Childbirth and its Impact
Childbirth is a major life event that has a great impact on a woman’s well-being. It is also a major event in the life of her family, which involves an array of emotional, cognitive, and social changes.
Childbirth Trauma
Many women experience birth as a positive and empowering event, but there are also some women who have a negative birth experience that affects them in the future. This is called “childbirth trauma.” It can cause a range of problems including anxiety, depression, postnatal stress disorder (PTSD), and reactivity to pain.
The Pain of Childbirth
The pain of childbirth consists of an unpleasant physical sensation that comes and goes moment by moment, with the feeling becoming more intense as contractions progress. In order to reduce the amount of fear and suffering associated with pain, it is important to reframe the way you experience childbirth.
Preparing for Childbirth
One of the most important things that you can do before childbirth is to learn about the stages of labor, so you know what to expect and how to prepare. You can do this by talking to your doctor and a childbirth teacher or midwife, who will be able to answer any questions you may have about the delivery process.
The First Stage of Labor
During the first stage of labor, the cervix expands and thins as it prepares to stretch open. The doctor or nurse will do a pelvic exam to check how quickly and easily the cervix is opening up. If it is not opening up as fast or as easily as a woman would like, she can have the cervix slowed down with medications. This is done to prevent the uterus from contracting too quickly and causing blood clots. The clots can be hard to remove and can cause bleeding during the birth. The uterus is then pushed out, which is also called “delivery.”
The Second Stage of Labor
Once the uterus has been pushed out and a baby is on the surface, you and your partner or birth attendant can begin to relax. You should start to feel the urge to push or bear down, but you shouldn’t do so until the second phase of labor, when the cervix has dilated to about 8-9 cm. This is when the head of the baby will be able to pass through the vaginal canal and out of the body. Your uterus should begin to separate from the placenta at this point, which will help with minimizing bleeding during and after the birth. This is also a good time to discuss the possibility of a cesarean section, which can be very helpful for women who want to avoid a natural delivery.
The Final Stage of Childbirth
In the final stage of childbirth, the placenta is pushed out of the vagina by continuing uterine contractions. This is a normal part of the labor and delivery process, but it can take some time to happen. The placenta is typically delivered within a few minutes, but it can take longer. If this is the case, a doula or other professional can be hired to assist you during this stage of delivery.
