Maternity & Kid's Care

Posts Tagged ‘placenta’

Childbirth or labor is the process by which the baby, placenta and the cord are expelled from the mother’s uterus. For about 270 days, the foetus grows inside the mother and reaches maturity. Childbirth occurs in three stages. During the first stage, which is usually 13 hours for the first born, uterine contraction, begin. Initially, it is gentle and happens at longer intervals. Later they become frequent and uncomfortable. This contraction brings about the dilation of the cervix and this is usually accompanied by a slight discharge of blood stained mucus from the separation of the foetal membrane. At the end of this stage, there is a sudden gush of fluid indicating that the foetal membranes have ruptured.

The second stage of labor lasts about 90 minutes for the first baby as compared with 15 to 30 minutes for later born children. During this stage, cervix opens sufficiently and the baby begins to move down the birth canal. At the end of the second stage of labor the baby is born. This stage is called the period of expulsion.

Following the birth of the baby, the third stage of labor occurs. In this stage, the placenta and the remaining of the ruptured amniotic sac and the umbilical cord are separated from the wall of the uterus and expelled. This stage usually takes five to thirty minutes.