Childbirth: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Ro Thorpe
m (sentence case for headings)
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz
(Formatting: first,, the metadata does not go in the main page, only {{subpages}}. I cleared whitepace and added links.)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{#switch: {{{info}}}
{{subpages}}
 
<!-- Pagename must be filled out for subpages system to work correctly. e.g., pagename = Albert Einstein -->
|      pagename = Childbirth
<!-- ''abc'' means the form of the title for alphabetization, e.g. "Einstein, Albert" or "Orient, The".  Please think this one through and replace the "&nbsp;" -->
|            abc = &nbsp;
 
<!-- Primarily whether the article is written in "AE" - American, "AuE" - Australian, "BE" - British or "CE" - Canadian English. -->
|        variant =
 
<!-- Required for checklist.  In brief: 
*''cat_check'':  put "yes" if you want someone to check over the categories
*''status'': 0 for approved articles; 1 developed, 2 developing, 3 stub, 4 external
*''underlinked:'' put "yes" if not enough other articles link to it (click "What links here" at left)
*''cleanup'': put "yes" if basic cleanup has been done.
*''cat1, cat2'' and ''cat3'' are workgroup categories (e.g. "Biology");  if there is only one category, put it in cat1.
*''sub1, sub2'' and ''sub3'' are sub-workgroup categories.
*''tab1, tab2'' and ''tab3'' are article-specific subpage names. -->
<!-- For more info see http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/CZ:The_Article_Checklist. -->
|      cat_check =
|        status = currently no status
|    underlinked =
|        cleanup =
|          cat1 =
|          cat2 =
|          cat3 =
|          sub1 =
|          sub2 =
|          sub3 =
|          tab1 =
|          tab2 =
|          tab3 =
 
<!-- Required for ToApprove template: -->
<!-- Do not complete this section unless you are an Editor for one of this article's workgroups, have read the approval process and wish to nominate this article for approval. -->
|    article url =
|    subpage url =
|        cluster =
|            now =
<!-- Editors: Do NOT use tildes or the format [[User:Bob Smith|Bob Smith]] when putting your name after the "ToA editor =" line!  Simply type in your name Bob Smith, without anything else before it or around it -- no brackets, no "User", no pipes. The Constabulary thanks you! -->
|    ToA editor =
|    ToA editor2 =
|    ToA editor3 =
|    ToA editor4 =
|          date =
 
<!-- Required for Approved template: -->
|      A editor =
|      A editor2 =
|      A editor3 =
|      A editor4 =
 
}}<noinclude>{{subpages}}</noinclude>
{{Image|Labor-pelvis.jpg|right|250px|Most babies enter the [[birth canal]] facing sideways and the head turns face down.}}  
{{Image|Labor-pelvis.jpg|right|250px|Most babies enter the [[birth canal]] facing sideways and the head turns face down.}}  
'''Childbirth''', or labor and delivery, is when a woman gives birth to a [[baby]]. Labor has three stages. The first stage of labor has two phases: latent and active. The second stage of labor is when the baby is born while the third stage of labor is when the placenta is delivered.
'''Childbirth''', or labor and delivery, is when a woman gives birth to a [[baby]]. Labor has three stages. The first stage of labor has two phases: latent and active. The second stage of labor is when the baby is born while the third stage of labor is when the placenta is delivered.
== First stage of labor ==
== First stage of labor ==
Irregular contractions are felt during the latent phase of labor. The contractions will slowly become more regular and pain is minimal. The [[cervix]] will dilate and efface up to 4 [[centimeter]]s during the latent phase of labor.  First time mothers will on average labor 8 hours during the latent phase. Mothers who have borne previous children typically have shorter labor during the latent phase.  Towards the end of this stage a woman will enter the transition phase. During this part of labor the cervix will continue to dilate to 10 centimeters. This is probably the most painful part of the labor process.
Irregular contractions are felt during the latent phase of labor. The contractions will slowly become more regular and pain is minimal. The [[cervix]] will dilate and efface up to 4 [[centimeter]]s during the latent phase of labor.  First time mothers will on average labor 8 hours during the latent phase. Mothers who have borne previous children typically have shorter labor during the latent phase.  Towards the end of this stage a woman will enter the transition phase. During this part of labor the cervix will continue to dilate to 10 centimeters. This is probably the most painful part of the labor process.
== Second stage of labor ==
== Second stage of labor ==
The cervix is fully dilated and the woman begins to push to deliver the baby. This phase of labor can last up to two hours.  The baby is delivered at the end of the second stage of labor. The [[umbilical cord]] is cut by the doctor once the delivery is finished.{{Image|Labor-head.jpg|right|250px|The head emerging from the birth canal.}}  
The cervix is fully dilated and the woman begins to push to deliver the baby. This phase of labor can last up to two hours.  The baby is delivered at the end of the second stage of labor. The [[umbilical cord]] is cut by the doctor once the delivery is finished.{{Image|Labor-head.jpg|right|250px|The head emerging from the birth canal.}}  
== Third stage of labor ==
== Third stage of labor ==
The [[placenta]] is delivered during the third stage of labor.  Usually this phase of labor takes between 5 to 20 minutes.
The [[placenta]] is delivered during the third stage of labor.  Usually this phase of labor takes between 5 to 20 minutes.
== Cervical dilation ==
== Cervical dilation ==
Measurement of the cervix is recorded from 0 to 10 centimeters. The cervix is considered complete when it reaches 10 centimeters.  
Measurement of the cervix is recorded from 0 to 10 centimeters. The cervix is considered complete when it reaches 10 centimeters.  
== Effacement ==
== Effacement ==
The cervix shortens in preparation for birth. The normal uneffaced average cervical length is between 3.5 to 4.0 centimeters.
The cervix shortens in preparation for birth. The normal uneffaced average cervical length is between 3.5 to 4.0 centimeters.
== Station ==
== Station ==
Station is measured by where the baby's head is located in reference to the woman's ischial spines.  Measurements above the ischial spines are reported as -1 to -5. Once the baby's head engages into the pelvis,  or at 0 station, the baby's placement within the birth canal will be written in positive numbers. The numbers for the positive station are written as +1 to +5.  
Station is measured by where the baby's head is located in reference to the woman's ischial spines.  Measurements above the ischial spines are reported as -1 to -5. Once the baby's head engages into the pelvis,  or at 0 station, the baby's placement within the birth canal will be written in positive numbers. The numbers for the positive station are written as +1 to +5.  
== Episiotomy  ==
== Episiotomy  ==
 
A small incision, or cut, used to enlarge the vaginal opening. The cut is made from the vaginal to anus. The person performing the delivery sutures the area once the delivery is finished. This is not always done during a vaginal delivery, and, indeed, is quite controversial.
A small incision, or cut, used to enlarge the vaginal opening. The cut is made from the vaginal to anus. The doctor sutures the area once the delivery is finished. Not always done during a vaginal delivery.
 
 
== Cesarean section ==
== Cesarean section ==
The cesarean is when a baby is surgically removed from the uterus. Most cesarean section usually takes up to an hour to complete. The surgeon normally makes two cuts in the lower abdomen before making an incision in the uterus. The baby is removed from the uterus and the umbilical cord is cut.
The cesarean is when a baby is surgically removed from the uterus. Most cesarean section usually takes up to an hour to complete. The surgeon normally makes two cuts in the lower abdomen before making an incision in the uterus. The baby is removed from the uterus and the umbilical cord is cut.

Revision as of 19:39, 3 August 2010

This article is a stub and thus not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.
(PD) Drawing: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Most babies enter the birth canal facing sideways and the head turns face down.

Childbirth, or labor and delivery, is when a woman gives birth to a baby. Labor has three stages. The first stage of labor has two phases: latent and active. The second stage of labor is when the baby is born while the third stage of labor is when the placenta is delivered.

First stage of labor

Irregular contractions are felt during the latent phase of labor. The contractions will slowly become more regular and pain is minimal. The cervix will dilate and efface up to 4 centimeters during the latent phase of labor. First time mothers will on average labor 8 hours during the latent phase. Mothers who have borne previous children typically have shorter labor during the latent phase. Towards the end of this stage a woman will enter the transition phase. During this part of labor the cervix will continue to dilate to 10 centimeters. This is probably the most painful part of the labor process.

Second stage of labor

The cervix is fully dilated and the woman begins to push to deliver the baby. This phase of labor can last up to two hours. The baby is delivered at the end of the second stage of labor. The umbilical cord is cut by the doctor once the delivery is finished.

(PD) Drawing: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The head emerging from the birth canal.

Third stage of labor

The placenta is delivered during the third stage of labor. Usually this phase of labor takes between 5 to 20 minutes.

Cervical dilation

Measurement of the cervix is recorded from 0 to 10 centimeters. The cervix is considered complete when it reaches 10 centimeters.

Effacement

The cervix shortens in preparation for birth. The normal uneffaced average cervical length is between 3.5 to 4.0 centimeters.

Station

Station is measured by where the baby's head is located in reference to the woman's ischial spines. Measurements above the ischial spines are reported as -1 to -5. Once the baby's head engages into the pelvis, or at 0 station, the baby's placement within the birth canal will be written in positive numbers. The numbers for the positive station are written as +1 to +5.

Episiotomy

A small incision, or cut, used to enlarge the vaginal opening. The cut is made from the vaginal to anus. The person performing the delivery sutures the area once the delivery is finished. This is not always done during a vaginal delivery, and, indeed, is quite controversial.

Cesarean section

The cesarean is when a baby is surgically removed from the uterus. Most cesarean section usually takes up to an hour to complete. The surgeon normally makes two cuts in the lower abdomen before making an incision in the uterus. The baby is removed from the uterus and the umbilical cord is cut.