Pregnancy means for women a complete change of their body over several months. The fetus matures in her uterus, the breasts begin to produce milk, and the woman must not only provide for herself with a healthy lifestyle, but also for the child in her ever-thickening belly. This symbiosis between mother and baby is broken down again within a few hours during childbirth – a date that first-time mothers-to-be especially long for, as they can then finally hold their child in their arms.
What is natural childbirth in medical terms?
Schematic representation of the different types of birth. However, birth does not only consist of contractions and the subsequent pushing until the child is born – there can be complications that every mother should know about. In addition, there are different types of birth – some like to have their child in a familiar atmosphere at home, others find the carrying power of water pleasant, and still others do not want to do without modern medical options, such as an epidural, under any circumstances. Spontaneous birth is another term for natural childbirth. The definition states that it includes any woman who is in labor for about three to eighteen hours and has carried the baby in her womb for 259 to 293 days. Other characteristics include the infant’s occipital position and the breaking of the water during the opening period. The mother’s blood loss should not exceed 500ml and neither the parturient nor the baby are at significant risk during the procedure. According to dr-schwind.de, the opening period is the first of four stages of a natural birth; the other three are: Expulsion Period, Placental Period and Post-Placental Period.
What are the variations of this birth?
In movies, women usually lie in the delivery room while giving birth. In reality, however, there are more than this one option. For example, a standing birth can be found across all cultures and times – gravity helps both mother and baby with this process and can even speed it up in some cases. Normally, the only time an expectant mother lies on a stretcher is when measures such as a suction cup birth are used or she is simply too exhausted to have the baby standing up. In addition to the standing birth, there is the option of sitting on a birthing stool. This supports the expectant mother in the upright position, the buttocks can rest, but the pelvic floor is still free. The place of birth can also be chosen in a natural birth, the delivery room in the clinic is not the only option: in a home birth, the woman has the baby in her own four walls. A free midwife supports her during the birth. The miracle can be fully enjoyed without unfamiliar people such as nurses being in the room with her. However, this is not recommended for high-risk pregnancies – to ensure optimal care even in the event of complications for mother and child, hospital birth is mandatory for these. However, parents can opt for an outpatient birth: A few hours after delivery or directly the next morning, they are allowed to go home with their offspring. Those who do not want to give birth at home but also not in the hospital can also choose the more familiar atmosphere of a birth center. For many expectant mothers, water birth is also advantageous.
What happens if complications arise?
With a positive pregnancy test, women know that many changes to their bodies await them, up to and including the miracle of childbirth. Medicine has advanced to the point where complications are not life-threatening to either the woman giving birth or the baby in most cases. If they do occur, a cesarean section is performed or a suction cup, or forceps, is used, depending on the doctor’s opinion. Cesarean section is a surgical procedure in which the baby is delivered through an incision in the abdominal wall. The suction cup, as well as forceps, delivers the baby into the world through the birth canal. This is done when the child needs to come out of the abdomen immediately – for example, due to a lack of oxygen or due to incorrect or non-existent heart sounds during birth.Unlike in the case of this woman, however, the consequences described above do not normally have to be expected – many women have undergone this procedure with forceps or the suction cup without complaining of pain afterwards. However, it remains a medical intervention with all the possible risks arising from it, about which an expectant mother must be informed.
How and when is induction of labor performed?
In some cases, it is necessary to induce labor artificially to bring the baby into the world. Opinions about this vary widely, as can be seen on this question portal. In general, however, the opinion of the attending physician should be trusted. Otherwise, if the mother keeps the baby in the womb for too long and there are no signs of natural labor, there may be complications for both of them. In addition, induction is necessary if the water breaks but the body does not otherwise adjust to the approaching birth.
Is an epidural useful?
PDA stands for epidural anesthesia. This is given to pregnant women so that they no longer feel the contractions and can thus save their strength for the birth. It makes sense if there is a labor spasm that completely debilitates the mother before the actual birth process. Generally, it is the pregnant woman’s decision whether she wants to have an epidural or not. Despite severe pain, she can refuse it – as long as it does not result in a cesarean section. If this is performed without general anesthesia, the epidural is a way to numb the appropriate area of the body so that the mother does not notice the procedure through pain.
Does the pain decrease with subsequent births?
The sensation of pain is purely subjective. For this reason, it is impossible to say in general that pain is less bad with subsequent children. A woman’s pain memory is primarily designed to forget the birth discomfort relatively quickly afterward, or at least to perceive it as no longer as bad. Therefore, a direct comparison is hardly possible – only in the length do births of subsequent children differ – on average, women in labor are in labor for a shorter time.
