How to behave during labor and childbirth: useful tips for young mothers. How to behave during childbirth

This table is best printed out and kept in front of your eyes when labor begins.
The table was compiled based on the materials of the lectures of the childbirth preparation school at the Spaso-Perovsky hospital.
Latent (hidden) phase of childbirth (contractions):

time - 30 sec. int. 20 minutes. 1 minute. int. 5-7 min.

breathing - deep chest, nose (you can use your mouth, if convenient)

What is possible! - Do household chores. Walk, sing, breathe. Take a shower, bath. Do an enema: warm, acidified with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for 1.5-2 liters. Drink tea with thyme. At the end of this phase, go to the hospital!

What is impossible! - Scream. Sit. Lie down (at the end of the hidden phase). Drink a lot. There is.

Active phase of labor (contractions):

time - 2 min. int. 2-3 min.

breathing - Slow deep breathing (4 counts inhale - 6 counts exhale), with acceleration at the peak of the contraction (dog-like upper lungs)

What is possible! Walk, sing, breathe. Listen to music. Relax! Save your strength! Pain relief massage. Rinse your mouth with water.

What is impossible! - Scream. Sit. Lie. Drink. There is.

Transitional phase of labor (pre-pull effort):

time - 2 min. int.1-2 min.

breathing - Deep, chest, diaphragm, pushing the baby to the exit.

What is possible! - Walk. Squat. Stand on all fours.

What is impossible! – push

Phase of exile (attempts):

time - 3-5 minutes.

breathing - With the beginning of the fight, take in air, push only in the perineum, exhale the air to the end. Repeat three times per fight. When the head was born, breathe "like a dog" and only with your mouth.

What is possible! - Listen to the midwife. Relax in between, breathe deeply. Relax your stomach. Moisten your mouth, lips.

What is impossible! - Push in the head. Scream. Flatten your legs

Birth of the placenta:

time - 15-30 min.

breathing is free. You can push for air.

What is possible! - Push, cough.

What is impossible! - Pull on the umbilical cord. Hurry

Pain relieving breath during childbirth

At the end of the latent (latent) phase of labor, contractions become more frequent and more painful. At this stage, you can begin to apply anesthetic breathing. It looks like this.
Inhale through the nose counting: 1-2-3-4 - exhale through the mouth: 1-2-3-4-5-6, that is, the exhalation is one and a half times longer than the inhalation. This system is called slow deep breathing. A longer exhalation avoids hyperventilation of the lungs, while at the same time the baby receives more oxygen, and the mother relaxes and distracts from the pain, focusing on breathing.

After half opening, when the contractions intensify, and slow deep breathing no longer provides sufficient pain relief. Then you can switch to rapid breathing at the peak of the contraction. At the beginning of the fight, use slow deep breathing, and when it becomes painful, switch to breathing with the upper part of the lungs “like a dog”, with an open mouth: hee-ha-he-ha (for each syllable and inhale and exhale, that is, there is practically no inhalation heard). At the end of the contraction, return to slow, deep breathing again.

Try to practice in advance and develop proper breathing skills during pregnancy. This will help you a lot during childbirth. Otherwise, in the turmoil, you can forget the breathing pattern, which will deprive yourself of an excellent pain reliever.

Contractions are contractions of the uterus that are necessary to expel the baby from the womb of a pregnant woman. They are accompanied by severe pain in the back and abdomen. How to behave during fights to alleviate the condition?

How to behave to the expectant mother during the period of uterine contractions

A woman feels severe pain during contractions. To reduce it, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

Most expectant mothers find it easier to stand upright.
It is recommended to move to alleviate the condition. Doctors advise walking, squatting, taking a cat pose.
If there is a fitball at home, then you can lean on the ball, swinging. There are no specific guidelines. Each woman finds the position that is most convenient for her. The main thing is to move, because movement is capable. It also improves uterine contractions.
How to behave during childbirth? Having taken a comfortable position, it is recommended not to strain. Rest between contractions of the uterus. You can even take a nap, save your strength for the birth process.
The woman need not worry. Anxiety only makes the pain worse.
In order not to be so painful, it is recommended to think about the approaching meeting with the baby, set yourself up for positive. The expectant mother must drive away fear, worries. If the pain becomes stronger, it means that the long-awaited meeting is closer.
Doctors advise deep breathing. Inhale through the mouth and exhale through the nose.
It is better not to take a sitting position.

How does the fetus behave in the womb before birth

Childbirth brings a woman a lot of new sensations, not always pleasant. But it's also a big challenge for a child. After all, he also takes part in the birth process. How does the fetus behave during contractions?

It is important that the baby behave actively during the period of uterine contraction. This will speed up his birth. It becomes easier for a woman if the baby moves.

A child has a natural reflex - it is pushing away with his feet from something. For this reason, during labor, he moves, unlocks his limbs from the walls of the uterus, presses his head on the bottom of the pelvis. This helps his mother give birth faster.

The birth of a baby is a difficult process. A woman should prepare for pain, discomfort. But there are some ways to alleviate the condition of the expectant mother, which are worth using. The child also helps her in this.

So, you understand that you have started giving birth. What actions fall under the ban during childbirth?

∗ With the onset of childbirth, one should not panic, randomly rush around the apartment, rush. It is very important to maintain self-control and tune in the right way. It is good if all things are collected in advance, because running around the apartment in search of what is necessary in childbirth is not a pleasant pleasure, especially since at the end of pregnancy the sense of balance is disturbed, weakness and dizziness may occur. Inaccurate movements, especially when taking a shower, are fraught with a fall, as a result of which placental abruption may occur. And this is already an extremely dangerous situation, which can lead to significant blood loss in the expectant mother and threaten the life of the baby.

∗ If you forget any of your personal items at home, don't worry, because in all maternity hospitals, if necessary, you will be given hospital slippers, a gown, a towel, and a nightgown. And everything else will be brought to you while you are in labor. But the documents must not be forgotten. Before leaving home, check the availability of a passport, exchange card, insurance policy, contract for the management of childbirth, if it has been concluded. So, in the absence of an exchange card, doctors will not have confirmation of the necessary examination, which may serve as a reason for determining you in a special observational department or for transfer to a special maternity hospital, where unexamined patients, infected and women with suspected infectious disease give birth. Considering that childbirth often begins suddenly, it is better to carry medical documents with you at all times.

∗ In no case can you get to the maternity hospital by driving a car yourself. And although the first contractions are not painful, it will be difficult to predict their intensity after even a short period of time. And with strong pain, getting safely to the hospital will be problematic. So if none of your relatives or friends can take you, then it's better to call the ambulance service.

∗ Immediately after arrival at the maternity hospital, filling out medical documents that will be used by doctors during childbirth begins. Part of the data will be taken from the exchange card, part will be entered from your words. It is important to accurately answer all questions, in no case should you hide anything, even if it seems to you that this is not related to ongoing events. So, vacuum aspiration transferred 10 years ago can provoke bleeding during childbirth, and blood transfused in early childhood can cause hemolytic disease in a child. Of course, the doctor should be warned about such risks in advance.

The first stage of childbirth: you can not be afraid, scream and strain your muscles

∗ This period is the most painful and longest in time, and its duration, the well-being of the woman in labor, and the condition of the fetus depend on the correct behavior. The main thing: you can not be afraid of childbirth and labor pain! The strength of the pain sensation depends on the individual characteristics, pain sensitivity, emotional state of the woman and her attitude to the birth of the child. Nature has provided a woman with the painkillers she needs for childbirth - her body during labor releases hormones of joy and pleasure - endorphins. They help the expectant mother to relax, relieve pain and give a feeling of emotional uplift. However, the mechanism of their production is fragile. If a woman is afraid, then a reflex suppression of the secretion of endorphins occurs and a significant amount of adrenaline (stress hormone) is released into the blood, which causes convulsive muscle tension, including the muscles of the uterus, which increases pain.

∗ In addition, during childbirth, one should not contract and strain the muscles. With tension, the pain threshold decreases, blood supply is disturbed, which increases pain. There is a vicious circle: tension - pain - slowing down labor. If, during childbirth, the muscles are relaxed, then the pain is less, the cervix opens faster, and the child does not experience significant difficulties in moving through the birth canal.

∗ During contractions, you can choose a comfortable body position for you: it is allowed to lie on your side, walk, stand on all fours or kneel. But there are two provisions that are prohibited during childbirth: you can not lie on your back and sit. In the supine position, a heavy pregnant uterus compresses the large vessels that pass behind it, disrupting blood flow to the heart. In response to this, arterial pressure drops sharply reflexively, causing fainting and impaired blood supply to the placenta and fetus. If for some reason you have to lie down during childbirth, it is better to choose the position on your side.

At the beginning of the first period, the sitting position will do no harm. However, by the end of it, the baby's head has already entered the birth canal, and, sitting down on a hard surface (chair, bed), the expectant mother creates additional pressure on her. But you can sit on a fitball or a toilet - in these cases, such pressure is excluded.

∗ Almost all maternity hospitals have a ban on food and drink during childbirth. This requirement is justified by the fact that in the process of labor, general anesthesia may be necessary, during which there is a risk of throwing the contents of the stomach into the mouth, and from there into the lungs. This can lead to the development of severe pneumonia. In addition, during contractions, due to the reflex connection that exists between the cervix and the stomach, vomiting sometimes occurs. The more contents are in the stomach, the greater the likelihood of this unpleasant phenomenon.

∗ Do not shout during contractions. When you scream, you continuously exhale air, and the breaths are shallow and short. It is known that for the maximum enrichment of blood with oxygen, which is necessary for both the mother during the period of difficult labor and the baby, so that he does not experience oxygen starvation, a deep breath is needed. Therefore, instead of screaming at a height, slowly, deeply and rhythmically inhale air through your nose and exhale it through your mouth. If the contractions become very strong, frequent shallow breathing, in which the inhalation is also made through the nose, and the exhalation through the mouth, will help. But it is impossible to inhale deeply through the mouth in contractions, this will lead to a rapid drying of the oral mucosa, which is rather painfully tolerated with the current ban on drinking. If the mucosa is still dry, you can rinse your mouth with water without swallowing it.

∗ Do not delay urination during contractions. Go to the toilet often - at the first urge. Firstly, frequent urination stimulates contractions, and secondly, a full bladder hinders the progress of the fetus through the birth canal.

Second stage of labor: you can not sit down and push "in the face"

In this period, a woman can more control the process of childbirth than in the first. Although attempts and occur involuntarily, a woman can control them to a certain extent, strengthening or restraining if necessary. However, unauthorized actions can harm both mother and child. That is why during this period it is necessary to get together and clearly follow all the instructions of the doctor and midwife.

∗ When there is very little left before the birth of the child, you will be taken to the delivery room. When moving to the birth bed, you can’t sit down - in fact, it means to sit on your child’s head. While on the birthing bed, in no case should you compress your hips. All of these actions can lead to serious injury to the newborn.

∗ If the “good” for the attempt is received, spare no effort. But it is not only the applied force that matters, but also where it is directed. It is important to do it correctly, you can not push "in the face." At the same time, the woman in labor strongly strains her face, puffs out her cheeks, small hemorrhages can even form in the eyes and face, but the attempt is ineffective, the fetal head does not move along the birth canal. The attempt should be directed downwards, to empty the body (like the intestines with a stool). In this case, you need to strain the abdominal muscles as much as possible.

∗ If you don't feel any pushing or pushing is too weak, you will be guided by a doctor and a midwife. It is very important to follow all their instructions exactly. During the birth of the fetus, there are times when it is necessary to reduce the strength of the attempts. Sometimes, in order to better advance the child, the doctor may prohibit pushing during one or more contractions. You will not be able to stop the attempt, but it is in your power to significantly weaken it. It is necessary to relax and breathe very often and superficially, slightly opening your mouth - “like a dog”, or like “inflating a balloon” (up, in the face, stretching your lips with a tube). Just as in the first stage of childbirth, you can not scream, because the cry occurs on the exhale, and during the attempt it is necessary to hold your breath. In addition, when screaming, muscles contract, including the pelvic floor and perineum, which increases the risk of ruptures. In addition, the cry prevents the full-fledged interaction of the woman in labor with the medical staff, which is the key to the normal course of the second stage of labor and helps to avoid breaks.

Third stage of labor: you can not completely relax

After the baby is born, you can’t completely relax, believing that your work has been completed. After all, you still have to give birth to the placenta, after which the procedure for examining the birth canal follows. The placenta, or afterbirth, includes the placenta and fetal membranes. The period of its separation can last from 5 minutes to half an hour or a little longer. After some time, you may feel lasting no more than a minute. This is one of the signs of separation of the placenta from the walls of the uterus, after which the woman is asked to push. But it is worth noting that usually the placenta is born without any difficulties.

Important!

During all childbirth, it is impossible to refuse the necessary medical manipulations. For example, in the first stage of labor, vaginal examinations and recording of the fetal heartbeat are necessary, which are often uncomfortable for the woman in labor. But these actions help the doctor determine how the birth is progressing, assess the condition of the child, and, if necessary, prescribe some drugs. Do not strain during the doctor's examinations, as tension will only increase the discomfort.

At the time of the vaginal examination, try to relax, breathe often and shallowly, do not strain the muscles of the perineum.

Many women are afraid of prescribing drug stimulation during childbirth. You have the right to express your attitude to this procedure and the wish not to use it if possible, but remember that sometimes only with the help of medications you can end the birth with minimal risk to the baby.

If any actions of the staff cause you doubts - ask to explain to you the need for certain manipulations.

The Prenatal Pregnancy Program is not in vain includes many useful activities, including advice on how to behave during childbirth. Women in position should prepare in advance for this, both physically and mentally. It is necessary to remain calm at all stages in order to help the child be born by your actions, and not interfere with the natural process.

That is why you need to know what happens in the body of a woman in labor from the moment the first sign of the onset of labor appears - the waste of amniotic fluid or the onset of regular uterine contractions. Knowing how to behave during contractions, you can not only reduce pain, but also speed up the birth of a baby.

Preparation for childbirth in advance

Since labor activity can begin suddenly, towards the end of the term, you need to collect everything you need for the hospital - things and relevant documents. It is especially important to prepare a folder with an exchange card, passport and other medical documents. This package will be the main confirmation of the health status of the expectant mother and baby, based on which a story will be started in the maternity hospital.

Preparing ahead of time will help avoid questions about what to do during labor and the negative effects of panic. This will become the key to peace, confidence and inner readiness.

You also need to take care of how best to get to the maternity hospital. Naturally, you can’t drive on your own - this is on the list of how to behave during fights is strictly prohibited.

How to behave in the first stage of childbirth

As soon as a pregnant woman begins painful contractions of the uterus with a certain frequency, we can talk about the beginning of such a crucial event as the birth of a child. Usually this is preceded by the passage of the cork and amniotic fluid, but these phenomena do not always occur simultaneously. But you need to contact a special institution at the first sign.

The initial period of labor is the longest, it can take almost a whole day. Therefore, it is important that he does not deprive the woman in labor of strength, and she can fully gather herself.

Advice on how to behave during childbirth on how to behave during contractions includes the basic rule - relax. Nature has thought through the process of delivery to the smallest detail, so you should not interfere with the natural course of events. An increase in muscle tone in the uterus leads to the release of endorphins - special hormones that act positively on the nervous system and dull the feeling of pain. However, if fear dominates in the emotional spectrum of a woman, then their effect is almost imperceptible.

Proper behavior during childbirth also concerns muscle tension. If, during the period of a cramping wave, the muscles of the perineum are additionally compressed, this will lead to increased pain and an increased risk of fetal hypoxia. The situation in which the expectant mother relaxes as much as possible accelerates the opening of the cervix and the beginning of attempts.

Thus, the instruction on how to behave during childbirth provides for the main rule - maximum relaxation. It is also important to observe safety precautions:

closer to the end of the first stage of labor, you can not sit on a hard surface and lie on your back - the position should be comfortable, but not preventing the advancement of the fetal head;
it is forbidden to drink and eat - in case you have to enter into anesthesia;
you can not delay urination - this violates the patency of the birth canal;
it is advisable not to scream even at the peak of pain, as this reduces the amount of oxygen inhaled;
remembering how to behave during childbirth, do not forget to breathe deeply and evenly - this is how hypoxia is prevented.

Relatives and friends can be present at the same time, any support will help to more easily endure the onset of such a difficult phenomenon, improve mood and control behavior during childbirth.

How to behave in the second stage of childbirth

This interval is considered one of the most difficult and responsible. Here, more than ever, it is important to listen to the instructions of doctors on how to give birth correctly, to act with them as a team.

The main rules of childbirth, which should be remembered even in a panic state:

you can not sit on the bed - this can injure the child's head;
it is necessary not to compress the hips - this narrows the birth canal, which can cause complications;
instructions on what to do during contractions, with the onset of attempts, are supplemented with one more point - do not push "in the face";
force should be directed "down" - straining the abdominal muscles, make efforts, as when emptying the intestines;
at the moment of an attempt, it is advisable not to scream, but to hold your breath - this will help you better interact with medical personnel, avoid ruptures and other complications.

About how to behave during childbirth, they tell at special courses for expectant mothers, it is advisable to attend them.

The speed and ease of delivery, as well as the health of the child, largely depend on the ability of a woman to concentrate, pull herself together and follow the instructions of obstetricians.

How to behave in the third stage of labor

Recommendations on how to behave during childbirth include an action plan for the birth of a baby. At the same time, the newborn is placed on the mother’s chest, which causes a lot of positive emotions. However, you can’t relax - the placenta and membranes of the fetal egg can come out for about half an hour. Weak contractions indicate that this phase is going well. Recommendations on how to behave during childbirth remain the same, following them will help to avoid serious complications.

It should be remembered that the medical staff is a team of professionals, and they are trying for the good of both lives. So for your own safety, remember:

It is impossible to interfere with medical actions and refuse mandatory manipulations - vaginal examinations, assessment of the condition of the fetus and other medical and diagnostic actions.
The right to make any decisions remains with the woman in labor, but before drawing conclusions, one should soberly assess the situation and ask the doctors for advice.

It is very important for both the expectant mother and the baby. After all, not only a woman helps her baby to be born, but he also moves along the birth canal, participates in labor. The health and life of the child depend on how the mother will behave during childbirth. This requires information and psychological preparation.

This complex and natural process

Childbirth is divided into three periods. The first, the longest and most difficult, is characterized by contractions. Its duration can be from several hours to days. In the second period, the expulsion of the fetus occurs. He is the most important. The third - the postpartum period - is characterized by the birth of the placenta.

The beginning of labor is foreshadowed by contractions, the most important thing here is to pay attention to their regularity. Contractions of the uterus begin with barely perceptible, and in the lower abdomen. Then the periods of regular uterine contractions increase to 1 minute, and the intervals between contractions decrease from 10-15 minutes to 2-3. Primiparous women experience this period up to 16 hours, or even more. In multiparous women, contractions take 6-8 hours.

Much depends on how a woman will behave during contractions. To anesthetize this process,

you need to know some tricks. The baby needs oxygen, so when the contraction starts, you need to take a deep breath and then exhale, this will ensure the necessary flow of oxygen into the blood. To understand how to behave during childbirth, you need to listen to your body, be able to relax and rest in between contractions.

If you are giving birth with a partner, then ask him to massage your lower back, alternate it with regular breathing during contractions - the key to successful completion of the first and eliminating the risk of hypoxia in the child. When you feel an irresistible desire to empty your bowels, this means that the second stage of labor has begun. You need to push correctly so that there are no internal and external perineal tears. Attempts must be made as follows: when a fight occurs, inhale deeply and grab your legs with your hands and, raising your head, pull them towards you, pressing your chin to your chest. When you no longer have the strength to push, exhale the air. Such actions must be performed three times during the fight. Properly performed manipulations during attempts accelerate the process of fetal expulsion and reduce pain. The third period is the shortest and painless. It takes about 30 minutes.

Proper preparation

The technique of how to behave during childbirth is taught in many public and private clinics. It is very important to attend such classes, especially for those women who are pregnant for the first time and have little idea of childbirth. If this is not possible, then listen carefully to the obstetrician and follow all his recommendations in order to give birth to a healthy baby, while reducing pain and speeding up the process. They help you understand how to behave during childbirth, and various printed manuals for women in labor, with which you can learn many techniques for pain relief and practice breathing.