Aradiia.Com - Stages of Labour

Labour
(Stages of Labour, Fathers, Pain Options, Tips)

This would have to be one of the most amazing things anyone can go through, even for the Fathers. It is perfectly normal to feel anxious about the big event, just remember that you are both going to be rewarded immensely for your efforts at the end of it all. If you haven't already, you are sure to hear many stories about childbirth from friends & family. Keep in mind that all pregnancies & stages of childbirth are different, & your babies is going to be no exception. Some things that others may experience, you may not & vice versa. But all go through the 3 stages of labour; the dilation of the cervix, the delivery of the baby, and the delivery of the placenta.

If you are around the halfway mark, you may start to experience Braxton-Hicks contractions. These can feel like mild period pain & are often mistaken for labour. They are commonly referred to as 'rehearsal contractions' that are slowly getting your body prepared for delivery. The first stage of labour is concerned with the thinning of the cervix & its dilation to around 10cm. The different phases include:

The latent phase - this stage is usually the longest but the least painful part of labour. The cervix can thin out over weeks, days or just hours and may be accompanied by mild contractions. These contractions may be spaced regularly or irregularly &you may not even notice them at all. You may also notice increasing mucous discharge from the vagina, which may be tinged with blood, sometimes referred to as the "bloody show." This is perfectly normal, but, if you see more than a tinge of blood or if your waters break, call your midwife or doctor.
The active phase - the next phase is characterised by strong, painful contractions that tend to occur around three or four minutes apart and last up to a minute or so. Generally, you will no longer be able to talk through your contractions. This might be a good time to take a warm shower or bath to help with the pain & also to relax. Your cervix will begin dilating faster , to around 7cm.
The transition phase - the contractions become more intense, painful and frequent. Also you may experience shaking, shivering, and nausea. It may feel like the contractions are coming right on top of each other. The cervix may take around an hour or so to dilate the final 3cm. It's quite common to feel a strong urge to go to the toilet as the baby's head pushes against the rectum. Fathers & Birthing Partners! We really need your support during this time!

Once your cervix is fully dilated to 10 cms, the work of the second stage begins. The contractions will be regular & further spaced apart, allowing you to have a much needed & well deserved break. Although it can be hard & exhausting, a lot of women find the work involved in the second stage to be deeply satisfying. As the uterus contracts, it exerts pressure on your baby, moving them down the birth canal. Listen to the signals your body is giving you during this stage. The baby moving through the vagina is often described as a stretching or burning sensation, particularly as the baby's head crowns. Once the head has emerged, midwife will turn the body to deliver the shoulders. The rest of the baby will then slip out. You may like to ask prior to labour if your partner can do this part. Generally if there are no complications, they are happy for your partner to take a more active role. It is a great idea to hold your baby immediately after birth. This skin-to-skin contact is comforting for the baby & is also a beautiful part of the bonding process.

The final stage of labour usually lasts between 5 - 30 mins & after all the effort you have just gone through to deliver your baby, isn't generally much work at all. Shortly after your baby is born, your uterus begins to contract again. The first few contractions usually separate the placenta from the wall of the uterus. You may have to give a gentle push to help expel the placenta. But this is usually one short push & is not commonly difficult or painful. After this time, you may need to have some stitches. After delivery, your baby is usually alert & will instinctively seek the breast. It is recommended that breastfeeding begin within the first hour after birth so that your baby starts to receive the immunological effects of colostrum (the first breast milk, which provides protection against infection & disease). It also makes the mother more confident with breastfeeding, helps stimulate baby's digestion and bowels, helps avoid sucking difficulties if the baby feeds properly at this stage & helps mother & baby bond.

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(Written by a Dad...)

Most fathers today are fully involved with the pregnancy as soon as the test comes back positive. And why not! We helped make it...we should help deliver it! If you are a Father-to-be & don't want to be there to support your partner during the birth, be very, very certain that this is something that you AND your partner are comfortable with! This is certainly a ride that can never be experienced later. Once the theme park is closed...that is it, the ride is never offered again! You would have missed out on the process of your baby being born! So please be very sure & that you have thoroughly discussed this with your partner. Even though I was nervous & scared & had no idea what to expect (I couldn't imagine how she felt!), I helped deliver my son & I cut the cord, this was an incredible experience & I am glad I was there to support my partner through this difficult time & be the first person to hold my son. Fathers & birthing partners play an important role during all the stages of labour & childbirth. It is a good idea to draw up an action plan outlining what relaxing & pain relieving techniques you would like to use during your labour. Many hospitals provide CD players for relaxing music & oil burners for aromatherapy.

Massage and lots of gentle encouragement are extremely helpful during the active phase of the first stage of labour. During the transition period some women who have been coping well up to this point begin to "lose it" . They often reject those around them but obviously have trouble being left alone. Also, some women who have previously expressed that they would like a drug-free birth may now start to lose faith in their ability to make it through. This is the time when Mum need lots of encouragement. You've both come such a long way & your nearly there! After the arrival of your baby, you would expect Mum to be wanting to go straight to sleep. But most actually forget all about how tired they feel & are overcome with excitement, awe, disbelief & joy from meeting their baby.

Your job is not over just yet, she may need some help having a shower & getting settled in bed. Also make sure she has plenty of water available, especially if she is going to be breast feeding. Women tend to get very thirsty while baby is breast feeding; water is the best option rather than soft drinks & caffeinated beverages.

Now that you have been there & supported your partner through this painful process & made sure she is resting comfortably, it's time for you to sit down, relax & smile! Your a Dad! Congratulations!

As far as pain relief options go, there are some things you can do during your pregnancy that are found to help lessen the pain & duration of labour. some of these include;

Good physical condition is important. Exercise gently and regularly throughout your pregnancy, avoid cigarettes and alcohol, and eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Knowing what to expect during the stages of labour. This can help reduce anxiety. Antenatal classes are a fantastic idea.
Constant, close support from your birthing partner (whether it is your partner or a trusted friend or family member) during the pregnancy & stages of labour can also reduce anxiety.

Medical pain relieving options for labour include:

Nitrous oxide
Epidural anaesthesia
Pethidine

Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) is a popular choice because it is only in the system while you are breathing it, so you can only use it when you need it, and it doesn't linger in your body or your baby's. It doesn't make the pain completely go away, but takes the edge off it, leaving you able to still 'listen' to what your body is telling you. It may make you feel a little confused & disoriented and you may also experience some nausea and vomiting.

In the event of an Epidural, anaesthetic is injected in the back into the lining of the spinal cord, which makes the mother feel numb from the waist down. This also causes the mother's blood pressure to drop, so it isn't recommended for women who have low blood pressure or a bleeding placenta. Some ill-effects of this option are only one side of the body being numbed - requiring another injection, reduces the ability of having a natural vaginal delivery, a urinary catheter may need to be inserted, can lengthen the duration of labour, some women experience a migraine or headache following delivery, due to the mother's inability to feel her muscles, she is unable to push so the baby may need assistance being delivered by using vacuum cup or forceps, or even by caesarean section. Occasionally some women experience ongoing patches of numbness near the injection site.

Pethidine is a very strong sedative, related to Heroin & Morphine & the effects can last up to 4 hours. It often makes women feel nauseous, so quite often medications are given at the same time to help combat this. Some other effects include; Hallucinations, disorientation and altered perception, the unborn baby or the mother may experience respiratory depression, may not relief any pain at all & it may inhibit the baby's suckling reflex, this will only last for a few hours.

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Here are a few simple tips to help you prepare for labour & also your stay in the hospital. Make a list of phone numbers that you may need on hand when the time comes. Keep them in several places just in case you forget where you put it, such as stuck to the fridge, in your wallet/purse, in the car & give a copy to a friend or family member. Time how far it takes to get to the hospital, and even try different routes to see which one is easier. Make sure you have all the information on the hospital you will be going to such as visiting hours, phone numbers & facilities available. Don't take valuables to the hospital as many don't provide a safe place for you to keep them. If you will be sharing shower facilities with other new Mums, be sure to take a pair of thongs to wear in the shower...trust me on this one!

Hopefully you have found this information useful & we wish you lots of luck on your journey to meeting your baby!