Deliveries

Normal Delivery

What is Normal Delivery?

Normal Delivery is the birth of a young one through the natural process of labour in which there is a vaginal birth of the infant. It is non-intrusive and as nature had planned.

Signs and Symptoms of Normal Childbirth

• A young healthy woman can comfortably go through normal childbirth. Active lifestyle, normal blood pressure and position of the foetus are all indicative of a normal delivery.
• Between 30 to 34 weeks, the foetus changes position to a cephalic or head down position ready for delivery. When viewed, it looks as if the baby’s position has moved down.
• The urge to urinate will increase as the pressure from the baby’s head presses down the pelvic region and squeezes the bladder.
• There will be an ache in the lower back as the foetus starts putting pressure on it (lower back). This because the foetus is positioning itself to get into the cephalic (Head down) position.
• You may notice an increase in the vaginal discharge. It could be white or pink and sometimes even a bit bloodstained. It is a usual sign of a healthy, normal pregnancy.
• Upset bowel movement is caused as there is a surge in the hormonal activity. There might be some cramps and discomfort due to this.
• Soreness of the breasts is also indicative of normal childbirth. As you reach the final stage, it may feel heavy and uncomfortable.
• The breaking of the water bag usually takes place during labour. Sometimes it might happen even before the onset of labour. The doctor’s advice should be taken immediately.

Complicated Delivery

Some problems (complications) that women develop during pregnancy can cause problems during labor or delivery. For example, preeclampsia (high blood pressure with protein in the urine) may lead to premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus (placental abruption) and problems in the newborn.

Some problems develop or become obvious during labor or delivery. Such problems include:

• Amniotic fluid embolism (the fluid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus enters the woman’s bloodstream, sometimes causing a life-threatening reaction in the woman)

Shoulder dystocia (the fetus's shoulder lodges against the woman's pubic bone, and the baby is caught in the birth canal)

• Labor that starts too early (preterm labor) or too late (postterm pregnancy)
• Labor that progresses too slowly
• Prolapsed umbilical cord (the umbilical cord comes out of the birth canal before the baby)
• Nuchal cord (the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck)
• A fetus that is too large to pass through the birth canal (pelvis and vagina)—called fetopelvic disproportion

Cesarean Delivery

Cesarean delivery is a procedure in which an infant is delivered through an incision made in a woman's abdomen and uterus, rather than being born via the vagina.

Fast facts on cesarean delivery

• In the United States, 31.9 percent of births are carried out through cesarean delivery.
• They may be carried out if there is an emergency with the fetus or if the mother has complicating conditions, among other reasons.
• The procedure carries the risk of wound infection and blood clots.
• It can take between 2 and 4 days to recover from a cesarean birth.

In a cesarean delivery, a cut is made across the abdomen and womb while the mother is under an epidural or spinal anesthetic. Only in few cases is the mother under general anesthesia. The cut is normally between 10 and 20 centimeters (cm) in length.
With the epidural or spinal anesthesia, the lower body of the mother will remain pain-free despite not being unconscious, although they may experience a tugging or pulling sensation.
A drape is sometimes set up to block the view of the operation for the mother, as this could cause distress despite not being painful. Some hospitals allow the use of a drape that you can see through. Talk with your doctor to see if this is an option at your hospital. The birth doctor, or obstetrician, and midwives will keep the mother informed about progress as they operate.
Women who have undergone a cesarean delivery with previous deliveries may be candidates for vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC). However, this option is not recommended for all women and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Cesarean delivery may be planned in advance or unplanned for a multitude of reasons.
Below is a 3-D model of cesarean birth, which is fully interactive.
Explore the model using your mouse pad or touchscreen to understand more about cesarean delivery.