Childbirth Labor - An Overview

The birth of a child is the culmination of the 9 month period of pregnancy. It marks the end of childbirth labor, which is usually the term given to the process of beginning of delivery.

In most cases, particularly in the developed world, childbirth takes place under medical care and is assisted by trained doctors. This is the most ideal way of giving birth since the process of labor is prone to medical complications which may endanger the lives of the mother and child.

Research suggests that the duration of childbirth may vary from one woman to another. It will also depend upon whether the woman has given birth to a child previously or not. For instance, active phases of labor may last about 8 hours for women giving birth for the first time while it may be shorter for women who have already given birth.

Childbirth in normal circumstances is achieved by 2 methods - normal vaginal birth and a cesarean section. These are discussed below.

In a normal birth, the woman may feel contractions in her uterus followed by the dilation of her vagina. This leads to the expulsion of the fetus and placenta from the womb, leading to the birth.

In a cesarean section, the fetus is surgically removed from the mother's womb under proper medical supervision. This is often done after placing the woman under anesthesia. This method of delivering a child is recommended by doctors when a vaginal delivery is not possible or is posing a risk to the health of the woman and her unborn child. It is not a mandatory process although instances of cesarean delivery instead of normal are rising all over the world.

Childbirth is a very complex process and sometimes poses great risks for the mother and child. Excessive blood loss, hypertension, and cases of infections have been reported during the process of labor. However, in order to avoid most of these complications, it is recommended that labor should be overseen by a trained medical practitioner.

As a result of improvement in medical sciences, the risks involved in labor have been reduced. The mortality rate for women in labor has dropped drastically over the last century and difficult births have been successfully achieved without future negative health implications to the mother and child.

Labor is considered a very painful experience for the woman. However, much of the pain can now be alleviated by the use of medication. In some cases, pain is reduced by encouragement and support from the woman's partner and other nurses during the process of childbirth.

Knowledge of what will happen during childbirth labor equips women with the forbearance of the pain. This makes childbirth not only a happy experience for the woman but also helps her in dealing with all the challenges that lay ahead in raising her child.