A woman who is preparing to become a mother is constantly asking questions about how the birth will take place. If this is childbirth at home, then the future woman in labor has much more questions.
To successfully give birth at home, you need to know a number of features, such as signs of labor that has begun, when you need to sink into the water and how to recognize this moment, how to bandage the umbilical cord and other technical features of the birth.
All these points must be learned in advance so that the home birth will go well, as well as to teach them a birth assistant. If you prepare well, giving birth will be quick and easy.
Determine the onset of labor
Home birth usually begins with labor. A woman feels pulling and constricting cramps in the lower back and lower abdomen. If these sensations are regular and repeat every 10-20 minutes with the same longitude, then the birth has begun. Gradually, contractions will intensify, and the gaps between them will begin to decrease. During this period, the cervix actively opens so that the fetus can pass through the birth canal.
Contractions can last 8-20 hours or even longer, but there are also emergency births when everything happens much faster, within 3-4 hours. When giving birth at home, the opening of the uterus should be checked by an assistant, to the touch. For the fetus to pass, an opening of 8 fingers is necessary. Usually before attempts, when contractions occur at intervals of 1-1.5 minutes, the opening of the cervix is approximately 4 fingers.
Attempts, the most difficult period
Childbirth at home goes to the second stage, contractions intensified and became more frequent, and the woman began to feel her abdomen bursting and a strong desire to tighten her diaphragm and abdominal muscles to propel her baby down. When contractions occur at intervals of a minute, you need to get into the water. This must be done before the start of the attempt. The water temperature should be 37 degrees – this is the best option. When a woman enters the water, she feels noticeable relief. Giving birth at home is easier in water. However, contractions can calm down. In this case, the water must be made 1-2 degrees cooler and begin to stimulate the nipples of the woman in labor so that the birth does not stop.
During an attempt at each fight, a woman must push. When the fight begins, you need to take a deep breath and hold your breath tightly. It is necessary to tighten the muscles of the diaphragm and abdomen, and press on the uterus. You need to push so that all the forces go down, not up. Otherwise, you will try in vain, and besides, blood vessels in your eyes may burst. Childbirth at home in the bathroom, in a sitting position, allows a woman to put fists under the buttocks base, thereby creating an emphasis that will help to push better.
Also, a woman who gives birth at home can squat across the bathroom and hold onto her edge with her hands. If while you are pushing, you have run out of breath, and the attempts are still ongoing, you need to take a quick breath and continue to push. When the fight has stopped, you should rest. If you continue to push without a fight there will be no result, you simply waste your strength in vain.
If home birth takes place in the pool or on land, the four or squats remain the most comfortable pose. Some women prefer all births to stand leaning forward. A comfortable posture depends on the structure of the genitals and pelvis. Therefore, if childbirth is at home, a woman should rely on her feelings and choose the right posture for childbirth. According to the sensations during the attempts and fights a woman can choose a comfortable position. This must be done carefully, without fuss and sudden movements.
Any posture that your body asks for will help you give birth easier, so if you have a home birth, be sure to listen to your body. When giving birth in a hospital, a woman is often stimulated, using forceps, a Caesarean section, incisions, squeezing with a towel and so on, so that she gives birth faster. However, when a woman gives birth at home, for the process to move from a “dead center”, it is enough for her to simply change her position. Therefore, childbirth at home is easier.
Baby birth
With each attempt, the child’s head is visible more and more. During the fights, it either shows up or disappears again. This moment is the most painful. However, a woman should try to relax the genitals as much as possible and constantly push. Childbirth at home, as a rule, passes without breaks, so a woman should not be afraid and strain her crotch. If labor weakening begins, it is necessary to stimulate it, as in attempts.
Before the baby comes out, a little blood is released. When the childbirth is at home and in the water, the assistant should always keep his hands next to the appearing head, as the water may lose its transparency. However, if the baby comes out on his own, he will immediately pop up. Usually a baby is born in one, two or three attempts. It happens that the baby is entwined with an umbilical cord. In this case, the home birth does not differ from the hospital and the umbilical cord should be carefully unwound, without sudden movements. The newborn should be wrapped in a clean diaper, as it is slippery. Then you need to get out of the water and lie on the prepared bed or sheet.
A born child begins to scream and gradually turns pink from blue. However, if necessary, you can clean the baby’s nose by sucking off the mucus so that he breathes faster. If the child does not begin to breathe, he should be turned upside down and knocked on the heels. If he does not begin to breathe, it is necessary to do artificial respiration and use an index finger and middle finger to make an indirect heart massage with light pressure. You can also douse your baby with cold water and rub his hands and feet. You have to fight to the last, no matter how long it lasts.
Placenta exit and umbilical cord cutting
At the birth of the placenta, up to two glasses of water can stand out. When a woman lies down on the bed, it is important to attach the baby in the chest. He may not suck milk, but at least touch the nipple with his lips – this stimulates the exit of the placenta well. The birth of the placenta begins after a small fight, its output is not very painful. Before and after her birth, small pieces similar to the liver may come out – this is normal. On average, the placenta leaves 20-40 minutes after the birth of the baby. More about what functions does the placenta carry?
The umbilical cord is cut after the pulse stops in it. Usually this occurs 20 minutes after the appearance of the baby. To cut it, you need to bandage it in two places and cut it off, retreating about 2 cm from the child’s body and about 20 cm from the first node. The umbilical cord in a child must be treated with a disinfectant.
