Contents:
- Medical Video: 8 Things A New Mom Should Know About Giving Birth
- 1. What physical changes will I experience before labor?
- 2. What are my characteristics about giving birth?
- 3. How does the labor take place?
- 4. What needs to be done since feeling heartburn?
- 5. What is a good push position?
- 6. What is the feature if the opening of the birth canal is complete?
- 7. What will the midwife or doctor do as soon as the baby comes out?
- 8. What are the signs of a baby being born healthy?
Medical Video: 8 Things A New Mom Should Know About Giving Birth
Towards labor, it is natural that many pregnant women feel anxious, especially if this is their first birth. But there is no need to worry, by answering all questions and worries about labor, pregnant women will usually be ready when the time for delivery arrives later.
Here are some things that are often asked about childbirth.
1. What physical changes will I experience before labor?
In the first pregnancy, the fetus will begin to fall down and the head enters your pelvic cavity approximately after 32 weeks of gestation. You will feel easier to breathe, sleep better, and urinate more often because the fetus is increasingly pressing on the bladder.
However, in the second and subsequent pregnancies, the new baby's head usually falls before birth.
You will also often feel pain like cramping in the lower abdomen because the uterus is slightly stretched. This cramping will occur repeatedly but irregular schedule. Then, the vagina will also become wet or moist.
2. What are my characteristics about giving birth?
When the time of delivery is almost here, you will experience:
- Sense of heartburn from the back pelvis to the front. At first it was weak and the distance was long, but then it gradually became stronger and the distance became shorter, until it finally became regular when the time of delivery arrived.
- The uterus feels tight when touched, especially during heartburn.
- Out of mucus mixed with blood from the birth canal.
- Clear yellowish amniotic fluid from the birth canal.
3. How does the labor take place?
The labor process consists of 4 times, namely:
- When 1: the time needed to open the cervix to a complete opening of 10 cm2. At the birth of the first child, the opening of the birth canal until complete lasts 12-18 hours. At the birth of the second child and so on, this opening is usually faster, which is 6-8 hours from the onset of heartburn until the baby is born.
- When 2: when the fetus is released, that is when the uterus is helped by the power of heartburn and strength of straining, pushing the baby to birth.
- Stage 3: release time and discharge of placenta.
- When 4: 1-2 hours after the birth of the placenta (placenta).
4. What needs to be done since feeling heartburn?
- Urinate as often as possible so that the opening of the birth canal is not disturbed. A full bladder will suppress the uterus so that the movement of the uterine muscles is disrupted.
- Take a light walk if possible.
- When heartburn increases, take a deep breath through your nose and remove it by mouth.
- Don't push if the opening is not complete.
- Eat and drink between heartburn as usual if possible. If you can't, try drinking. This needs to be done so that you have the energy to push later.
5. What is a good push position?
A good position to push is according to your wishes and comfort, but there are some good positions that can be done.
- Sitting or half sitting, often the most comfortable position, also makes it easier for the doctor or midwife to lead labor when the baby's head is out and in observing the perineum.
- Menungging or crawling position, good if you feel the baby's head held on his back. This position is also beneficial for babies who are difficult to spin.
- Squat or stand up. This position helps to reduce the head if labor is slow or if you are unable to push.
- Lie on the left side of the body. This position is comfortable and can prevent you from straining when the opening is not complete.
A position that is not good for you is lying straight on your back, because it can cause pressure on the blood vessels that deliver blood to the fetus and you.
6. What is the feature if the opening of the birth canal is complete?
When the opening of the birth canal is complete, you will feel like you will defecate. If this happens, the midwife or doctor will ask you to push like during a bowel movement, every feeling of heartburn arises.
When the heartburn is gone, you are not allowed to push. Take a break, take a breath, interspersed with a drink for rehydration.
After straining several times, the baby's head will be pushed out and the baby will be born. For the first child, the maximum push time is 2 hours, while for the second child and so on a maximum of 1 hour.
7. What will the midwife or doctor do as soon as the baby comes out?
- Dry the baby's body and clean the baby's mouth and nose on your stomach.
- Cut and care for the umbilical cord.
- Warm or wrap a baby and give it to you for breastfeeding immediately.
- Helps you to remove the placenta which is usually born 15 minutes after the baby is born.
- Checking the integrity of the placenta that comes out so that there is nothing left in the uterus, to prevent the occurrence of bleeding during the puerperium.
8. What are the signs of a baby being born healthy?
Babies who have just been born are said to be healthy if:
- Cry soon
- Instantly breathing
- Many moves
- Pink skin color
- Weight 2.5 kg or more
