Natural Childbirth
The experience of natural childbirth varies from one woman to another. To ensure a positive impact on your life, it becomes necessary to have a correct medical background that enables you to navigate this stage without fear or obstacles, and to give birth to a healthy baby while maintaining your health in the best possible way. Therefore, you can familiarize yourself with the nature and symptoms of natural childbirth, its benefits and drawbacks, and other more detailed medical information found in this article.
Natural Childbirth
It is the one that occurs without surgical intervention, with the onset of labor "uterine contractions" which start to appear after the ninth month of pregnancy, increasing in intensity and speed until the hour of birth approaches, and the baby is delivered under the supervision of doctors using assisting tools. Sometimes, a surgical incision may be necessary to widen the vagina and facilitate the delivery of the baby, followed by suturing with a number of stitches.
Conditions Required for Natural Childbirth
- If the mother does not suffer from any chronic health problems related to pregnancy, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or exposure to pregnancy toxemia.
- If the mother has not undergone previous surgeries in the uterus.
- If the mother's uterus is free from any congenital defects that hinder natural childbirth, such as being narrow.
- If the baby's weight is normal, not exceeding 3.5 kilograms.
- If the position of the baby in the uterus is suitable for natural childbirth, with its head directed towards the pelvic area.
- If the dilation of the uterus occurs naturally and appropriately during labor.
What are the Most Important Symptoms of Natural Childbirth?
- Feeling pain in the lower abdomen and back.
- Feeling heaviness in the lower abdomen.
- An increase in vaginal secretions.
- Uterine contractions occurring at short intervals, regularly increasing in intensity and frequency.
- Breathing becomes deeper and longer.
- Rupture of the amniotic sac, with clear fluid coming out of the vagina, possibly mixed with drops of blood, either gradually or all at once.
- Discharge from the cervix, indicating the onset of labor.
How are the Stages of Natural Childbirth Done?
Natural childbirth generally lasts between 12 and 18 hours for a woman experiencing it for the first time, with the duration decreasing in subsequent births. Natural childbirth occurs in multiple stages as follows:
- Uterine contractions occur, contributing to the opening of the cervix, until it widens sufficiently for the baby to descend.
- The doctor records the number and speed of contractions and ensures the baby's heartbeats.
- Examinations are performed on the vagina.
- If the vaginal opening is not wide enough, the doctor may perform a small surgical incision in the area between the vagina and the rectum (the perineal area), and the incision may occur spontaneously during the descent of the baby.
- After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut.
- The placenta exits the woman's body after a short period and after the contractions resume, this time not as painful as labor contractions. The doctor then performs the cleaning and ensures the complete expulsion of the placenta and the amount of blood exiting the vagina.
