from your vagina. If water breaks away during regular contractions, your baby will probably be born within 24 hours. It is different if the rupture of the fetal bladder occurs earlier, before the contraction begins - it does not necessarily mean a quick delivery (the decision whether to induce it rests with the doctor). Premature water loss occurs in 8-10 percent. In most cases, it happens only in the advanced stage, so you don't need to exaggerate the fear that it might happen suddenly and in a public place - it's unlikely. yellowish), go to the hospital as soon as possible, as this requires a doctor's consultation.

Important

Did you know that …

  • When contractions last many hours and the amniotic fluid has not gone away, the doctor can pierce the fetal bladder with a procedure called amniocentesis (using a special tool). Don't be afraid of it - it's a simple, routine, completely painless procedure.
  • The transition phase (where the neck opens 8-10 cm) is the hardest part of labor. Each contraction lasts about 1.5 minutes, it can even havea few peak moments. The woman is tired, she can be irritable and rough. Good news: This phase wears off quickly.
  • When the baby presses her head against the dilated cervix, she feels pain, burning and pressure on the anus. Some women may even think that they are about to tear apart. These fears, however, are completely unfounded - it is biologically impossible.

Childbirth - when contractions become more and more painful

It will probably take several hours before the cervix is ​​fully dilated - if you give birth for the first time. But there are exceptions when the primiparous woman (what a bizarre word!) Gives birth two hours after she feels the first contractions! Unfortunately, such cases are rare. Usually, after 5-6 hours of regular, stronger and stronger contractions, the dilation is about 5 cm - then the contractions last 40-60 seconds, and the breaks between them - 2-3 minutes. The sensations accompanying the contractions are very different, depending on the individual resistance to pain. . For some women it is only a bit of discomfort for the time being, and for others it is extreme pain. It may be that the woman suffers for many hours, but she is still not dilated. To relieve pain, it is a good idea to immerse yourself in warm water, which relaxes tense muscles and relaxes you. So use the bathtub if possible, or at least a shower. In addition, move - walk, jump on the ball or try to relax on the sack. Even if this does not reduce the pain sensation very much, it will speed up the labor. Also remember to breathe with the diaphragm - take deep breaths so that your stomach is rising, not your chest. Try to concentrate on exhaling - the exhalation should be long but not too forcing, like blowing out a candle flame slowly for a long time.

With or without anesthesia?

If the dilation is only 3-4 cm (you will find out about its size from the midwife who will check you from time to time) and you are already suffering a lot and are fed up, ask for an epidural. After that, you may hear that it is too late ( although it is not actually true - it can be administered at any stage of labor, but when the dilation is greater than 8 cm, the anesthesia will probably not work). We advise against the injection of Dolargan (pethidine); it is a narcotic - it is unlikely to reduce the pain, but it will cause dizziness, vomiting, dizziness, a feeling of darkness in front of the eyes. In addition, it has a negative effect on the baby. Increasing pain in the abdomen, back and possibly legs, accompanied by rapid breathing and heartbeat, you will sweat a lot, but at the same time you may feel cold and chills. Some women donausea and vomiting.

Crisis of the seventh centimeter

The moment when the setting is about 7 cm is very difficult. The contractions then become much stronger and longer, and the intervals between them become shorter and shorter, you may even think that the pain is not going away at all. You will be tired and impatient. Many women are fed up then - they want to go out, run away, just to be as far away as possible. Fortunately, this phase doesn't last long. If you feel anxious, if everything is going as it should, is it normal pain - ask your midwife or doctor. Your partner can also ask questions on your behalf (if you are parenting together) - you will need all the support you need, and an accompanying person can also be of assistance by giving you the appropriate massage or supporting you in a position that promotes the progress of labor (e.g. standing, you resist). on your husband's shoulders and swing your hips) as long as you don't have to lie down. The most important thing is to breathe properly and to be able to relax your muscles, especially the pelvic floor (which is why you should exercise them when you are pregnant). Tight muscles use up the oxygen your baby needs and hinder the progress of labor.

According to an expertAnna Kalinowska-Garbala, midwife

Will it be possible to drink?

During labor, as during any strenuous exercise, water is lost from the body as a result of sweating and vigorous breathing. The loss of fluids should be replaced. At the hospital, they can put in a drip to replenish water and electrolyte losses. This will undoubtedly satisfy the needs of the tissues and the baby, but not the thirst. Therefore, we encourage patients to drink still water during childbirth. In most hospitals, drinking water is not contraindicated in a properly running delivery (juices and other drinks are unlikely to be allowed). There are occasions when a woman should be fasting, that is, without food or drink for 6 hours. However, these are exceptional situations (e.g. increased probability of delivery by caesarean section). If you are in any doubt as to whether you can quench your thirst, just ask your maternity midwife about it.

Transition phase

This is the last stage of the first period - when the neck reaches an opening of 8-10 cm. The cramps are very strong right now, lasting 60-90 seconds, you may feel like they go on forever. But the end is getting closer. As your baby slides through the pelvic girdle, you feel a strong pressure on the lower back and around the perineum and then the anus. You will need to push, but if you are not fully dilated yet, you must hold back. If you can give birth actively, kneeling high is the ideal position for this phaseraised hips and the head rests low on the hands (the point is that the head should be lower than the hips and buttocks). This position reduces the force of partial contractions and allows the cervix to open more fully. If you are giving birth while lying down, you can help yourself with short, vigorous exhales, similar to putting out a candle quickly.

Finally, you can push!

When the cervix is ​​fully dilated, the second stage of labor begins - the pressure. This usually takes several tens of minutes, but may be longer. This is the time when the only goal of a woman's body is to bring a baby into the world. The uterus is a very strong muscle and the strength of its contractions may surprise you. When you feel that you have no control over your body, you just have to surrender to it. Your body and instincts know what to do - don't be afraid of your body's reactions. And if your instincts fail you and you need guidance - listen to the midwife.

Due to the enormous effort, you may feel the need to make various sounds and even scream. Don't be ashamed and don't hold back from screaming - sometimes it helps a lot.If your intestines have not cleared enough (either naturally or with an enema) before the birth, you may have a small bowel movement before the head is born. The baby's head is large and hard - as it passes through the birth canal, it presses against the vaginal walls that adjoin the bladder and rectum, pushing the contents out of them. This is perfectly normal and normal for the staff, so don't feel embarrassed about it. You may not even know what's going on, focusing only on the birth of your baby. If the perineum is not flexible enough, your midwife may incise it. With such a large stretch, his tissues are reddened and the treatment should not hurt.

The baby's head is born slowly. During contraction, its tip is visible in the vaginal exit, but in the pause between contractions - it disappears and you may feel that the baby is retreating. Be patient - it's completely natural. At this point, touching the head with your hand may help - if your midwife suggests it, don't be afraid, just do it! When you touch your baby for the first time, you will realize that you are very close to the end and you will feel a great surge of energy that will help you finish the job. When the head is born, the hardest will be over. The shoulders and the rest of the baby's body will probably be born with the next contraction, and it will land on your stomach. The baby will be warm and moist. The midwife will cover them with a towel to keep them warm.

Final assignment: bearing

This is not the end of labor, however. Now it is necessary to give birthplacenta - it takes up to 30 minutes and is not difficult. You may feel a slight cramp as it comes loose, but it's not painful. You may feel the need to push out the placenta - do it. Sometimes the placenta is born just by contracting the uterus. The placenta resembles a raw liver. It should be born whole, and if part of it remains in the uterus, the doctor must clean it under anesthesia (this procedure is called curettage of the uterus). After expulsion of the placenta, the perineum has to be sewn together - if it has been incised. This is done under anesthesia, so inserting the needle shouldn't hurt, but you may feel some unpleasant sensations (e.g. thread pulling).

After that, however, nothing prevents you from enjoying yourself. You will be overwhelmed by a wave of strong emotions - relief, joy, excitement. You became a mother!

"M jak mama" monthly

Category:

Childbirth