The Delivery Room – What Exactly Happens There

There is excitement, anticipation, and occasionally even a little bit of anxiety in the delivery room. It is the place where the last stages of a pregnancy come to an end and a new life is born. A lot of prospective parents are curious about what goes on in this room and what to anticipate on the big day.

The delivery room experience involves a team of professionals collaborating to ensure a safe and uneventful birth, from medical procedures to emotional support. Gaining an understanding of the normal course of labor and delivery can allay fears and reduce the sense of being overwhelmed by the process.

Being aware of all the processes, from the preliminary planning to the baby’s first cry, can help one feel prepared and at ease. To better prepare you for this momentous occasion, let’s examine what you might encounter in the delivery room.

When It"s Time to Move to the Delivery Room

But first, let’s return to the maternity ward and observe what’s happening there for a bit. The woman in labor is moved to the delivery room, also known as the labor room, once the cervix has opened up by 10 cm. The subjective definition of full disclosure is when pushing starts.

Pushing is characterized by an overwhelming urge to pass gas, as many women express when they push: "I need to use the restroom for a big one."

Sometimes there isn’t a clear desire, but all of a sudden you realize that your breath is held during a contraction and your abdominal muscles are strained. Since the baby’s head has already lowered extremely low and is pressing on the nerve endings, this occurs reflexively.

And here – ATTENTION. – you must definitely call a doctor and with all your might restrain the pushing. This needs to be done for one simple reason: sometimes pushing begins before the cervix is ​​completely open. Therefore, in order to keep the cervix safe and sound, during the contraction we breathe "like a dog", that is, often, superficially, you can stick out your tongue. If this does not help, add the "on all fours" position. In this case, the head should be lower than the place where we usually sit. This is achieved very simply – we stand on our knees, and lower our head to the level of our palms. The baby rolls back to the bottom of the uterus, and the pressure on the cervix decreases.

You’ve definitely drawn a lovely scene: a large-bellied woman stands on all fours with her butt up, breathing heavily and protruding her tongue. Jokes apart! Moreover, embarrassment has no place here. The most important time is almost here; the actual labor will start shortly.

You can begin pushing after the doctor examines you and says that "everything is ready," meaning that the cervix has fully opened. But you must proceed with caution.

• First, do not rush to climb onto the delivery table – spend 2-3 contractions standing. This will allow the baby"s head to find a comfortable position for an easier exit.
• Secondly, if you did everything correctly during the contractions, by the time the pushing starts you should have a "second wind": the contractions become rare, after 7-10, or even 15-20 minutes; mood improves – "just a little bit left!", new strength appears from nowhere. This happens because the baby"s head is pushed through the open cervix into the birth canal, and the uterus needs time to contract.

The uterus will start contracting again as soon as it can handle this task. And pushing will bring them together. It’s your moment!

The pushing period of labor is the most important work

A woman has control over the force and duration of pushing, unlike with contractions. The pushing phase typically lasts 35–40 minutes, but it can last up to two hours. Therefore, remember the handles when you’re on the delivery table; the midwife will point them out to you. You have to put your hands up and grab them.

The following steps are taken in order as soon as the contraction starts:

1. You need to inhale deeply, as much air as possible, and hold your breath.
2. Raise your head and press your chin to your chest – this is necessary so that the pushing is effective, that is, the abdominal muscles are strained, not the neck and face.
3. Imagine that the air we inhaled is directed downwards and pushes the baby out. And in the meantime, SMOOTHLY, WITHOUT JERKING, we strain the abdominal muscles and increase the strength of this tension. Your whole body seems to envelop your tummy, and all the muscles work to help the baby get out into the world. And your arms (you hold on to the handles with them) and legs (they are fixed in the holders) work to create a counteracting force. Difficult? I"ll try it simpler: imagine that you are sailing on a boat, and the handles you hold on to are oars.
4. When you feel that you no longer have the strength to hold your breath – VERY SMOOTHLY exhale and relax your muscles press. And all over again.

You must perform each of these steps two to three times during the contraction. And the strongest push ought to come at the end. The baby will initially "roll back" but will eventually get closer to the exit with each push. As a result, we always act with strength and grace. Ultimately, the infant is essentially compressed within a narrow birth canal!

"It is impossible to put into words how difficult pushing is. It is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. Here, it is better to try it once rather than read it a hundred times. Thus, avoid being a couch potato and enroll in the school’s childbirth education program. These kinds of programs are available at almost every school. I assure you that you won’t regret it, and your child will gain from having these new skills.

The much-awaited moment finally arrives when the baby’s head emerges. EVERY MINUTE ON THE MIDWIFE. For the remainder of the work, she will be your commander. She will also give you the order, "Don’t push!" This is an indication to stop pushing. Sometimes it’s enough to just unwind, but other times you have to remind yourself to breathe "like a dog" because the urge to push is so strong. Without pushing, the baby’s head should be delivered; this will shield the perineum from tears.

This is when the baby "turns with a bend" inside of you, erupting first as the head, then one shoulder, then another. Everything else just kind of falls away, including the last attempts.

Here he is, the world’s most adored baby, wet, wrinkled, and so beautiful after such a long wait!

The infant is laid on top of the warm mother’s abdomen. After the pulsation stops, the midwife (and occasionally, if the father is taking part in the birth, he is given this noble task) cuts the umbilical cord. Best wishes! You succeeded!

Though it can seem overwhelming, knowing what happens in the delivery room helps reduce anxiety. A group of medical experts collaborates from the moment you walk in to make sure the mother and child are secure.

The medical staff is available to support you at every stage of the process, whether it’s monitoring contractions, helping with breathing exercises, or getting ready for the actual delivery. The early check-ups and bonding sessions after the baby is born give the family a unique experience.

It’s true that the delivery room is a busy place with lots of medical equipment, but it’s also where new life begins, so it’s a moment you’ll always treasure.

A group of medical experts assists the mother in the delivery room while she goes through her labor, with an emphasis on making sure the baby is safe and healthy. Here, intense yet carefully controlled moments take place, from vital sign monitoring to helping with the birth process, all culminating in the birth of a newborn. Parents who are anticipating this momentous occasion may feel more prepared and at ease if they are aware of what takes place there.

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