Normal Delivery
What is Normal Delivery?
It is defined as a natural way of bringing the baby into this world. It is not difficult to have natural and normal childbirth unless you have some medical complications. The vaginal birth process helps in having a healthy baby and a quick recovery.
What are the signs and symptoms of Normal Delivery?
You may experience changes a few weeks before the expected due date. However, the signs vary from one woman to another and from pregnancy to pregnancy.
Symptoms that appear one to four weeks before labour:
Symptoms that appear days or hours before labour:
The delivery of a full-term newborn refers to delivery at a gestational age of 37-42 weeks, as determined by the last menstrual period or via ultrasonographic dating and evaluation. The Naegel rule is a commonly used formula to predict the due date based on the date of the last menstrual period. This rule assumes a menstrual cycle of 28 days and mid-cycle ovulation. Ultrasonographic dating can be more accurate, especially when it is performed early in pregnancy and is used to corroborate or modify a due date based on the last menstrual period.
approximately 11% of singleton pregnancies are delivered preterm and 10% of all deliveries are postterm. Thus, nearly 80% of newborns are delivered at full term, although only 3-5% of deliveries occur on the estimated due date
Why should you prefer Normal Delivery?
Giving birth to a baby is a natural process, and the human body is designed for it. Healthy women may not even require painkillers or epidural.
Here are a few points which will tell you why you should keep your delivery as natural as possible:
Epidural leads to medical interventions: Epidural disconnects you from the natural push action, so doctors give uterine stimulants or assist delivery by vacuum or forceps.
Shorter Labour: Painkillers and epidurals slow down the contractions and increase the total labouring period. When you don’t feel the contractions, you will not know when to push and cannot progress to the labouring stage.
Healthier for both mom and baby: Normal delivery requires a short recovery time. Babies receive protective bacteria from the birth canal, which helps build their immune system. It also decreases the risk of respiratory diseases. Facilitates breastfeeding: Usually delivered babies adapt to breastfeeding with ease. Also the pain relievers given in C-section deliveries pass on to the baby through breastfeeding. Shorter hospital stay: Vaginal birth entails a shorter hospital stay and recovery time comparing to C-section.
What is the Process of a Normal Delivery?
Stage 1: It consists of three phases: Latent: this phase last from six to ten hours in first-time pregnancy and cervix dilates from 0-4 cm during this phase. Active: This phase last from three to six hours in first-time pregnancy and for a lesser time in the subsequent deliveries. Transition: This phase last from 20 minutes to 2 hours in the first-time pregnancy and lesser duration the subsequent pregnancies. Stages 2: This stage begins with a fully dilated cervix, and it lasts from half-an-hour to two hours in first-time pregnancy and reduces in subsequent births. Stage 3: In this stage, the placenta is removed from the body, and it usually takes about a few minutes to half-an-hour.