Normal vaginal delivery

The art of giving birth is an inherent mechanism in all women. If there has been no problem with your pregnancy there are more than 85% chances that you can have a normal vaginal birth.

Tips To Facilitate Normal Delivery

Stay active – women who stay physically active during pregnancy have higher chances of normal delivery. Walking is a good form of exercise in pregnancy. You can start small and gradually progress to 45 min daily walk. You can also take specific exercise classes in pregnancy .

Watch your weight – the ideal weight gain in pregnancy is 11 kg. Watch what you eat.

Be mentally prepared – while it is good to be informed about the process of normal delivery don’t frighten yourself! Be positive in your attitude and trust your gynaecologist. Normal delivery takes time…..have patience.

Pain – most women have a fear of pain and hence are unwilling to have normal delivery. You can discuss pain relief options with your gynaecologist.

Signs Of Labour

Labour pains – labour pains are usually intermittent pains which start from the back and come to front. They gradually increase in intensity, frequency and duration.

Leaking – sometimes the water bag surrounding the baby breaks and the woman starts experiencing watery discharge through the vagina making her clothes continuously wet or she may wake up in a wet bed. If there is leaking you need to reach the hospital ASAP.

What To Do In Labour

If you experience labour pains or leaking reach the hospital that you are registered in. the doctor on duty will check you and admit if required. Your gynaecologist will be informed.

We will do your checkup and listen to your baby’s heartbeat to ensure everything is ok.

The first stage of labour is when the cervix dilates. In this stage your labour pains are going to increase progressively. You may be given enema to clean your bowels. It is better to be active in labour. you can ask your partner to rub your back to help with labour pains. Stay hydrated…keep taking plenty of fluids.

The second stage of labour is the time of delivery. You are going to be placed in the delivery position. Keep calm. Once your doctor tells you to push, just hold the railing of the bed and push during pain. When the pain passes off to take a deep breath to recuperate your energy and have some fluids.

You may require a cut in the vagina for delivery which the doctor will suture up after the baby and placenta are out.

Remember delivery is a natural process and you can do it.

LSCS OR CAESAREAN SECTION

Sometimes you may require a caesarean section. This can be planned (elective) or an emergency one.

Planned caesarean sections are done if you have previous 2 LSCS, breech baby, transverse baby, the placenta is low lying, a very big baby which cannot come out of the normal passage, precious pregnancy, maternal request etc. In this, once the baby is term a date is fixed and LSCS is done.

Emergency LSCS may be required if the baby’s heart rate drops, labour is not progressing as required or if the baby passes meconium.

In LSCS you are given anaesthesia, mostly in the back so that your lower part of the body is numb. The Tummy is opened and the baby is taken out.

PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN POST DELIVERY