Vaginal Delivery | Labour & Birth 👶🏻🤱🏻

Summary

This video explains the stages and movements involved in vaginal birth, focusing on labor and delivery. It covers the three stages of labor: the first stage ends with full cervix dilation, the second with the birth of the fetus, and the third with placenta delivery. The script also describes the cardinal movements of labor, including engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion, all of which contribute to the baby’s passage through the birth canal. The final stage involves placenta delivery, assisted by mild contractions. The process is explained in a clear and detailed manner.

Takeaways

• 😀 Labor and delivery is the process of giving birth, involving contractions that help the cervix change for the baby to come out.
• 😀 The labor process consists of three stages: dilation of the cervix, delivery of the fetus, and delivery of the placenta.
• 😀 The first stage of labor ends when the cervix is completely dilated to 10 cm.
• 😀 The second stage of labor ends with the delivery of the fetus.
• 😀 The third stage of labor ends with the delivery of the placenta.
• 😀 During the first stage, uterine contractions help thin and open the cervix, making room for the baby.
• 😀 Engagement refers to the fetal head moving down into the pelvis to enter the birth canal.
• 😀 The cardinal movements of labor include engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion.
• 😀 Internal rotation helps align the baby's head with the mother's pelvis for smoother passage.
• 😀 Extension occurs as the fetal head lifts, allowing the widest part of the head to pass through the birth canal.
• 😀 Expulsion is the final stage of labor, where the rest of the baby is delivered, followed by the placenta, typically within 10-30 minutes.

Q & A

What is the process of labor and delivery?

Labor and delivery is the process of giving birth to a fetus and placenta. It involves progressive contractions of the uterus that cause changes in the cervix to allow the fetus to be delivered.

How many stages are there in labor?

There are three stages of labor: the first stage, which ends when the cervix is fully dilated at 10 cm; the second stage, which ends with the delivery of the fetus; and the third stage, which ends with the delivery of the placenta.

What happens during the first stage of labor?

During the first stage, the uterus contracts rhythmically, causing the cervix to thin, shorten, and open wider until it reaches 10 cm of dilation, allowing for the fetus to pass through.

What is the significance of the cervix reaching 10 cm dilation?

The cervix must reach 10 cm of dilation for a vaginal birth to occur, as it provides enough space for the fetus to pass through the birth canal.

What are the cardinal movements of labor?

The cardinal movements of labor include engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion. These movements help guide the fetus through the birth canal.

What is engagement in the context of labor?

Engagement refers to the process when the baby's head moves down into the pelvis and enters the pelvic inlet, preparing for delivery.

What is the role of descent and flexion during labor?

Descent occurs when the fetal head moves downward into the birth canal, while flexion involves the baby tucking its chin into the chest to make the head smaller and more easily fit through the birth canal.

What is internal rotation, and why is it important?

Internal rotation occurs when the baby's head turns to face the lower back or front of the mother's pelvis, allowing the head to fit well through the birth canal. If this rotation does not occur, the delivery can be more difficult and complicated.

What happens during the extension stage of labor?

During the extension stage, the fetal head lifts and extends backward, allowing the widest part of the head to pass through the narrowest part of the birth canal. This is facilitated by the mother's pushing and pressure from the pubic symphysis.

What is the final stage of the cardinal movements of labor?

The final stage is expulsion, where the rest of the fetus is delivered, usually one shoulder at a time, followed by the rest of the body.

How is the placenta delivered after the birth of the fetus?

After the fetus is born, the placenta is delivered during the third stage of labor. Mild contractions help separate the placenta from the uterine wall and expel it from the body. Healthcare providers may assist by pulling on the umbilical cord and applying pressure on the abdomen.