Stages of Labor Part 3
Labor Stages: Delivering The Placenta, Final Results Almost immediately after you have finished giving birth to your new bundle of joy your uterus will start to retract and the first few contractions will dislodge the placenta. This usually only takes one push to expel the uterus and in most cases you won’t even feel it and is usually over in less than 10 minutes. If you're planning to breastfeed, you can even start right now. In fact the earlier you start the better. If you are not managing to successfully breastfeed right away don’t worry, not all babies are eager…
Stages of Labor Part 2
Labor Stages: Pushing Baby Out Once your cervix has reached the point where it is fully dilated at 10cm then we start with the next stage of labor: pushing. At the start of this stage your contractions may become less frequent, so use this time to rest up and get back as much energy as you can. The sensation to push depends on how your baby is sitting. Those whose baby's are sitting lower tend to have the involuntary feeling of wanting to push as opposed to those whose baby's are sitting higher up. If your baby is still sitting…
Stages Of Labor
Stages Of Labor And Childbirth We have broken the different stages of labor up into 3 separate stages, each having their own experiences. For first time pregnancies the average duration of pregnancy is around 37 weeks and labor lasts for around 17 hours, although it may be closer to 20 hours. This is very different for women who have had previous children though as the average labor is then around 8 hours. First stage: Early labor Once you start experiencing contractions at regular intervals and your cervix begins to dilate and efface (thinning), then we can say that labor has…
Braxton Hicks
Usually pregnant women notice Braxton Hicks because they have brushed their bellies with their hands - and notice that it has tightened, while other moms will notice the tight feeling without having to feel it with their hands. Some women only notice them because they find them to be uncomfortable. Braxton Hicks contractions, which are more commonly known as false labor or practice contractions. Braxton Hicks are sporadic uterine contractions which will usually start around 6 weeks - although you may not feel them that early, but you will start to feel them around the second trimester of your pregnancy.…
Labor Signs
Common Signs And Symptoms Of Labor Knowing what the early symptoms and signs of labor are will ensure that when you do start labor you will know what are true symptoms of labor and what are just symptoms of Braxton Hicks. Lets look at the funamental differences between real labor and Braxton Hicks. Labor Sign : Your baby drops As you approach your due date you may feel your baby drop into your lower stomach. This new position will lower your center of gravity and allow you to breathe a little easier. Your baby may drop just before labor begins,…
Ruptured Membranes
Ruptured Membranes - What It Means & What You Should Do If you are leaking fluid, it can often be very difficult to tell if you are leaking urine or amniotic fluid as a result of having ruptured membranes. In most cases you will probably be leaking urine, and only 3 percent of pregnant women will go into premature labor (before 37 weeks) as a result of ruptured membranes. There are many different ways to tell the difference, but none are a definite answer. The main way of would be to tell would be to smell it - of course…