pregnancy, labor, and childbirth
TRANSCRIPT
Pregnancy, Labor, and Childbirth for 10th Graders
Meg Long
Overview• Pregnancy Overview• Truths about pregnancy• Complications of pregnancy• Stages of labor• The Miracle of Birth?• Strategies to Cope with labor• Things NOT to do during labor• Afterwards
Pregnancy: You’re practically glowing!
• Remember: Pregnancy is not all physical– Emotions will run wild along with your hormones
• Trimester 1– Weeks 1-12; extreme tiredness, morning sickness,
mood swings, constipation• Trimester 2– Weeks 13-28; body aches, stretch marks, swelling or
ankles, fingers, and face, itchiness• Trimester 3– Weeks 29-40; shortness of breath, heartburn, intense
swelling, hemorrhoids, trouble sleeping, tender breasts
Truths about Pregnancy• It is perfectly safe to have a home birth– Complicated/high risk pregnancies are an exception
• Being labeled as a “high risk” pregnancy patient does not necessarily mean you are high risk
• Pregnant teens do NOT have to drop out of school– The schoolwork with fatigue could be hard to manage
• Pregnant women experience no more depression than non-pregnant women
Pregnancy complications• Late pregnancies: Women older than
35 are more at risk for diabetes and high blood pressure
• Overweight: At risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, larger babies, and cesarean sections
• Abuse: At risk for losing baby, depression, fear
• Disability: Could be genetic• Addiction: Babies will be affected by
drug and alcohol use• Previous cesarean section: infection,
excess bleeding, longer recovery time
Stages of Labor: Contractions• Warm-up labor (false contractions)
– On and off for days or weeks!– 0-3cm dilation
• Stage 1: Latent Phase– A few hours, to a day or more– 0-5cm dilation
• Stage 1: Active Phase– Between 2-10 hours– 4-8cm dilation
• Stage 1:Transistion Phase– A few contractions 1-2 hours– 7-8cm dilation
Final Stages of Labor
• Stage 2: Pushing, giving birth– Few contractions over 3 hours– 10cm dilation– Contractions every 3 minutes– Woman will feel urge to push
• Stage 3: Delivery of Placenta– 10 minutes of less– No contractions, but strong cramps
• Stage 4: Recovery– 1-2 hours without complications– Mild to moderate cramps while uterus contracts
The Miracle of Birth?• Movies portray the birthing
process as clean and marvelous
• Although your baby is being born, it is far from a clean process– Feces, urine, and blood will
discharge from a laboring mother’s body
– It is painful; no other way to say it!
– Not every woman yells; some women stay very quiet to deal with pain
Strategies to Cope with Labor• My sister used hypno-breathing (hypnosis)– It really worked for her!
• Freedom to move during labor• Don’t lay flat during labor– Let gravity help you out a little bit
• Water is soothing during labor• Human touch– Have someone hold your hand
• Hot or cold packs• It’s completely up to the laboring mother as to what
makes her comfortable!
Things NOT to do during labor
• Laboring on your back– As stated previously, let gravity do it’s share of the work!
• Episiotomy– A surgical cut to enlarge vaginal opening– Can lead to tearing through to the anal sphincter
• Can lead to incontinence after birth, and prolonged bleeding
• Immediate clamping of umbilical cord– Deprives babies of up to one-third of their blood volume
• Can lead to anemia for several months up to birth
Congratulations! It’s a--• After labor, the mother should hold
baby while waiting for placenta• Start breastfeeding as soon as possible– Relaxes the woman’s body– Relieves pain– Calms newborn– You deserve to hold your child after that
labor process!• Although childbirth is a gruesome
process, staying positive and looking towards your goal is the best method for a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Discussion QuestionsHave you ever known someone that has had a high risk pregnancy? What was their mindset during pregnancy?
Citations• Pregnancy: Stages of Pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2016, from
http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.html#a
• Office on Women's Health Why breastfeeding is important. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2016, from http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-benefits.html