Childbirth (also called labour, birth, partus or parturition) is the culmination of a human pregnancy or gestation period with the delivery of one or more newborn infants from a woman's uterus. Human beings, humans or man (Origin 1590–1600 L homō man OL hemō the earthly one (see Humus Pregnancy ( Latin graviditas) is the carrying of one or more offspring known as a Fetus or Embryo, inside the Uterus of a Female Gestation is the carrying of an Embryo or Fetus inside a Female Viviparous Animal. The uterus (from the Latin word for womb) is the major Female reproductive organ of most Mammals including Humans One end the The process of human childbirth is categorized in 3 stages of labour. The first stage accomplishes the shortening and then the dilation of the cervix. It is deemed to have started when the cervix is 3 cm dilated, and ends with full dilation. Contractions begin in the first stage of labour although they may be irregular and sporadic at first. The second stage, often called the pushing stage, starts when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with the expulsion of the fetus. In the third stage, the placenta detaches from the uterine wall and is expelled through the birth canal. The placenta is an Ephemeral organ present in placental Vertebrates, such as Eutherial Mammals and Sharks during Gestation ^[1] Preceding the onset of labour is a period called the latent phase. This phase may last many days, and the contractions are an intensification of the Braxton Hicks contractions that start around 26 weeks gestation. For the album Braxton Hicks by Jebediah see Braxton Hicks (album. Latent phase ends with the onset of active first stage labour.

The mechanics of birth

Because humans are bipedal with an erect stance and humans have relatively the biggest head and shoulders to the size of the pelvis of any species, humans fetuses are adapted to make birth possible.

The erect posture causes the weight of the abdominal contents to thrust on the pelvic floor, a complex structure which must not only support this weight but allow three channels to pass through it: the urethra, the vagina and the rectum. The relatively large head and shoulders require a specific sequence of manoeuvres to occur for the bony head and shoulders to pass through the bony ring of the pelvis. If these manoeuvres fail, the progress of labour is arrested. All changes in the soft tissues of the cervix and the birth canal are entirely dependent on the successful completion of these six maneuvers:

1. Engagement of the fetal head in the transverse position. The baby is looking across the pelvis at one or other of the mother's hips.
2. Descent and flexion of the fetal head
3. Internal rotation. In Anatomy, flexion is a position that is made possible by the joint angle decreasing The fetal head rotates 90 degrees to the occipito-anterior so that the baby's face is towards the mother's rectum.
4. Delivery by extension. The fetal head passes out of the birth canal. Its head is tilted backwards so that its forehead leads the way through the vagina.
5. Restitution. The fetal head turns through 45 degrees to restore its normal relationship with the shoulders, which are still at an angle.
6. External rotation. The shoulders repeat the corkscrew movements of the head, which can be seen in the final movements of the fetal head.

These movements are all due to the relationship of the bony head and shoulders of the fetus to the bony ring of the mother's pelvis and are independent of any changes in the maternal soft tissues.

The stages of normal human birth

Latent phase

The latent phase of labour causes confusion with many. Latent phase may last many days and the contractions are an intensification of the Braxton-Hicks contractions that start around 26 weeks gestation. For the album Braxton Hicks by Jebediah see Braxton Hicks (album. Cervical effacement occurs during the closing weeks of pregnancy and is usually complete or near complete, by the end of latent phase. Effacement is the shortening or thinning of the Cervix before or during early labour. Cervical effacement is the incorporation of the cervix to form the lower segment of the uterus. The muscular portion of the uterus is the upper segment, and is made of non-striated muscle. The lower segment of the uterus has no muscles and is comprised of the cervix itself, which becomes massively stretched and thinned out. This cervical effacement will usually be accomplished fully prior to the onset of labour. The degree of cervical effacement may be felt during a vaginal examination. Effacement is the shortening or thinning of the Cervix before or during early labour. A 'long' cervix implies that not much has been taken into the lower segment, and vice versa for a 'short' cervix. Latent phase ends with the onset of active first stage; when the cervix is about 3 cm dilated.

Mother and newborn with umbilical cord still attached after a water birth

First stage: contractions

The first stage of labor is an active stage and should not be confused with the latent phase of labor. In placental Mammals the umbilical cord (also called the birth cord or funiculus umbilicalis) is the connecting cord from the developing Embryo Water birth is a method of giving birth, which involves immersion in warm water

The first stage of labor starts classically when the effaced cervix is 3 cm dilated. There is variation in this point as some patients may present a little before this point with active contraction, or later, without regular contractions. The onset of actual labor is defined when the cervix begins to progressively dilate. Rupture of the membranes, or a blood stained 'show' may or may not occur at around this stage.

Uterine muscles form opposing spirals from the top of the upper segment of the uterus to its junction with the lower segment. During effacement, the cervix becomes incorporated into the lower segment. During a contraction, these muscles contract causing shortening of the upper segment and drawing upwards of the lower segment, in a gradual expulsive motion. This draws the cervix up over the baby's head. The cervix (from Latin "neck" is the lower narrow portion of the Uterus where it joins with the top end of the Vagina. Full dilatation is reached when the cervix is the size of the baby's head; at around 10 cm dilation for a term baby.

The duration of labour varies widely, but active phase averages some 8 hours for women giving birth to their first child ("primiparae") and 4 hours for women who have already given birth ("multiparae"). ^[2]

Second stage: delivery

This stage begins when the cervix is fully dilated, and ends when the baby is finally delivered. At the beginning of the normal second stage, the head is fully engaged in the pelvis; the widest diameter of the head has successfully passed through the pelvic brim. Ideally it has successfully also passed below the interspinous diameter. This is the narrowest part of the pelvis. If these have been accomplished, all that will remain is for the fetal head to pass below the pubic arch and out through the introitus. This is assisted by the additional maternal efforts of "bearing down". The fetal head is seen to 'crown' as the labia part. At this point the woman may feel a burning or stinging sensation.

Delivery of the fetal head signals the successful completion of the fourth mechanism of labour (delivery by extension), and is followed by the fifth and sixth mechanisms (restitution and external rotation).

A newborn baby with umbilical cord ready to be clamped

The second stage of labour will vary to some extent, depending on how successfully the preceding tasks have been accomplished.

Abnormalities of second stage

Delays in second stage may be caused by:

• malpresentation of the fetal head
• failure of descent of the fetal head through the pelvic brim or the interspinous diameter
• poor uterine contraction strength
• a big baby and a small pelvis.
• shoulder dystocia

These factors will lead to prolongation of the second stage of labour. Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of Dystocia whereby after the delivery of the head the anterior Shoulder of the Infant cannot pass below the pubic Secondary changes may be observed: swelling of the tissues, maternal exhaustion, fetal heart rate abnormalities. Left untreated, severe complications include death of mother or baby, and genitovaginal fistula. These are commonly seen in Third World countries where births are often unattended or attended by poorly trained community members.

Third stage: placenta

In this stage, the uterus expels the placenta (afterbirth). The placenta is an Ephemeral organ present in placental Vertebrates, such as Eutherial Mammals and Sharks during Gestation Maternal blood loss is limited by the compression of the spiral arteries of the uterus as they pass though the lattice-like uterine muscles of the upper segment. Normal blood loss is less than 600 mL. The litre or liter (see spelling differences) is a unit of Volume. The placenta is usually delivered within 15 minutes of the baby being born.

Breastfeeding during and after the third stage, the placenta is visible in the bowl to the right. The placenta is an Ephemeral organ present in placental Vertebrates, such as Eutherial Mammals and Sharks during Gestation

Management of third stage

The third stage can be managed either expectantly or actively. Expectant management (also known as physiological managment) allows the placenta to be expelled without medical assistance. Breastfeeding soon after birth causes uterine contractions that encourage delivery of the placenta. Active management utilizes oxytocic agents and controlled cord traction. The oxytocic agents augment uterine muscular contraction and the cord traction assists with rapid delivery of the placenta.

A Cochrane database study^[3] suggests that blood loss and the risk of postpartum bleeding will be reduced in women offered active management of the third stage of labour. The Cochrane Library is a collection of databases in medicine and other healthcare specialties provided by the Cochrane Collaboration and other organisations Obstetrical hemorrhage refers to heavy bleeding during Pregnancy, labor, or the Puerperium. However, the use of ergometrine for active management was associated with nausea or vomiting and hypertension, and controlled cord traction requires the immediate clamping of the umbilical cord. Ergonovine, also known as ergometrine or d- Lysergic acid beta-propanolamide is an Ergoline (and Lysergamide) derivative, and one In placental Mammals the umbilical cord (also called the birth cord or funiculus umbilicalis) is the connecting cord from the developing Embryo

After the birth

Medical professionals typically recommend breastfeeding of the first milk, colostrum, to reduce postpartum bleeding/hemorrhage in the mother, and to pass immunities and other benefits to the baby. Breastfeeding is the feeding of an Infant or young Child with Breast milk directly from human Breasts, not from a Baby bottle or other Beestings redirects here or you may have wanted Bee sting or beasting.

Many cultures feature initiation rites for newborns, such as naming ceremonies, baptism, and others. A rite of passage is a Ritual that marks a change in a person's social or sexual status In Christianity, baptism ( Greek, "immersing" "performing Ablutions " is the ritual act with the use of water by which one is admitted

Mothers are often allowed a period where they are relieved of their normal duties to recover from childbirth. The length of this period varies. In China it is 30 days and is referred to as "doing the month" or "sitting month" (see Postpartum period). Postnatal ( Latin for 'after birth' from post meaning "after" and natalis meaning "of birth" is the period beginning immediately after In some other countries, taking time off from work to care for a newborn is called "maternity leave" and can vary from a few days to several months.

Variations

Being born in the caul

When the amniotic sac has not ruptured during labour or pushing, the infant can be born with the membranes intact. This is referred to as "being born in the caul. A caul ( Latin: Caput galeatum, literally "head helmet" is a thin filmy membrane, the Amniotic sac, that covers or partly covers " The caul is harmless and its membranes are easily broken and wiped away. In medieval times, and in some cultures still today, a caul was seen as a sign of good fortune for the baby, even giving the child psychic gifts such as clairvoyance, and in some cultures was seen as protection against drowning. The word psychic (ˈsaɪkɨk from the Greek psychikos—"of the soul mental" refers to the claimed ability to perceive things hidden from the normal senses Clairvoyance (from 17th century French with clair meaning "clear" and voyance meaning "visibility" is the apparent ability to gain The caul was often impressed onto paper and stored away as an heirloom for the child. An antique ( Latin: antiquus; old is an old Collectible item It is collected or desirable because of its age rarity condition utility or other unique With the advent of modern interventive obstetrics, premature artificial rupture of the membranes has become common, so babies are rarely born in the caul.

Orgasm during childbirth

Some women experience orgasm during childbirth. An orgasm (sexual climax is the conclusion of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, and may be experienced by both males and females ^[4][5] There are similarities between the process of orgasm and childbirth; both involve involuntary contractions of some of the same muscles. Orgasm releases endorphins which can mediate the pain of labour, as well as the hormone oxytocin, which is known to play an important role in labour as well as mother-child attachment. Some people have speculated that sexual repression, in particular, the repression of women's sexuality, may be holding more women back both from having an orgasmic experience with childbirth, and from accepting and sharing the experience when they do have it. Sexual repression is a state in which a person is prevented from expressing their sexuality. ^[6]

Pain

Pain levels reported by labouring women vary widely. This variation is not dissimilar for perceived pain in other situations. Pain levels seem to be influenced by fear and anxiety levels, experience with prior childbirth, cultural ideas of childbirth and pain, mobility during labour and the support given during labour.

Non-medical pain control

Some women prefer to avoid analgesic medication during childbirth. They still can try to alleviate labour pain using psychological preparation, education, massage, hypnosis, or water therapy in a tub or shower. Some women like to have someone to support them during labour and birth, such as the father of the baby, the woman's mother, a sister, a close friend, a partner or a doula. A doula is an assistant who provides various forms of non-medical support (physical emotional and informed choice in the childbirth process Some women deliver in a squatting or crawling position in order to more effectively push during the second stage and so that gravity can aid the descent of the baby through the birth canal. Gravitation is a natural Phenomenon by which objects with Mass attract one another

The human body also has a chemical response to pain, by releasing endorphins. Endorphins are Endogenous Opioid Polypeptide compounds They are produced by the Pituitary gland and the Hypothalamus in Vertebrates Endorphins are present before, during, and immediately after childbirth. ^[7] Some homebirth advocates believe that this hormone can induce feelings of pleasure and euphoria during childbirth,^[8] reducing the risk of maternal depression some weeks later. ^[7]

Water birth is an option chosen by some women for pain relief during labour and childbirth, and some studies have shown waterbirth in an uncomplicated pregnancy to reduce the need for analgesia, without evidence of increased risk to mother or newborn. Water birth is a method of giving birth, which involves immersion in warm water ^[9] Hot water tubs are available in many hospitals and birthing centres.

Meditation and mind medicine techniques for the use of pain control during labour and delivery. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness These techniques are used in conjunction with progressive muscle relaxation and many other forms of relaxation for the mind and body to aid in pain control for women during childbirth. One such technique is the use of hypnosis in childbirth.

Medical pain control

Different measures for pain control have varying degrees of success and side effects to the woman and her baby. In some countries of Europe, doctors commonly prescribe inhaled nitrous oxide gas for pain control; in the UK, midwives may use this gas without a doctor's prescription. Nitrous oxide, commonly known as " laughing gas," is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula N 2 O. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Pethidine (with or without promethazine) may be used early in labour, as well as other opioids, but if given too close to birth there is a risk of respiratory depression in the infant. Pethidine ( INN) or meperidine ( USAN) (commonly referred to as Demerol but also referred to as isonipecaine lidol pethanol piridosal Algil Alodan Promethazine is a first-generation H1 receptor antagonist Antihistamine and Antiemetic medication An opioid is a chemical Substance that has a Morphine -like action in the body

Popular medical pain control in hospitals include the regional anesthetics epidural blocks, and spinal anaesthesia. The term epidural is often short for epidural anesthesia, a form of Regional anesthesia involving injection of drugs through a Catheter placed into the Spinal analgesia, (or commonly called spinal anesthesia or sub-arachnoid block (S Epidural analgesia is a safe and effective method of relieving pain in labour, but is associated with longer labour, more operative intervention (particularly instrument delivery), and increases in cost. ^[10] Medicine administered via epidural can cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of the fetus. ^[11] Epidural analgesia has no statistically significant impact on the risk of caesarean section, and does not appear to have an immediate effect on neonatal status as determined by Apgar scores. ^[12]

Complications and risks of birth

Complications can occur during childbirth.

Infant deaths (neonatal deaths from birth to 28 days, or perinatal deaths if including fetal deaths at 28 weeks gestation and later) are around 1% in modernized countries. The maternal mortality (MMR)rate varies from 9/100,000 live births in the US and Europe, to 900/100,000 live births in Sub-Saharan Africa. [4] The "natural" mortality rate of childbirth—where nothing is done to avert maternal death—has been estimated as being between 1,000 and 1,500 deaths per 100,000 births. ^[13] (See main article: neonatal death, maternal death)

The most important factors affecting mortality in childbirth are adequate nutrition and access to quality medical care ("access" is affected both by the cost of available care, and distance from health services). Perinatal mortality (PNM also perinatal death, refers to the death of a Fetus or Neonate and is the basis to calculate the perinatal Mortality Maternal death, or maternal mortality, also "obstetrical death" is the Death of a woman during or shortly after a Pregnancy. Death is the termination of the biological functions that define living Organisms It refers both to a specific Nutrition (also called nourishment or aliment) is the provision to cells and Organisms of the materials necessary (in the form of food to support "Medical care" in this context does not refer specifically to treatment in hospitals, but simply routine prenatal care and the presence, at the birth, of an attendant with birthing skills. Prenatal care refers to the medical care recommended for women before and during Pregnancy.

A 1983-1989 study by the Texas Department of Health highlighted the differences in neonatal mortality (NMR) between high risk and low risk pregnancies. NMR was 0. 57% for doctor-attended high risk births, and 0. 19% for low risk births attended by non-nurse midwives. Conversely, some studies demonstrate a higher perinatal mortality rate with assisted home births. ^[14] Around 80% of pregnancies are low-risk. Factors that may make a birth high risk include prematurity, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and a previous cesarean section. Gestational diabetes (or gestational diabetes mellitus, GDM) is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood A Caesarean section (or Cesarean section in American English) also known as C-section, is a form of Childbirth in which a surgical

Birthing complication may be maternal or fetal, and long term or short term.

Maternal risks:

Hemorrhage is still the biggest killer of birthing mothers in the world today especially in the developing world. Heavy blood loss leads to hypovolemic shock, insufficient perfusion of vital organs and death if not rapidly treated. In Physiology and Medicine, hypovolemia (also hypovolaemia is a state of decreased Blood volume more specifically decrease in volume of Blood plasma Blood transfusion may be life saving. Rare sequelae include Hypopituitarism Sheehan's syndrome. Hypopituitarism is the decreased ( hypo) secretion of one or more of the eight Hormones normally produced by the Pituitary gland at the base of the Brain Sheehan syndrome, also known as postpartum hypopituitarism or postpartum pituitary necrosis, is Hypopituitarism (decreased functioning of the Pituitary

Infection remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the developing world today. The work of Ignaz Semmelweis was seminal in the pathophysiology and treatment of puerperal fever and saved many lives. Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis ( July 1, 1818 &ndash August 13, 1865) also Ignac Semmelweis (born Semmelweis Ignác Fülöp Puerperal fever (from the Latin puer, child) also called childbed fever, can develop into puerperal sepsis, which is a serious

Vaginal birth injury with visible tears or episiotomies are common. Internal tissue tearing as well as nerve damage to the pelvic structures lead in a proportion of women to problems with prolapse, incontinence of stool or urine and sexual dysfunction. Fifteen percent of women become incontinent, to some degree, of stool or urine after normal delivery, this number rising considerably after these women reach menopause. Vaginal birth injury is a necessary, but not sufficient, cause of all non hysterectomy related prolapse in later life. Risk factors for significant vaginal birth injury include:

1. a baby weighing more than nine pounds
2. the use of forceps or vacuum for delivery. These markers are more likely to be signals for other abnormalities as forceps or vacuum are not used in normal deliveries.
3. the need to repair large tears after delivery

Pelvic girdle pain. Pregnancy related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP causes pain, instability and/or dysfunction in any of the three pelvic joints Hormones and enzymes work together to produce ligamentous relaxation and widening of the symphysis pubis during the last trimester of pregnancy. Most girdle pain occurs before birthing, and is know as diastasis of the pubic symphysis. Predisposing factors for girdle pain include maternal obesity.

Fetal complications:

Intrapartum asphyxia: The term Fetal distress is emotive and misleading. In Medicine ( Obstetrics) fetal distress is the presence of signs in a pregnant woman&mdashbefore or during Childbirth &mdashthat the Fetus True intrapartum asphyxia is the impairment of oxygen to the brain and vital tissues during the progress of labour. This may exist in a pregnancy already impaired by maternal or fetal disease, or may rarely arise de novo in labour. True intrapartum asphyxia is not as common as previously believed, and is usually accompanied by multiple other symptoms during the immediate period after delivery. Monitoring might show up problems during birthing, but the interpretation and use of monitoring devices is complex and prone to misinterpretation.

Mechanical fetal injury

Risk factors for fetal birth injury include fetal macrosomia (big baby), maternal obesity, the need for instrumental delivery, and an inexperienced attendant. Specific situations that can contribute to birth injury include breech presentation and shoulder dystocia. Shoulder dystocia is a specific case of Dystocia whereby after the delivery of the head the anterior Shoulder of the Infant cannot pass below the pubic Most fetal birth injuries resolve without long term harm, but brachial plexus injury may lead to Erb's palsy. The brachial Plexus is an arrangement of nerve fibers running from the spine formed by the Ventral rami of the lower cervical and upper thoracic nerve roots specifically Erb's Palsy ( Erb-Duchenne Palsy, Brachial plexus paralysis) is a paralysis of the arm caused by injury to the upper group of the arm's main nerves (specifically

Neonatal infection

Neonates are prone to infection in the first month of life. Some organisms such as S. agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus) or (GBS) are more prone to cause these occasionally fatal infections. Streptococcus agalactiae also known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS and more colloquially as Strep B and group B Strep is a Gram-positive Streptococcus Risk factors for GBS infection include:

1. prematurity
2. a sibling who has had a GBS infection
3. prolonged labour or rupture of membranes

Instrumental delivery (Forceps and Ventouse)

• The woman will have her legs supported in stirrups.
• If an anaesthetic is not already in place it will be given.
• Episiotomy might be needed.
• A Trial Forceps might be performed, which is abandoned in favor of a caesarean section if delivery is not optimal.

Twins and multiple births

Twins can be delivered vaginally. In some cases twin delivery is done in a larger delivery room or in theatre, just in case complications occur e. g.

• Both twins born vaginally - one comes normally but the other is breech and/or helped by a forceps/ventouse delivery
• One twin born vaginally and the other by caesarean section.
• If the twins are joined at any part of the body - called conjoined twins, delivery is mostly by caesarean section. Conjoined twins are whose bodies are joined in utero A rare phenomenon the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50000 births to 1 in 200000 births with a somewhat higher incidence

Professions associated with childbirth

Model of pelvis used in the beginning of the 20th century to teach technical procedures for a successful childbirth. Museum of the History of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Doulas are assistants who support mothers during pregnancy, labour, birth, and postpartum. A doula is an assistant who provides various forms of non-medical support (physical emotional and informed choice in the childbirth process They are not medical attendants; rather, they provide emotional support and non-medical pain relief for women during labour.

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists are experts in managing and treating high-risk pregnancy and delivery. Maternal-fetal medicine (MFM is the branch of Obstetrics that focuses on the Medical and Surgical management of high-risk pregnancies They are usually also obstetricians.

Midwives provide care to low-risk pregnant mothers. Midwifery is a Health care profession where providers give Prenatal care to expecting Mothers attend the birth of the Infant Midwives may be licensed and registered, or may be lay practitioners. Jurisdictions with legislated midwives will typically have a registering and disciplinary body, such as a College of Midwifery. Registered midwives are trained to assist a mother with labour and birth, either through direct-entry or nurse-midwifery programs. Lay midwives, who are usually not licensed or registered, typically gain experience through apprenticeship with other lay midwives.

Obstetricians provide care for normal and abnormal births and pathological labour conditions. Obstetrics (from the Latin obstare, "to stand by" is the surgical speciality dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during Pregnancy Obstetricians are trained surgeons, so they can undertake surgical procedures relating to childbirth. Such procedures include cesarean sections, episiotomies, or assisted delivery. A Caesarean section (or Cesarean section in American English) also known as C-section, is a form of Childbirth in which a surgical An episiotomy (ɛˌpiːziːˈɒtəmiː is a Surgical incision through the Perineum made to enlarge the Vagina and assist childbirth Most obstetricians also provide gynecological care, and may have a primary, well-woman, care element to their practices.

Obstetric nurses assist midwives, doctors, women, and babies prior to, during, and after the birth process, in the hospital system. Obstetrics (from the Latin obstare, "to stand by" is the surgical speciality dealing with the care of a woman and her offspring during Pregnancy A nurse is responsible—along with other Health care Professionals —for the treatment safety and recovery of acutely or chronically Some midwives are also obstetric nurses. Obstetric nurses hold various certifications and typically undergo additional obstetric training in addition to standard nursing training. In the US and Canada many nurses who choose a specialty become certified in that area signifying that they possess expert knowledge A Nursing school is a type of educational institution, or part thereof providing education and training to become a fully-qualified Nurse.

Social and legal aspects

In most cultures, childbirth is considered to be the beginning of a person's life, and their age is defined relative to it. Life is a state that distinguishes Organisms from non-living objects such as non-life and dead organisms being manifested by growth through Metabolism

Some families view the placenta as a special part of birth, since it has been the child's life support for so many months. The placenta is an Ephemeral organ present in placental Vertebrates, such as Eutherial Mammals and Sharks during Gestation Some parents like to see and touch this organ. In some cultures, parents plant a tree along with the placenta on the child's first birthday. Birthday is the name given to the date of the anniversary of a person's birth The placenta may be eaten by the newborn's family, ceremonially or otherwise. Placentophagy (from 'placenta' + Greek φαγειν, to eat is the act of Mammals Eating the Placenta ^[15]

The exact location in which childbirth takes place is an important factor in determining nationality, in particular for birth aboard aircraft and ships. Locus in quo means in British Common law, the "scene of the event" or The phrase comes from the Latin language meaning "The Nationality is a relationship between a Person and their State of Origin, Culture, association Affiliation and/or Loyalty The subject of birth aboard aircraft and ships is one with a long history in Public international law.

Psychological aspects

Childbirth can be a stressful event. As with any stressful event, strong emotions can be brought to the surface.

Some women report symptoms compatible with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after birth. Post traumatic stress disorder It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to Between 70 and 80% of mothers in the United States report some feelings of sadness or "baby blues" after childbirth. Postpartum depression may develop in some women; about 10% of mothers in the United States are diagnosed with this condition. Abnormal and persistent fear of childbirth is known as tokophobia. Tokophobia, or fear of Childbirth, is a form of Specific phobia. Tokophobia, or fear of Childbirth, is a form of Specific phobia.

Preventative group therapy has proven effective as a prophylactic treatment for postpartum depression. ^[16]

There are some who argue that childbirth is stressful for the infant. Stresses associated with breech birth, such as asphyxiation, may affect the infant's brain. A breech birth (also known as breech presentation) refers to the position of the Baby in the Uterus such that it will be delivered Perinatal asphyxia is the medical condition resulting from deprivation of Oxygen ( hypoxia) to a newborn infant long enough to cause apparent harm

Partner and other support

Main article: Men's role in childbirth

There is increasing evidence to show that the participation of the woman's partner in the birth leads to better birth and also post-birth outcomes, providing the partner does not exhibit excessive anxiety. The role of men in childbirth in the western world is becoming more involved than it has been in the past ^[17] Research also shows that when a labouring woman was supported by a female helper such as a family member or doula during labour, she had less need for chemical pain relief, the likelihood of caesarean section was reduced, use of forceps and other instrumental deliveries were reduced and there was a reduction in the length of labour and the baby had a higher Apgar score (Dellman 2004, Vernon 2006). A doula is an assistant who provides various forms of non-medical support (physical emotional and informed choice in the childbirth process

It is the traditional history of home labour that makes The Netherlands an attractive site for studies related to birth. One third of all baby deliveries there are still happening at home in contrast with other western industrialized countries. Apparently, Dutch fathers have been in the scene of labour for a long time as can be observed in paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

During this study, it was found that fathers can have different roles during birth and that little is said about the conflicts between partners or partners and professionals. Among other findings were also: the interpretation of the presence of fathers during birth as a modern version of the anthropological couvade ritual to ease the woman's pain; the majority of fathers did not perceive any limitation to participate in their childbirth and upper generations did not play an important rule in the transmission of knowledge about birth to those fathers but the wives, feminine acquaintances and midwives. The term couvade is derived from the early French word ( Couver "to hatch" and originally referred to the Medieval Basque custom in which

The research was based, mainly, on in-depth interviews, where fathers described what was happening from their partner’s first signals of birth labour until the placenta delivery.

Postnatal care

Main article: Postnatal

See also

• Pre- and perinatal psychology
• Postnatal
• Lamaze
• Natalism
• Homebirth
• Unassisted childbirth
• Waterbirth
• Pre-labor
• Asynclitic birth, an abnormal birth position
• Vernix caseosa

External links

• Discovery Health's Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy Tools, video, information for a healthy pregnancy. Postnatal ( Latin for 'after birth' from post meaning "after" and natalis meaning "of birth" is the period beginning immediately after Prenatal and Perinatal psychology is an Interdisciplinary study of the foundations of health in body mind emotions and in enduring response patterns to life Postnatal ( Latin for 'after birth' from post meaning "after" and natalis meaning "of birth" is the period beginning immediately after Lamaze International is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote support and protect normal birth through education and advocacy Natalism or pro-birth is a belief that promotes Human reproduction. Home birth occurs when a woman labors and delivers a child at home rather than the labor and delivery ward of a Hospital or Birthing center. Unassisted childbirth (UC is Birth without the assistance of a Medical or professional Birth attendant. Water birth is a method of giving birth, which involves immersion in warm water Pre-labor, also called "prodromal labor" is the early signs before labor starts An asynclitic birth refers to the position of a Baby in the Uterus such that the head is tilted to the side Vernix, also known as Vernix caseosa, is the waxy or " cheesy " white substance found coating the Skin of Newborn humans
• 3D Medical Animation of Normal Child Birth at YouTube
• http://www.isna.org/

References