Publication
Childbirth today
Childbirth is a wonderful event in the life of every woman who has the blessing of having a child. It is natural for expectant mothers to be frightened at the thought of giving birth; yet, when they experience feelings of love and joy the moment their baby is born, they realise that everything they went through was worth it.
Natural childbirth begins spontaneously between the 37th and the 42nd completed week of pregnancy.
This natural process has 3 stages, and knowing them is important, I believe, for a woman preparing to bring a child into the world. These stages are as follows:
- The stage of dilation
- The stage of expulsion
- The stage of delivery of the placenta
In the first stage, the cervix begins to open gradually, until it reaches 10 cm and allows the baby to pass through. Within this process, which can last from hours to days, there are two phases: the latent phase (up to 3 cm) and the active phase of labour (after 3 cm). Personally, I recommend admission to the maternity unit during the active phase of labour.
In the second stage, the mother pushes her baby out - a process that lasts up to an hour for a first-time mother and 15-20 minutes for a woman who has given birth before. Here the doctor decides whether or not an episiotomy (an incision in the perineum) will be performed.
In the third stage the placenta is delivered, within a period of a few minutes up to 40 minutes.
All of this is a unique experience for the couple, and the purpose of good information is to dispel every fear a modern expectant mother may have. Awareness of our own body, the support of those around us, and trust in the doctor - the guide at the moment of birth - are important factors for a normal delivery, free of insecurity, fear and uncertainty.
