Child Birth

Childbirth

Childbirth is natural and a part of life as an EMR you should know how to react in all of it's aspects. You should also know how to help, guide, and support the patient as well as your infant. In some births there will be some complications like frequency of contractions and crowning which indicate a pending birth. Once a child is born you should keep him and the mother under observation to assure other complications.

Childbirth all starts in the female reproductive system in the ovaries to be exact. Ovaries produce eggs or also know as ovas that once have been fertilized by the male sperm travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus. The uterus or also known as the womb holds the fertilized eggs for nine months. In those nine months the egg begins to form into a fetus that is enclosed in an amniotic sac. The amniotic sac is fluid-filled that contains and protects a fetus by keeping outside contaminant such as germs from reaching the fetus during its development. If the amniotic sac were to break the fetus would be vulnerable to infection and other complications. The umbilical cord may become compressed without the cushioning of the amniotic sac as well as the placenta separating from the uterus which can occur to internal bleeding and premature birth.

Prodromal labor or also known as pre-labor is when the body prepares for the real labor. The cervix that is used as a base for the womb unplugs and changes position. The cervix soft and shortens in a process called ripening and dilation occurs. One of the first signs of labor occurs when the water breaks which is characterized as a popping sensation and a flush of fluid. The water is said to be clear, can oftentimes have an odor and is green or brown. Some women have regular contractions before the water breaks which gives them a warning about labor happening. If contractions have not occurred before the water erupting they usually begin 12 to 24 hours after unless you are undergoing labor already. Contractions occurring less than two minutes apart from one another usually indicates that delivery will occur very soon. Contractions tighten and harden the stomach and uterus it can cause extreme pain that can be related to bad menstrual cramps or gas pains. Contractions help with the process of labor and get the baby into position by the uterus surrounding the baby and the uterine muscle contracting.

In the first stage of labor the body is still preparing for birth. The first signs of labor are contractions, water breaking, and the bloody show begins. The bloody show is an indication that the mucus plug has loosened and blood is discharged. It is also a sign of the labor impending and can occur before labor starts or several days before. In the transition stage the birthing canal will fully dilate to ten centimeters in diameter. If a labor has occurred before the current labor it may be shortened.

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