The appearance of a child in a woman’s life is a very significant event. Some say that after the birth of the long-awaited child, they find the meaning of life. However, not all women know how to properly prepare for pregnancy and childbirth in order to get a minimum of damage to their own health and the health of the baby. But in vain, because childbirth is a natural, physiological process that can take place calmly and almost painlessly. What it may depend on and what are the most common pathologies in the process of childbirth will be considered further.
Protracted labor
The birth process begins with the appearance of regular contractions. At this moment, the expectant mother needs to pinpoint time.
Every year, a woman in labor is given less and less time to successfully give birth to her baby independently and without medical intervention.
If earlier doctors waited 18 hours before the start of the active phase of childbirth, now this time is gradually decreasing to 8-10 hours.
Surprisingly, 50 years ago, obstetricians calmly reacted to fights that last about a day. The same applies to the outflow of water, before the woman in labor was given more than a day to give birth on her own in the absence of amniotic fluid.
Now it is strictly forbidden to wait for the appearance of attempts for more than 10-12 hours, the risk of infection increases, and the expectant mother will be prescribed an urgent antibiotic.
Obstetricians explain such changes in the permissible terms of labor with the fact that they began to better understand the birth process. Long births, as a rule, have a reason, and modern doctors have learned to notice this reason and eliminate it in time. Experts are not always able to evaluate all possible factors that affect the course of pregnancy and childbirth, so a modern mother needs to be able to monitor her own health and emotional state herself.
Causes of prolonged labor
Why is it important to be registered with a gynecologist during pregnancy? Because the specialist can monitor the condition of the woman, check the tests in order to avoid problems with the course and development of labor. There are some factors that most often affect the course of childbirth, namely:
- Endured abortions and missed pregnancies.
- Large fruit.
- Polyhydramnios or multiple pregnancy.
- Stretching the muscles of the uterus.
- Inflammatory processes of the external genitalia.
- Too early or, conversely, late pregnancy (in relation to the age of the woman in childbirth).
- Endocrine pathology of a woman in childbirth.
Usually one of these points is the reason for preparing for a difficult birth. Expectant mothers should pay attention to the fact that a hereditary factor may participate in the development of labor.
If your mother or grandmother had a difficult and protracted birth, then this fate will probably overtake you.
A significant role is played by the emotional component of the future mother. Everyone knows that the hormone oxytocin stimulates labor, it is very important in the process of opening the uterus. The production of oxytocin can block fear and anxiety; in this state, adrenaline is actively produced, which also prevents delivery.
Hungry Fights
Many girls preparing for childbirth are wondering: is it worth eating during contractions? Naturally, we are talking about initial, weak contractions, and not when “sparks” fly out of our eyes. In this situation, you need to make a decision based on your condition and feelings. During labor, women in childbirth often feel sick, and therefore doctors advise against eating and drinking very little. But you do not need to bring yourself to hungry faints, because fights take up a lot of energy.
Hunger can provoke the production of adrenaline, thereby inhibiting the birth process.
Therefore, it is important to listen to your body: if you feel hungry - quench it, otherwise childbirth may be delayed. In no case do not overeat, especially if strong fights have begun. The same applies to drinking, it is advisable to just wet your lips, and then frequent trips to the toilet will not bother you.
Cold Fights
During fights, you need to try to relax as much as possible, but how can this be achieved when the body is pierced by cold and teeth clatter? That's right, you need a warm and comfortable birth chamber. In some “advanced” maternity hospitals, you can turn on your favorite music, there is a bathtub in the ward, which is allowed to be taken during labor, in general, all conditions are created so that a woman in labor can relax and feel safe.
Not for nothing several decades ago it was customary to give birth in bathhouses.
In the modern world, it is difficult to meet cold birth chambers, this is under special control. But the situations are different, so the expectant mother can bring warm clothes and socks with her to be calm.
External factors
Michel Auden, a specialist in successful delivery, describes a few simple rules that you must follow to make delivery easy. First of all, he is sure that the woman in labor should relax as much as possible and “turn off” the brain. When the activity of the cerebral cortex is reduced to zero, the hypothalamus begins to work intensively, which contributes to a successful and easy delivery.
How to “disconnect” the cerebral cortex and neocortex? It is necessary to create suitable conditions:
- Minimize conversations. This applies to people accompanying the woman in childbirth, you should not try to talk to her, you will only harm this. For processing and perception of speech, the neocortex is very tense.
- Darken the room. Bright light instantly activates the neocortex, so it is advisable to close your eyes, if possible, shutter the windows and turn off the light.
- Create silence. It often happens that the delivery rooms are busy, and women in labor are crowding in the next room, waiting for the full opening of the uterus. Extraneous sounds, moans of pregnant women, the cry of a woman giving birth and loud conversations of staff can stimulate the cerebral cortex.
- The neocortex “wakes up” during anxiety from the sensation of surveillance. That is why obstetricians do not sit holding a woman in labor by the handle, but periodically leave and leave the room.
Of course, you need to be wise to all recommendations. If a woman in labor wants to hold someone's hand, listen to music or chat, then you should not dissuade her. A woman herself does not always understand what can interfere with her and harm the course of childbirth.
