From time immemorial, women have given birth, give birth and will give birth - such is their nature. There is no such representative of the weaker sex who would not at least once think about how the birth goes, and whether she can cope with it. Everyone knows that childbirth is a natural process, that it is not easy and very painful. Hence all the fears and doubts.
More experienced women who have already experienced all the difficulties of motherhood and even more than once, are still interested in how women give birth in subsequent times, did they do everything right and are there ways to avoid pain.
Fortunately, even modern men have recently begun to show more attention to the birth process. They are trying to somehow alleviate the condition of the future mother and help in every possible way during contractions. Therefore, the question of how childbirth goes, excites them to some extent. We will cover these topics and more in the article below.
Harbingers of childbirth
The long 9 months are behind us, and you know that labor can begin at any moment. So, such a process never starts with a bay-floundering. This is provided thatpregnancy proceeded without pathologies. Experienced mothers know that before the most important day, you can always notice the so-called harbingers of childbirth. The complex of symptoms that signals the imminent start of the long-awaited moment may be different for each woman.
Symptoms that herald the preparation of the body for childbirth
Some have all the signs. Others simply do not notice them. But in any case, you should be alert and be prepared if:
- The stomach dropped, and it became easier to breathe. Why is this happening? The fact is that just before the birth, the baby descends into the small pelvis and tightly presses the head to the exit, while the uterus also descends, as a result of which the diaphragm is released. The woman feels significant relief, heartburn disappears or decreases.
- Weight loss. A few days before giving birth, a woman's body discards everything superfluous, including accumulated water. Therefore, a pregnant woman may notice that she has lost some weight.
- Loose stools, frequent urination. These symptoms also signal the cleansing of the body just before childbirth.
- Training bouts. Usually, these uterine contractions are irregular and painless. The body is being prepared for the most crucial moment.
- Nausea. During the opening of the cervix, many women noticed nausea in themselves, up to vomiting. The reason is the same - cleansing the body of unnecessary things.
Symptoms that require immediate hospitalization
The above signs are indirect, after the appearance of which beforechildbirth can take half a month. But there are symptoms, upon detection of which you should sound the alarm:
- The waters broke. This is a clear sign of the onset of labor. In this case, the clock counts.
- The passage of the mucous plug. In principle, she can come out both a week before childbirth, and during them. Therefore, when small gel-like clots with streaks of blood appear, there is no reason to panic, but you should listen to your feelings.
- Intensifying contractions. If the pains in the abdomen and lower back increase, and the time interval between them decreases, these are no longer training, but real contractions.
There are other signs of impending labor, but they are more likely to be seen by the doctor, not the woman. For example, a gynecologist may tell you that labor is about to begin if the cervix is soft and smooth, and perhaps even started to slip a finger.
How is childbirth going? Process steps
Normally, labor can begin at both 38 and 40 weeks. The baby is full term and ready to be born. It remains for a pregnant woman to gain strength and patience, because women give birth in three stages. Each of the stages has its own characteristics and duration.
So, how is the birth going for the first time:
- The contractions begin, the cervix gradually opens from 0 to 10 cm. The duration of the first period may vary. After all, childbirth takes place in those who give birth again much faster than the first birth. On average, this stage can take 8-12 hours.
- Second period -attempts. This is the time when a woman can control the situation and help the baby to be born as soon as possible.
- Expulsion of the placenta is the last and most painless moment in childbirth. After the birth of a child, a child's place comes out of the uterus after him.
For more details about all the stages and how the second birth goes, we will discuss in the article below.
Counting contractions
We have already written about false contractions. They are also called Braxtons. Such training bouts differ from real painless ones. Inexperienced pregnant women sometimes think that they can take real contractions for training. Believe me, you will never miss your birth.
If you are interested in how labor goes and what contractions look like, then you should know: according to the reviews of many women who have given birth, contractions feel like very painful menstruation. After all, in fact, these are the same contractions of the uterus, only stronger.
At the very beginning, the contractions are short, with long periods of time. They are moderately painful: an average of 1-2 in 10 minutes. This period is called latency. With the first contractions, the opening of the cervix begins. By the end of the latent phase, the opening of the pharynx should be 4 cm.
The next phase is active. It lasts 3-4 hours. The pain of contractions increases markedly, the cervix opens up to 4-8 cm. third birth, pass much fasterfirst.
The third phase is full disclosure. The pains are the strongest, the intensity of contractions gradually turning into attempts every 30 seconds, the cervix opens up to 10 cm and the fetus is ready to move through the birth canal.
Attempts. Childbirth
To understand how the first birth goes, many mothers read a lot of literature, trying to prepare for the upcoming event. But even the most well-read and ready woman at a critical moment can completely forget about everything she knew and just panic. Here is the most important rule: do not scream, but listen to the doctor and midwife.
Attempts are, in fact, the expulsion of the fetus from the uterus. In the normal course of labor, this process lasts about half an hour, and the future woman in labor should carefully listen to the instructions of the midwives and the doctor, because the birth takes place for the first time, and with the wrong actions, you can get breaks. If, with all the desire to avoid damage, it was not possible or an episiotomy was performed, the specialist will carefully stitch the stitches, and you will not be able to sit down for two weeks.
Exit placenta
The placenta is a muscular organ that appeared almost simultaneously with the fetus and ceases to function immediately after the birth of the child. After 5-10 minutes, weak contractions appear, and then the placenta comes out. On this birth is considered completed. The woman remains in the delivery room for another 2 hours. A weight or cold is placed on her stomach to speed up the contraction of the uterus, after which she is transferred to the ward.
It is very difficult to say how long childbirth takes. Alldepends on the circumstances, on the state of the woman herself. It also takes into account the number of births. And an important role is played by the psychological preparation of a woman for a very difficult responsible job.
How to relieve pain
Women who wonder how the birth of a child goes are actually very afraid of one thing - pain. And not in vain. Contractions are considered the most painful. Women who tell how the third birth goes, note that with proper breathing and the support of a loved one, pain can be significantly relieved. You can also try to relax in the bath or sit on a special ball.
And for those who cannot give birth for a long time or are very afraid, doctors can advise pain relief. But before you ask for an epidural, you should carefully study all the negative aspects of such an intervention.
Be that as it may, all pains are forgotten immediately after the birth of such a desired and long-awaited baby.
How is the subsequent birth going?
Often, women with horror ask their experienced girlfriends how the second birth goes. After all, sometimes a woman, having suffered during her first pregnancy, is very afraid to conceive a baby a second time.
According to statistics, most women who have become mothers for the second time claim that both pregnancy and childbirth are about the same as the first. But there are also differences. With the only difference - the second and subsequent births last almost 2 times less in time.
Medicated intervention
There are a number of reasons why labor does not go according to plan, and the above stages of contractions do not occur. In such cases, the doctor may advise to stimulate them and start the process. This is especially true for those who are preparing to become a mother not for the first time. Let's say you are interested in how the birth goes 4 times. So, such pregnancies are at risk, and medical intervention may be needed at any time.
Reasons that may start stimulating contractions:
- postterm pregnancy - after 40 weeks you will be asked to come to the maternity hospital;
- water breaks but no contractions;
- chronic and acute diseases;
- multiple pregnancy;
- polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios.
How is stimulation performed and why is it dangerous?
There are several ways to "wake up" the uterus and help the baby to be born. After a thorough examination, the doctor selects the most suitable method. In a specific case, these may be:
- Prostaglandins - injected into the vagina in the form of a gel or suppositories. Usually, labor begins within an hour. The procedure is absolutely safe for mother and fetus, does not cause negative and painful sensations.
- Oxytocin is an analogue of natural hormones that stimulate the opening of the cervix. With its introduction, contractions are felt very painful. Such a drug is contraindicated in the presence of amniotic fluid.
- Bladder puncture - using a special hook, the amniotic membrane is pierced, due towhat is the outpouring of water. Such a procedure is doubtful, since there is a possibility of infection, and besides, labor sometimes does not occur.
- Shelling of the membranes - during the examination, the doctor may manually peel off the amniotic membrane and thereby cause contractions. But sometimes, due to the inexperience of the doctor or thick walls, the action has to be repeated several times.
Reviews: how is childbirth with stimulation
After reading various horror stories on Internet forums, many women are afraid of stimulation, mistakenly thinking that it will harm the child and mother. But that is not so. In many cases, stimulation is the only way out of a difficult situation. Most of these interventions pass without any problems and complications. Of course, there are also negative aspects that a woman in labor should learn about in advance and prepare for them at least mentally.
So, judging by the numerous reviews of women who have gone through the stimulation process, they note the following negative points:
- Compared to natural contractions, they are very painful, longer, and the intervals are shorter. This is especially true in cases where oxytocin was used. In such situations, many women asked for an epidural.
- Unable to walk or sit during contractions. The fact is that in most cases, during stimulation, the drug is administered through a dropper, which significantly hinders movement, forcing the woman to lie on her back.
- Some drugs can cause fetal hypoxia, thenthere is oxygen starvation with all the ensuing consequences.
As a result, it is worth noting that weakened labor activity can be both during the first birth and during subsequent ones. With the right selection of the drug and the method of stimulation, the procedure can save the life of the mother and baby. Whether it is harmful or not, it is difficult to answer. Sometimes the mother's body does not react in any way to external manipulations and then there is nothing left but to resort to surgical intervention.
