Parturition, also known as childbirth or labor, is the process by which a baby is born. It involves physiological and hormonal changes that result in contractions of the uterus and dilation of the cervix. Parturition is typically divided into three stages - the first stage involves cervical dilation, the second stage is the delivery of the baby, and the third stage involves delivery of the placenta. Hormones like oxytocin, estrogen, and prostaglandins help stimulate uterine contractions and assist in delivery. A normal delivery involves a vertex presentation where the baby's head emerges first, followed by the shoulders and body.

1. Parturition or child birth
Contact: Innoclazz Academy for best home tutors in
Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune
Website; www.innoclazz.com

2. Introduction to parturition
 Parturition is otherwise known as labor or delivery or
birth of the baby. It is the science and mechanism
behind the process of birth including
neurophysiological and endocrinal changes within the
mother.
 Birth of a newborn is a wonderful experience
nevertheless, a good knowledge and right practices
while handling the mother during labor process is
essential. During parturition.
Intro cont………………….

3.  The mechanical contraction of uterine muscles
helps to produce rhythmic movement of uterus
that push the fetus towards birth canal.
 Eventually, the cervix dilates and relaxes in
alternative fashion. Hormones such as cortisol,
oxytocin and estrogen helps to begin the labor
milk production (lactation) is assisted by the
hormone prolactin.
 Simultaneously, the uterus expels the placenta
out thereby helping it to pass out immediately
after the fetus is born.

4. Signs and Symptoms of Parturition
 Getting into a phase of child birth is usually a
subjective experience that a mother can feel. In 90% of
the cases , delivery happens at right time however, a
prospective couple should be prepared for delivery
once 7th month of pregnancy is over.
 A women often feels like experiencing bloated
abdomen, pain and hardness over the lower end of
uterus, mucous discharge and feeling relentlessness are
evident.
 She can also feel intense labor contractions with a fully
swollen vulva and relaxed pelvic ligaments. At his
stage, mammary glands seems to be developed well
and the milk secretion begins.

5. Initiation of labor
Exact factors of initiation of labor in
humans remain unclear however,
biochemical substances produced by the
fetus are believed to be the a major
factors beside the action of hormones
such as oxytocin, prostaglandins,
relaxin etc. assist in the mechanical
expulsion of baby by producing uterine
contractions.

6. Stages of parturition
 Parturition, the process of childbirth starts
approximately 38 -40 weeks after
fertilization, however premature and post
mature deliveries are possible in rare cases.
 A typical parturition is divided into the
first stage or the stage of dilation, begins
with the onset of regular, hard contractions
of the uterus and ends with complete
dilation of the cervix. Stage 2 is defined as
the delivery of the newborn and the sage 3
is the shedding of the placenta or fetal
membranes.

7. First stage or stage of dilatation of cervix
 In the beginning phase of labor , uterine contractions
occur between 20 to 30 minutes and each cycle last
about 40 seconds. But as the labor progresses,
contractions become more intense and frequent.
Despite the efficacious mechanism of contractions, the
duration of the first stage of labor is longer than other
stages.
 It approximately lasts for 13 and 14 hours in a women
who is delivering her first baby. But in women who
have previously given birth , it averages 8 to 9 hours.
 Oxytocin stimulates the muscle layers especially the
myometrium to push the fetus down thereby help in
opening the cervical end. Rarely, there is a chance of
early rupturing of the amnion leading to the premature
loss of the amniotic fluid leads a dangerous situation.

8. Second stage or expulsive stage
 As the cervix becomes fully dilated, the fluid present in
the amniotic sac comes out as the amnion is broken by
the forceful expulsion.
 The expulsion of fetus depends upon its size weight,
shape of the pelvis and the order of delivery. In most of
the cases cesarean may be the option however, it is
advisable to go for normal delivery especially in healthy
and full term cases. During this phase pain is intense
and mother needs support. A mechanicals push from the
top end of the abdomen in a careful manner may help
in fast delivery.
Second stage conti……………………..

9. Conti…………
 It is important to determine the lie, presentation
and axis of the baby during delivery.
 A lie is the angle at which the baby is related
mother. A vertical lie with vertex presentation(
head down legs up) is normal . On the contrary, a
horizontal lie , diagonal lie, breech or le
presentation are seriously difficult to handle as
they take long time to deliver the baby.
 A normal full-term delivery happens with vertex
presentation in which head sits first firmly on the
cervical end, followed by the delivery of
shoulders, trunk, abdomen and lastly the lower
limbs.

10. Third stage or the stage of placental delivery
 This stage lasts hardly about 15 minutes to 2 hours during which
placenta will lose contact with the uterine surface. Soon after the
expulsion of the child, uterine cavity undergoes a series of
changes.
 Sometimes unusual bleeding can occur due to tearing of uterine
muscles, or mechanical pressure during the delivery, and rarely
uterus may be detached from where it is supposed to be.
 Within a few minutes after the subsequent uterine contractions,
there is downward pull of placenta leading to detachment from its
stalk.
 Sometimes the therapist may use manual retraction by slowly
pulling the placenta down. A pudendal block is a relatively simple
and common procedure used to numb the birth canal so that
mother doesn’t feel intense pain.

11. Hormones that help in Parturition
 Estrogen plays a major role in uterine
contractions.
 On the other hand, oxytocin also helps in the
uterine contractions and it has influence on the
prolactin release so that milk production begins.
 The hormone relaxin assist in relaxing the
pelvic ligaments that widens the cervix.
 Prostaglandin, which is synthesized within the
amnion and chorion facilitates cervix ripening,
changing the membrane structures and
contraction of the myometrium.

21. THANK YOU