Anemia in Pregnancy
Providing the developing fetus will all the nourishment it requires takes precedence over the needs of the mother, so that her stores of, for example, iron and vitamins can become seriously depleted if precautions are not taken. Because of this a woman is prone to anemia during pregnancy, but she can easily avoid it by taking a small dose of iron and vitamins daily. Since no preparation of iron suits every woman, it is essential that you should tell your doctor if the form prescribed makes you feel ill.
Read MoreThe Birth
Transition is followed by the second stage of labor, when the baby moves down the birth canal and out into the world. At the end of the first stage more often than not he faces to the mother’s side. As his head moves down the birth canal it usually turns to face her back so that he is born facedown.
Read MoreThe Transition
The first stage of labor is the time taken for the cervix, the neck of the womb, to become fully dilated. The transition from the first to the second stage of labor, when the baby’s head begins to move down the birth canal, is for many mothers the most distressing time. They may feel lost, bewildered, and out of control, sometimes saying things the do not mean. Some women experience severe backache, caused by the pressure of the baby’s head on their lower spines. Steady massage from a caring husband can bring considerable relief to a weary mother to be.
Read MoreWhen to Call the Hospital
Sometimes the mother’s waters break quite early in this process, and some of the fluid from the womb escape. This liquid is usually colorless and it is sterile. So while it may be uncomfortable if the mother is out shopping at the time, no harm is done. It shows that labor is near, but again how near will not be certain. Another sign is a “show,” when the plug of jelly which has kept the cervix sealed up is ejected, sometimes with a little blood. This means that the cervix is “ripe,” and it is a good sign, although it can happen some days, or even longer, before labor starts, or even after it has started. If your waters break, or you have regular contractions, you should call or go to the hospital or contact your doctor if you are planning a home birth.
Read MoreHow a Mother’s Body Adjusts to Pregnancy
The changes in the mother’s own body during pregnancy are enormous. The womb itself grows from the sixe of a small orange to the size of a large fat squash to become by far the biggest muscle in the human body, male or female. This is not only done by stretching. New muscle fibers develop, and the old ones grow thicker and longer.
Read MoreAnesthetics during Labor
Some women find the contractions in labor very painful. Others simply find them hard work. A good training in breathing and relaxation helps a great deal. A fearful attitude increases the feelings of pain. A choice of anesthetics is available, including a gas (either trichloroethylene or nitrous oxide) and oxygen mixture inhaled through a mask, or injections of pethidine, which is often combined with a tranquilizer. The most modern method is a local anesthetic that paralyzes and numbs the body below the waist and the legs almost completely. It is given by a tube inserted through the lower part of the back into the spinal canal, and is known as an “epidural.”
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