Normal Delivery: Its Signs, Process and Tips
Normal Delivery: Its Signs, Process, and Tips
Normal delivery is 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 conditions. Moreover, the natural birth procedure helps in having a healthy baby and recovering rapidly for the new mom.
Though there is no formula or shortcut to have a normal delivery, some measures can improve your chances of having a healthy and natural delivery.
What Factors Improve Your Chances Of A Normal Delivery?
Certain factors determine your capability to have a normal delivery. They may not guarantee a 100% result though. You will have enlarged chances if:
- You have an ideal weight, as being overweight could increase the chances of having a large baby and lower the chances of normal delivery.
- Your pregnancy is going smoothly without any complications.
- You are physically active all through your pregnancy. The more physically fit you are, the higher are the chances of a usual birth.
Signs and Symptoms of Normal Delivery:
Changes may happen a few weeks before the expected due date. And your doctor asks you to be on the lookout for these signs as they indicate labor. However, the signs may vary from one woman to another and from pregnancy to pregnancy.
Pre-labor signs and symptoms that appear one to four weeks before labor:
- Lack of coordination in movements as the baby descends lower into the pelvic region
- Loosened joints as relaxing hormone soften and loosens the ligaments and joints in the pelvic Early labor signs and symptoms that appear days or hours before labor:
- Vaginal discharge increases and becomes thicker in consistency
- More frequent and stronger contractions that progress with time
Advanced Labor Signs and Symptoms:
- Intensifying back pain
- Vaginal bleeding
- Warm sensation in the abdomen
- Increasing contractions
- Severe pains from contractions that continue for almost 40 to 60 seconds
Why Should You Prefer Normal Delivery?
The answer is easy-birthing is a natural procedure and the human body is designed for it. Leave alone a C-section, healthy women may not even necessitate painkillers or epidural. Unfortunately, some health practitioners presuppose that laboring women would require pain medications, or simply recommend a C-section to avoid pain and trouble.
What Is The Process Of A Normal Delivery?
Normal childbirth is divided into three stages.
Stage 1: It consists of three phases – latent, active, and transition – where the uterus effaces and dilates.
- Early or Latent Phase: Cervix Dilates From 0-4cm
This initial step lasts from six to ten hours in a first-time pregnancy. In some cases, it can be longer or shorter.
What Will You Experience?
- The cervix thins out and opens by 3-4cm.
- Contractions become frequent, happen irregularly between five and 30 minutes, and last for 30 to 45 seconds.
- Abdominal discomfort is followed by a slightly pink discharge. This is the time you may be admitted to the hospital and frequently checked for the degree of dilation.
Stage 2: The baby is pushed out and delivered.
This stage begins with a fully dilated cervix. It lasts between half-an-hour and two hours in first-time pregnancies and decreases in subsequent births.
What Will You Experience?
- The body transits from dilating to pushing.
- The baby makes her way down through the pelvic region and birth canal.
- The soft spots on the baby’s head, called fontanels, allow the body to fit through the birth canal.
Tips for Normal Delivery:
- Stay away from stress
- Stay positive and refrain from negative birth stories
- Acquire knowledge about birthing
- Build a strong support system