Future generations are always frightened of women, especially if they are the first. And as is usually the unknown frightens, in order to add strength and self-confidence, you need to know more about what you expect. In antenatal clinics has always held training courses for childbirth - this is not a formality, but a vital necessity: prepared becomes the first woman physician assistant in childbirth. At the end of pregnancy is a kind of reorganization of the functions (and partly building) organs and systems of the women associated with the formation of the body's biological readiness to leave that ensures timely and correct approach during childbirth.

Important role in preparing the body for childbirth belongs to the female sex hormone estrogen, which give rise to the formation of the contractile protein actomyosin, softening of the cervix, uterus increase the sensitivity of muscle to the action of biologically active substances (oxytocin, acetylcholine, serotonin, and others.). Two weeks before a change in the ratio of delivery of certain types of estrogens: estriol concentration increases, and estradiol estrola Estradiol, the most important hormone   - Reduced.

The concentration of another female sex hormone - progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology Which was very high throughout the pregnancy (progesterone inhibited the contractile movement of the muscles of the uterus) for the week before the birth falls, resulting in increased sensitivity of the muscles of the uterus to oxytocin - the base material, increases their contractile activity.

Increasing blood levels of aldosterone, which stimulates the formation of estrogens. Under the action of aldosterone increases blood volume. Ready to leave the body is supported by an active synthesis of adrenal hormones: produced in the adrenal cortex corticosteroids (they reduce tissue swelling and pain), and in the medulla - epinephrine and norepinephrine - hormones stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis Which prepare women to stress during childbirth. Increases blood concentration of prostaglandins, which are the main stimulants onset of labor.

What signs indicate that soon childbirth

Delayed symptoms occur in about two weeks before delivery, sometimes earlier. First of all, "the omission of the stomach" by insertion of the fetal head at the entrance of the pelvic floor and abnormalities of the uterus (fundus is at the top) in front of the decrease in the tone of the abdominal muscles. The woman then becomes easier to breathe, but more difficult to walk and sit, come back pain. Due to the fact that the increasing pressure on the bladder Urinary bladder - structure and function Can be frequent urination. Under the influence of hormones quickens and becomes more liquid stools.

Another sign of approaching childbirth - the emergence of increased excitability, or, on the contrary, complete indifference (apathy), "tides" to the head. This is due to changes of the central and autonomic (innervating blood vessels and internal organs) of the nervous system, and there is a few days before giving birth.

Body weight of pregnant 2-3 days before delivery falls to 1-2 kg - this is one of the stages of the body's natural preparation for childbirth, during which a woman eats little (reduced appetite).

Increases the excitability of the muscles of the uterus, which can manifest itself in the form of false labor. False contractions are different from the true fact that they are irregular and painful. Fetal movement, in contrast, is reduced due to the fact that it is becoming too small in the uterine cavity.

Because female genital tract for a few days before the birth leaves a thick sticky mucus - mucus plug. This mucus - the contents of the cervix, which closes the entrance to the uterus, thereby preventing penetration to the infection. Discharge of mucus plug indicates that the cervix is ​​preparing for the disclosure and the formation of the birth canal. At the same time, the mucus plug can move ahead, for one to two weeks before the birth and is a variant of the norm.

What signs indicate that labor has begun and should be sent to the maternity hospital

First of all, the appearance of regular painful contractions. First bout is not accompanied by very severe pain, but gradually increases the intensity of their pain are very strong, unabated between contractions. The time between contractions is steadily declining, if in the beginning it was still about a quarter of an hour, just before birth - a few minutes. You should not really be afraid of fights, most often before birth is still a few hours (although there are also rapid delivery, which begin and proceed rapidly).

The second sign of the onset of labor - discharge of amniotic fluid. They can move away immediately, and can leak over time - everything is normal. Pain during this. Normally, amniotic fluid are transparent and odorless. If your water has broken (even if the fights yet), it is best to go to a maternity hospital and be under the supervision of a physician.

All the signs of the approaching onset of labor and need to know, not to be afraid and just call an ambulance to move to the maternity hospital.

  Galina Romanenko

In recent years, increasingly heard such a thing as vertical childbirth. Speaking of these lineages as the newest method in obstetrics, although, in fact, the vertical birth practiced before and is something out of the ordinary. About the vertical birth we can say that new - it is well forgotten old. Even today these generations in some countries (Central Africa, China, Netherlands, India and others) are considered commonplace and physiological processes.

Traditional birth today in a horizontal position historically appeared much later than vertical. Such deliveries are convenient only for the doctor and midwife, who are watching them, but certainly not for mother and child.

Vertical birth

Vertical birth - a birth, when the period of labor, the baby is born and the placenta takes place in a vertical position. Such delivery set of advantages and disadvantages are absent. The advantages of the vertical birth of their periods are as follows.

During the first stage of labor

During labor a woman in labor is very active .  She can walk, sit in a special chair or lie .  The main thing - a movement .  In the first stage of labor the woman is given the opportunity to choose the most comfortable position for her, in which the fight is not as painful .  It may be pose: standing on all fours, squatting or kneeling .  Moreover, the vertical position of the fetal bladder and fetal head under pressure on the lower segment of the uterus and cervix, facilitating faster opening of uterine contractions and efficiency os .  This behavior and the choice to reduce pain during labor, a woman in labor, and liberating feel comfortable, which also affects the productivity of labor .  Although, in fairness, it is worth noting that such behavior mothers for the first time today and welcome in the traditional horizontal childbirth .  As a result of all this, it is seen that the period of labor is shortened by two to three hours .

During the second stage of labor

During the second (bearing-down) stage of labor, when there is expulsion of the fetus vertical birth also has its undeniable advantages. A woman makes an effort and giving birth to a child in the same vertical position: sitting on his haunches, hung around the neck of her husband, or kneeling. Of course, the process of giving birth is rather late, compared with horizontal delivery, but the promotion of the fruit is smooth, not jerks when a woman gives birth lying down. Woman in labor actively involved in the process, by gravity child "is" like myself, and such attempts do not cause stress.

Also, if the vertical birth in vain attempts coordinated work the abdominals, pelvic floor, back and the rest of the skeletal muscles, and attempts are not as painful as in traditional childbirth .  In the supine position, the pregnant uterus is filled with a child, the placenta, the waters of a great severity and causes compression of paravertebral vessels, especially the aorta and inferior vena cava .  This leads to disruption of blood flow, including uteroplacental that causes a lack of oxygen to the fetus (hypoxia) .  If you still remember the women with the syndrome of compression of the inferior vena cava, then it is prohibited to give birth in the horizontal position, as they do lose consciousness .  Also, it should be noted that the vertical birth reduce the risk of infection and episiotomy (perineal incision) .  And the risk of injury to a child or mother (perineal tears) is practically reduced to zero .  When vertical childbirth, which is not the last value, new mother sees the birth of his child .

During the third stage of labor

The third successive period also extends vertically mothers. A woman kneeling or crouching, holding her baby in her arms, and attach it to the chest, but this time the last born. Sequence period is also shortened due to all of the same gravity and nipple stimulation, hence, uterine contractions by the child. In these sorts of breastfeeding obtained earlier than in normal childbirth, and in the future there are no problems with breastfeeding. Since the latter is separated more rapidly than in conventional delivery, and reduced blood loss to 100-150 ml (usually blood loss was 250 ml).

Anna Sozinova