Teaching Demonstration: Labor and Birth By: Kaylee Kittredge

1. Labor and Birth
Ages: 14+

2. Signs of Labor
● Lightening: Where the baby has dropped or moved lower into the pelvis
● Contractions that become stronger at regular or increasingly shorter intervals (Time contractions to see
how far apart they are and how long each contraction is)
● Lower Back pain or cramping
● Water breaking - gush or slow trickle of amniotic fluid
● Mucus discharge (Brownish-redish) - sign that your cervix is dilating, meaning labor could start right
away or within a few days
Signs that you need to call your doctor right away
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

3. False Labor
Pains resembling those of normal labor, but occurring at irregular intervals and
without dilation of the cervix
● Braxton Hicks Contractions- irregular contractions that are on and off.
Common in the last couple weeks of pregnancy (very common for women to
think that their are starting to go into labor with these contractions)
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).False Labor Medical Definition. (2019).

4. Stages of Labor(All stages are different for each women )

5. Stage 1:
Dilation
● Longest stage of labor (can last up to 12-19 hrs) - rest is key
during this stage to save energy for last two stages of
pushing
● Doctor will check patient's cervix and position of the baby in
the birth canal regularly
● Contractions become longer, stronger, and closer together
(helpful tip: try to relax and let muscle become loose in
between contractions
● Once cervix is dilated up to 10cm, the doctor will have you
start pushing during contractions
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

6. Epidural
Regional anesthesia that blocks pain in a
particular region of the body. Epidurals
block the nerve impulses from the
stomach down.
This anesthesia is giving during stage 1
of labor, where contractions start to get
more intense for patients.
Epidurals are the most popular method
of pain relief during labor. More than
50% of women giving birth at hospitals
use epidural anesthesia.
Using Epidural Anesthesia During Labor: Benefits and Risks. (2019, July 15)

7. Stage 2:
Delivery
● Stage 2 can last anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours
● Pushing during contractions and rest inbetween to save energy
● Crowning: when the top of the baby's head is fully seen
● Episiotomy: a small cut from the vaginal open to the anus to
enlarge the vaginal opening to prevent tearing while the baby is
coming out
● The baby twists and turns through the birth canal
● Once baby is out the umbilical cord is cut (many support people
or parents cut the cord)
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

8. Stage 3:
Afterbirth
● Shortest stage- 5 to 30 minutes
● Contraction are still on going (Signaling the delivery of the
placenta)
● Placenta- organ that filters oxygen and provides nutrients to
the baby while in the womb. Attached to the wall of the
uterus, as well as the umbilical cord
● After delivery the afterbirth, the doctor will prepare the
episiotomy or any tears that occurred during the delivery
process
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

9. Inducing Labor
Occurs when a women goes past ones due date or when there is a concern about the baby(s) or mother health
Some specific reasons why labor might be induced include:
● Water broke, but labor has not begun on its own
● Infection in the uterus
● Baby developing to slow
● Complications that arise when the mother's Rh factor is negative and the baby(s) is positive
● Not enough amniotic fluid
● Women who has high blood pressure or preeclampsia
● Health problems in the mother
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

10. Cesarean Birth
● Surgery that involves the baby is taken out through the womens stomach, also known as a c-section
● C-sections are usually recommended by ones doctor if they think it is safer for the patient and their
baby
● Some c-sections are planned, while other are not. This happens when problems arise during a vaginal
delivery
● Takes longer to recover compared to a vaginal birth (4 weeks for vaginal and 6 weeks for c-section)
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

11. Reasons for Cesarean Births
● Women carrying more the one baby (twins, triplets)
● Women has HIV, Herpes, and/or heart disease
● High blood pressure
● Shape of woman's pelvis
● Problems with the placenta or umbilical cord
● Problems with the position of the baby
● Baby has signs of distress (slow heart rate)
● Women has had a previous c-section
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

12. During Surgery
● Takes about 45-60 minutes
● Epidural or spinal block will be given to numb the body from the chest down, may feel tugging or
pushing, but not any pain (patients are awake and alert during the procedure)
● Two incisions are made
○ First one is 6 inches that cuts through the skin, fat, and muscle (bikini cut)
○ Second incision opens the uterus to get to the baby
● The doctor will place one hand alone the baby and one hand to push the uterus to allow the baby to
come out
● Once the baby is out, the doctor will hold up the baby so you can see them (umbilical cord ir cut and
the placenta is removed)
● Then the incisions will be closed up
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

13. After Surgery
Moved into the recovery room and monitored for the next few hours
Once you and the baby are both ready, you can them hold, snuggle, and nurse your baby
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6).

14. References
False Labor Medical Definition. (2019). Retrieved October 10, 2019, from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/false labor.
Labor and birth. (2018, June 6). Retrieved October 10, 2019, from
https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/childbirth-and-beyond/labor-and-birth.
Using Epidural Anesthesia During Labor: Benefits and Risks. (2019, July 15). Retrieved October 10, 2019, from
https://americanpregnancy.org/labor-and-birth/epidural/.