Labour & Delivery

Labor is the precursor of delivery. Labor is the contractions of the uterus which is painful and is followed by delivery. Labor process helps the cervix to dilate so that it can facilitate delivery of the baby by making passage for the movement of baby via the birth canal. The doctor gives the estimated date of delivery, but it is not always on the same date. The labor can start two weeks earlier or later the estimated date of delivery. Certain
Hormonal changes at full term pregnancy are believed to start the process of labor; however, the exact reason is not known.

Labor process is not exactly same for every woman. Different woman experiences different signs of labor. Also it is evident that first labor is of longer duration than the subsequent ones.

What happen during the labor are muscle spasms of the uterus, discharge of blood mixed mucus from vagina, discharge of amniotic fluid via vagina resulting from the rupture of the amniotic sac. Sometimes, discharge of amniotic fluid takes place without any pain; this condition should be promptly brought under medical supervision to avoid any complication in the process of the delivery.

Labor pain is rated high on pain scale

Other prior complication such as high blood pressure and high blood sugar may be aggravated during the process of labor and pose problems during the delivery so must be taken care of.

Delivery is the natural outcome of labor. It marks the expulsion of fetus from the body of the mother. Placenta is expelled shortly after the expulsion of the fetus. Certain relaxation procedures and breathing exercises are believed to ease the process of delivery.

Vital signs such as pulse rate, blood pressure, etc are monitored during delivery. Heart rate of fetus is also monitored to avoid any complications.

There are various positions which are recommended during delivery; such as sitting, semi-sitting, and squatting. Each position has its own benefits. The mostly used position is semi-sitting position, as this helps the mother to push the baby outwards which is based on gravity principle. Position of delivery is generally the combined choice of doctor and the would-be mom.

There are two types of delivery- Vaginal delivery and Cesarean section or C-section.

Whether the delivery will be through vagina or by C-section totally depends upon the medical condition of mother and baby. Vaginal delivery is considered better over C-section. C-section is done only if genuinely needed to avoid certain complications. Vaginal delivery is preferred more than the C-section because generally it is free from any type of post delivery complications. In normal delivery mothers’ body stated to take their natural position soon after delivery as it is before pregnancy. And so mothers’ body came in their natural position in normal delivery earlier than the mothers’ body in cesarean case. C-section delivery imposes many food restrictions after delivery. Also C-section delivery imposes certain restriction to the exercising of mother after delivery and not preferred in normal conditions. But the pain in both type of delivery is nothing in front of the happiness that you would feel after holding the baby in your arms.

Pregnancy Kit