Baby - Sunday Pictures

What will labor be like?

There are three stages of labor and you will experience all of them but how it will be depends upon the size and position of your baby, your pelvic structure and certain biological events: how quickly your cervix effaces and dilates, how rapidly your contractions peak and fall. No two labors are the same.

The first stage of labor: The first stage of labor has three phases-latent, accelerated, and transitional. The latent phase, during which the cervix dilates 2 or 3 centimeters can last up to eight hours. In the accelerated phase, the cervix dilates more rapidly and can reach 7 or 8 centimeters in two to three hours. Finally, during the transitional phase, the cervix stretches to its full 10 centimeters in an hour or two. A first-expectant mother may experience twelve to fourteen hours of labor before her baby is born.

The second stage of labor: What a woman is doing in this second stage is pushing the baby out of the birth canal . If a woman is giving birth for first time, this stage may take two or more hours but in subsequent pregnancies, the pushing may only last for five to thirty minutes. Sometimes a woman sees her newborn after only two or three pushes.

The third stage of labor: The baby is a presence in the room, alive, breathing but a mother is not through with labor until she delivers the placenta.The third stage is considered the time from the birth of the baby to the expulsion of the placenta from the womb. Usually this takes from ten to fifteen minutes, but there is not set rule.

PICTURE	DESCRIPTION
	(top left) The cervix has thinned but is not yet dilated. (middle right) The cervix is fully dilated. The baby begins to push his head into the birth canal. (middle left) The baby usually turns to come out through his mother's narrow passage. Note the shape of the baby's head. (bottom right) Once the baby's head is out the rest of the delivery should pass by relatively quickly.

What is a contraction?

Contractions happen when the uterine muscle contracts and feels hard then relaxes and feels soft. These contractions will come and go. You may or may not feel pain in your abdomen, upper legs, and lowe back. Contractions happen normally during pregnany. Contractions that happen too often can lead to preterm labor and cause your baby to be born too soon. How to feel a contraction? Feel your upper belly while lying down on your left side. If it is soft and you can easily press your fingertips in, this is not a contraction. If it is hard and you cannot press your fingertips in, this is a contraction. Steps of Self-Palpation Self Palpation is a helpful way for you to check to see if you are having too many contractions. Follow these steps once a day or anytime you have signs of preterm labor. Begin at about 24weeks. Drink 1-2 cups of water, juice, or milk Go to the bathroom (urinate) Lie on your left side using pillows for support Put your fingertips on the top of your belly.

Feel and time contractions for one hour. Write down: 1. How long your contractions last. 2. How far apart your contractions are. Ask your care provider when to call about contractions. Always call if you are confused about what you are feeling.