This document provides an overview of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth. It discusses the three trimesters of pregnancy and common symptoms such as morning sickness, mood swings, and body aches. Stages of labor are explained, from early contractions to delivery of the placenta. Natural strategies for coping with labor pains are suggested, such as movement, touch, and water. The document cautions against practices like epidurals and immediate clamping of the umbilical cord. Finally, it stresses the importance of skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding after birth.

1. Pregnancy, Labor, and
Childbirth for 10th Graders
Meg Long

2. Overview
• Pregnancy Overview
• Truths about pregnancy
• Complications of
pregnancy
• Stages of labor
• The Miracle of Birth?
• Strategies to Cope with labor
• Things NOT to do during labor
• Afterwards

3. Pregnancy: You’re practically glowing!
• Remember: Pregnancy is not all physical
– Emotions will run wild along with your hormones
• Trimester 1
– Weeks 1-12; extreme tiredness, morning sickness,
mood swings, constipation
• Trimester 2
– Weeks 13-28; body aches, stretch marks, swelling or
ankles, fingers, and face, itchiness
• Trimester 3
– Weeks 29-40; shortness of breath, heartburn, intense
swelling, hemorrhoids, trouble sleeping, tender
breasts

4. Truths about Pregnancy
• It is perfectly safe to have a home birth
– Complicated/high risk pregnancies are an exception
• Being labeled as a “high risk” pregnancy patient
does not necessarily mean you are high risk
• Pregnant teens do NOT have to drop out of school
– The schoolwork with fatigue could be hard to manage
• Pregnant women experience no more depression
than non-pregnant women

5. Pregnancy complications
• Late pregnancies: Women older
than 35 are more at risk for
diabetes and high blood pressure
• Overweight: At risk for diabetes,
high blood pressure, larger babies,
and cesarean sections
• Abuse: At risk for losing baby,
depression, fear
• Disability: Could be genetic
• Addiction: Babies will be affected
by drug and alcohol use
• Previous cesarean section:
infection, excess bleeding, longer
recovery time

6. Stages of Labor: Contractions
• Warm-up labor (false contractions)
– On and off for days or weeks!
– 0-3cm dilation
• Stage 1: Latent Phase
– A few hours, to a day or more
– 0-5cm dilation
• Stage 1: Active Phase
– Between 2-10 hours
– 4-8cm dilation
• Stage 1:Transistion Phase
– A few contractions 1-2 hours
– 7-8cm dilation

7. Final Stages of Labor
• Stage 2: Pushing, giving birth
– Few contractions over 3 hours
– 10cm dilation
– Contractions every 3 minutes
– Woman will feel urge to push
• Stage 3: Delivery of Placenta
– 10 minutes of less
– No contractions, but strong cramps
• Stage 4: Recovery
– 1-2 hours without complications
– Mild to moderate cramps while uterus contracts

8. The Miracle of Birth?
• Movies portray the
birthing process as clean
and marvelous
• Although your baby is
being born, it is far from a
clean process
– Feces, urine, and blood will
discharge from a laboring
mother’s body
– It is painful; no other way to
say it!
– Not every woman yells;
some women stay very
quiet to deal with pain

9. Strategies to Cope with Labor
• My sister used hypno-breathing (hypnosis)
– It really worked for her!
• Freedom to move during labor
• Don’t lay flat during labor
– Let gravity help you out a little bit
• Water is soothing during labor
• Human touch
– Have someone hold your hand
• Hot or cold packs
• It’s completely up to the laboring mother as to
what makes her comfortable!

10. Things NOT to do during
labor
• Laboring on your back
– As stated previously, let gravity do it’s share of the
work!
• Episiotomy
– A surgical cut to enlarge vaginal opening
– Can lead to tearing through to the anal sphincter
• Can lead to incontinence after birth, and prolonged bleeding
• Immediate clamping of umbilical cord
– Deprives babies of up to one-third of their blood
volume
• Can lead to anemia for several months up to birth

11. Congratulations! It’s a--
• After labor, the mother should hold
baby while waiting for placenta
• Start breastfeeding as soon as
possible
– Relaxes the woman’s body
– Relieves pain
– Calms newborn
– You deserve to hold your child after
that labor process!
• Although childbirth is a gruesome
process, staying positive and looking
towards your goal is the best
method for a healthy pregnancy and
delivery.

12. Discussion Questions
Have you ever known someone that
has had a high risk pregnancy? What
was their mindset during pregnancy?

13. Citations
• Pregnancy: Stages of Pregnancy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 14, 2016, from
http://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-
pregnancy.html#a
• Office on Women's Health Why breastfeeding is important. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 14, 2016, from
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-
benefits.html