COMMON COMPLICATIONS DURING CHILDBIRTH
While most births are
straightforward, occasionally there are
complications that require additional
medical intervention. The most common
complications during childbirth are:
-
Abnormal Presentation.
Presentation is how the baby is
positioned for delivery. If the baby is
breech (buttocks down), or occiput (head
down, but facing forward), there are
additional risks to the baby and the
mother. One option given to women who
have a breech baby is an external
cephalic version, which is a manual
turning of the baby into correct
position. This works in about 50 to 60
percent of the cases. Cesarean section
may be required to safely deliver babies
in abnormal presentation.
-
Unbilical Cord
Prolapse. An umbilical cord prolapse
is when the cord slips through the
cervix and sometimes through the vaginal
canal before or during labor. Because
the umbilical cord is the lifeline to
the baby, this complication is serious
and almost always requires an emergency
cesarean birth.
-
Umbilical Cord
Compression. Compression of the cord
can happen when the cord is wrapped
around the neck of the baby or is
positioned between the head of the baby
and the mother’s pelvic bone. This
condition can cut off the supply of
oxygen to the baby and is usually
treated with supplementary oxygen to the
mother and sometimes, emergency cesarean
section.
HOME BIRTHS
Throughout history, women
have given birth at home. And, to this day,
the majority of women around the world give
birth in non-hospital settings. In many
cultures, birth is a private affair that is
supervised exclusively by a woman’s family.
In the United States, over
95 percent of women give birth in a
hospital. However, there is a growing trend
in home birth for mothers who are at low
risk of pregnancy complications. Reasons for
a woman to consider home birth include:
-
Desire to give birth in a
familiar, comfortable setting
-
Belief that birth is a
natural process, not necessarily
requiring medical intervention
-
Uneasiness with medical
assistance
-
Cost savings
Home birth practitioners
generally monitor a woman’s entire pregnancy
and provide assistance through the birthing
process.
WATER BIRTHS
Giving birth in water is
not a new technique. In fact, there is
documentation that the ancient Egyptians and
generations of native Polynesians utilized
water birth.
Water labor gained
acceptance by the medical community in the
1980’s as a method of pain relief. These
days, it is very common for labor and
delivery rooms in hospitals to be equipped
with laboring bathtubs.
Water birth is still
considered somewhat controversial, as is any
alternative to a standard hospital delivery.
Some benefits of a water birth include:
-
Possible reduction in
length of labor
-
Decreased risk of tearing
of perineum during delivery
-
Decreased need for pain
relief
-
Conservation of maternal
energy as water supports a woman’s
weight
-
Less blood loss
-
Increased relaxation
MIDWIVES AND DOULAS
A midwife is a healthcare
professional who provides education,
support, and care throughout a pregnancy and
birth. Midwives strongly believe that
pregnancy and birth is a natural process
that needs medical intervention only when
there are complications. They are trained
and licensed and may practice in a hospital,
birthing center, or private home.
Doula is a Greek word
meaning “woman helping woman” in childbirth.
A doula is a non-medical assistant who helps
a mother through the labor process. Whether
the birth takes place in a hospital, home,
or other setting, she provides emotional,
physical, and informational support to the
mother. They often work in conjunction with
a midwife.
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