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Medical Video: I Got Pregnant At 15 And My BF Is Shocked
Worried you will give birth yourself, at home or in a taxi passenger seat, before you go to the hospital - like in a soap opera?
In the real world, there is very little chance that you will suddenly give birth yourself without the help of a medical professional (especially if this is your first pregnancy) - most emergency births occur in women who have had a baby before.
But pregnancy and childbirth are life phenomena full of surprises. That is why in rare complicated situations where you do not have time to go to the delivery room, first understand what to do if you have to give birth yourself will help minimize your panic.
What should I do if I have to give birth myself?
Every symptom of labor for each woman will be different. But if you experience strong contractions that occur once every three to four minutes, you can see vaginal discharge that is slightly bleeding (mucus clogging the vaginal opening), ruptured membranes, abdominal cramps and severe lumbago, and has a strong urge to push, these are signs classically that labor is in sight.
READ ALSO: List Must Be Prepared When Birth Time Is Near
1. Emergency telephone (118/119)
Alternative: Emergency Ambulance Jakarta Health Office (6221) 65303118
If you don't have time to get to the hospital, call an emergency. Give your name, address, and telephone number to you and your immediate family. Tell the emergency operator about the details of your pregnancy: how many weeks of your pregnancy, and that you will give birth to an emergency, so that midwives and ambulances can be sent as soon as possible. Change the telephone mode to the loud speaker and let the operator guide you through the birth of your baby. Ask the operator to contact your doctor / midwife and hospital.
If you are truly alone at home, call neighbors, mothers, complex security guards, or anyone who can come as soon as possible to accompany you during labor. But if you are in a car, pull over carefully and move to the back seat.
Do not lock the door of the car (or home) so that emergency personnel can enter easily, or get out of the car and find the closest safe place.
2. Stay calm
Giving birth alone in unfamiliar situations and locations sounds very scary, but as much as possible keep yourself calm. Remember, your body is designed to deal with birth naturally. If you are worried that your baby will be born breech, understand that babies born quickly usually do not experience this problem because they are positioned in the ideal position "head first". Try three short and fast breaths, and one long blow. This trick might be able to extend your baby's birth for a few minutes until reinforcements arrive.
Take towels, sheets, blankets, soft carpets, clothes, or any absorbent that is relatively soft. Place one below where you are lying and another is ready in range to dry the baby after he is born. Lie on your left side, or move on all fours and bring your chest down to your knees. Your face must be near the floor, and the buttocks are lifted in the air. This position can ease the urge to push.
READ ALSO: Various Causes of Babies Born Dead (Stillbirth)
3. Position yourself
If labor is not possible to delay, wash your hands and vaginal area with soap. Take a bucket of warm water and at least four clean cloths, which you can use to wash your baby and keep it warm.
Lie on your left side or on your back with a refutation pillow under your left hip to avoid a truly flat childbirth position (you can hang a blanket on your knees to cover your buttocks if this makes you feel more comfortable). At home, sitting on the edge of the bed with your feet propped up on a chair is a good position because this simulates the position you will be in at the hospital. This position is important so that you do not clamp the vena cava. The weight of your baby and uterus when pressing this vein will reduce blood flow, making you both feel sick.
READ ALSO: Normal Childbirth: Here's the Process and Stages
While you are taking a position, ask your companion (whoever is with you at that time) to collect more blankets and towels to dry the baby and wrap it after birth, and be available near you to catch the baby when he is born.
4. Focus on birth
If you feel the urge to push, go ahead. After your baby's head appears to the world, (if you are alone) or your companion must embrace the baby's head with both hands as best as possible. Don't try to close your legs or try to hold the baby's head in order to extend the time of birth. This can result in injury. Don't pull it forcibly, and just push it during a contraction. If you find the umbilical cord wrapped around your baby's neck, stick one finger in between and slowly loosen enough to get past the head without breaking it. If the rope is tightly wrapped around his neck, just leave it first and don't pull it out. You can release it after the baby is born.
READ ALSO: 4 Things You Need To Do On Baby Umbilical Cord After Birth
Wait for your baby's body to appear after the next contraction. Babies will feel slippery from amniotic fluid, blood and mucus involved in labor (all this is normal!). Ready stock towels can help you "catch" babies better. NOTE: If the umbilical cord appears first before the baby's head (you or your companion can see or feel it), move to all fours and make sure to mention this condition to the ambulance crew as soon as they arrive. This is an umbilical cord prolapse and is considered an emergency.
The baby is born, what should I do next?
1. Make sure that he is fine
Most babies born on time have a good heart rate after birth, and breathe on their own in one minute or more. Healthy babies often have a blackish blue tinge on their skin at first, have good muscle tone, and immediately cry. If your baby is like this, keep keeping it dry and warm. Bring him to the stomach or chest; skin to skin contact will keep him warm and calm.
Use a dry and clean towel to dry the body. Then, wrap your baby in a clean, new towel. Talk to him, and breathe on his face. Wipe on the side along the nose to squeeze out mucus or liquid trapped inside. Then with a little energy, rub the back side of the ribcage up and down while keeping the head lower than the legs until the baby starts breathing. This drying will usually make the baby cry, which is important immediately after birth - helping your baby clean his lungs.
If he is purple or gray throughout his body, your baby may have difficulty breathing. You can try blowing his face to surprise him into breathing. But if it doesn't work, pinch the nose slowly and close its mouth with your mouth, and give five light-made breaths per 2-3 seconds. Check his chest to move up and down with each breath. Most babies will respond to this and start breathing normally.
2. First breastfeeding initiation
After the baby is really frizzy, you can release it from the towel and immediately bring the naked body to your stomach or there you are. You both have to stay warm with a blanket or coat. You must continue to lie on your left side. Trying to breastfeed as soon as the baby is born is a great way to help you and your baby recover quickly. Breastfeeding will trigger the release of oxytocin and help your uterus contract (which will help the placenta escape faster and help prevent heavy bleeding).
3. Don't pull or cut the umbilical cord and the placenta itself
The release of the placenta can take around 20 minutes to one hour after birth. While waiting, you will lose enough blood. Looks terrible, but don't panic. This is normal, as well as a sign that the placenta has escaped from the uterus. Do not forcefully pull the placenta or baby's umbilical cord. If the placenta is released before the ambulance crew arrives, you can place it in clean plastic. If you have a thread, like a clean shoelace, you can tie the umbilical cord, but don't approach 10 centimeters from the baby's belly.
While you are waiting for medical help, make sure to always stay warm. This is important for both of you. One of the main complications of an emergency delivery is hypothermia in the baby, so after he is born, it will be very important to keep him warm and dry. If you are alone, you must also remain focused to always be alert and alert. You can try massaging the uterus by rubbing your stomach just below the navel; firm full of energy. This will help the uterus shrink back as usual.
