As individual as every person is, birth is also unique and announces itself in different ways. A natural birth always goes through four phases: The cervix dilates in the opening phase and the child turns into the starting position in the transition phase. It is finally born in the expulsion phase and the afterbirth phase, the placenta and the amniotic sac separate from the body. We will present the phases in more detail below.
Natural birth and its phases
With birth, the baby is expelled from the uterus The onset of birth is preceded by certain signs. That birth begins is shown by:
bleeding
a mucous plug comes off the cervix
Amniotic fluid, which is released either drop by drop or in a gush
Birth begins when regular contractions beginAs soon as contractions occur every 5-10 minutes, the expectant mother should go to a hospital or other facility where the child is to be delivered. Thanks to modern technology, there are now only minimal risks for mother and child. Pregnancy and birth monitoring is very good in Europe.
The natural path of a baby, which is intervened so that it can come into the world, is called Spontaneous birth However, it is never possible to predict exactly how a normal vaginal birth will take place. In individual cases, damage to the pelvic floor can occur due to the mechanics of the birth, but a prolapse of the uterus or vagina or injuries in the perineum area can also occur in individual cases.
Normally, a birth takes between four and 18 hours. It takes place in four phases:
opening phase
Transition phase
expulsion phase
Postpartum phase
1st phase: opening phase
The dilation phase is initiated when regular, strong contractions occur at short intervals. The uterus contracts with each contraction. In this way, the Baby's head pushed deeper into the pelvis. The cervix gradually opens under this pressure. This continues until it is wide enough for the baby's head to pass through. This can take several hours.
For first-time mothers, this phase lasts an average of 8-14 hours. For mothers who have already given birth, it takes around 6 hours.
2nd phase: transition phase
In the transition phase the child turns several times on the way through the birth canal. During the first phase, the opening phase, the baby's head slides across the pelvic girdle. This causes the baby to look to the side. For birth, however, the baby must face the mother's coccyx, i.e. backwards. This is because the baby's widest part, its shoulder girdle, must also be able to enter the pelvis.
The transition phase is a very intense, but also short part of the birth. During this phase, the contractions become irregular and intense.
3rd phase: expulsion phase
Strong contractions push the child slowly out during the expulsion phase. Since the birth canal is winding and narrow, the baby has to turn again. Otherwise it would not fit through. This stretches the cervix and the perineum extremely. Many mothers describe the expulsion phase as the most painful phase of birth.
The mother involuntarily presses the baby downwards with her abdominal muscles. First the head appears, then the shoulders and the rest of the body. So that the baby can breathe properly, the doctor or midwife removes the mucus from the newborn's face. The umbilical cord can now be cut and the first skin contact with the mother can take place.
The expulsion phase may only last a few contractions; for first-time mothers, it may take up to 2 hours until the birth is over.
4th phase: postpartum phase
Shortly after birth, the uterus begins to contract again. During this period, the placenta from the uterine wall. Together with the remains of the amniotic sac, it formed the afterbirth. With a few strong contractions, it is expelled and the midwife or doctor will check whether it has completely passed after birth. If any remains remain in the uterus, this can cause infections or severe bleeding. If necessary, the Afterbirth remains removed from the uterus by hand.
Alternative Caesarean section
A Caesarean section is a surgical procedure that has been medically established for many years. In this case, the baby is delivered from the Mother's body brought through the belly. A cesarean section is usually planned in advance, so there is a set day on which the cesarean section is performed. However, sometimes the cesarean section is also performed due to emergencies during natural birth. Indicators of this can be:
Size of baby and mother’s pelvis do not match
Placental abruption or placenta previa
Several caesarean sections in the past
Transverse position of the baby or breech position
Recovery of the mother after birth
After birth the uterus remains enlarged for some timeuntil it reaches almost the size it was before pregnancy. This process is accelerated by vaginal delivery and by breastfeeding. A hormone released during breastfeeding stimulates uterine muscle contractions. Therefore, it is possible that pain in the lower abdomen may be caused during breastfeeding.
The lochia follows the birth. This is a discharge of mucus, blood and uterine tissue. About 6-8 weeks after the birth, the inner layer of the uterus has completely healed. After all the strains of the emotional birth are over, the beautiful time begins for mother and child. With Birth cards the happy parents can inform their friends and relatives about it.
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